How to get the pose right (Weddings)

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice on getting my bride and groom looking their best for their wedding coming up in 2 months.

Are there any online resources you would recommend for getting the essential shots?

I've photographed a few weddings and have been happy with what I've produced but when it comes down to getting people posed I sometimes struggle.

thanks in advance
Jason

There are no essential shots in my book... only ones which look good and those that don't. I work on the couple just being comfortable with each other and take it from there. The best thing is not to try and force th into things they aren't comfortable doing.

Same. It's less about the perfect pose and more about helping them look like they're enjoying the moment and each other.

Buy this book - http://www.amazon.com …=picture+perfec​t+practice

for me its hit or miss... I try tell them how to pose, where to look but they just do it too stiff and "posed" looking. Other couples do it so naturally it seems like they are used to taking tons of pictures. Best thing is to try get them to relax!

I'm that guy who will "force" a pose if it makes them look hot. They might hate me for a minute but they'll love me forever later. I'll move a groom's foot with my hand if I have to. Usually instead of hating me they apologize for not knowing what to do, and as soon as I tell them it doesn't bother me they chill and we get it. Then the bride's like "ooooo my man looks GOOD!" and then she loves me too.

Same goes for the girls. They want to look good as much as anything so they'll do whatever even if it means being temporarily uncomfortable. I just let them know the weirder they feel the better they look.

As for getting them to chill, especially guys, throwing out some faux insults doesn't hurt. "Less douche, more GQ!" or something along those lines. I rib them the way buddies rib each other. They'll rib my height (or lack thereof) and we're golden. Basically just listen to the way the best men talk to each other and then gradually work your way in.

I definitely often invoke the language of 'make them comfortable and they'll look good' -- and in general this holds true, in particular with expressions. But a lot of the time what is comfortable or natural for the couple to do, just doesn't look so great from the perspective of the camera. Most couples don't walk around with mirrors and so don't have a reportoire of poses that make them look their best. In these cases you have to have the awareness to spot this, and the facility to know how to adjust to improve things.

A few basic things that help:
-go in with at least 3-4 set poses and don't be afraid to make them happen
-keep things light and be solid enough technically (ie. not futzing with settings and light) that you can devote some attention to directing the couple, playing with them verbally.
-give the couple something to do, an activity. Even if the activity is lame (playing patty-cake, e.g.) you can get great dynamism showing even in the shots after the ostensible shot has been taken.

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #16546378
I definitely often invoke the language of 'make them comfortable and they'll look good' -- and in general this holds true, in particular with expressions.

Perhaps with expressions but the body itself looks terrible unless they're athletes or highly active with naturally good posture. Most of us slouch and it looks awful.

cdifoto wrote in post #16546369
.......Basically just listen to the way the best men talk to each other..........

Men, plural? How many does one wedding need. One has always done the job at any weddings I've ever been to.

Lowner wrote in post #16546402
Men, plural? How many does one wedding need. One has always done the job at any weddings I've ever been to.

Oops I meant groomsmen!

Spend some time on Kelby training wedding tutorials.

Two words

Doug Gordon

He is the master at controlled posing. Highly recommend you study his technique. There is no one better in the business at this.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=1DFF0_ElNTA

umphotography wrote in post #16546674
Two words

Doug Gordon

He is the master at controlled posing. Highly recommend you study his technique. There is no one better in the business at this.

http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=1DFF0_ElNTA

Although I'm an admirer of his flow technique, I find Doug's poses to be somewhere between meh and eugh!

It's rarely broached, but posing is largely a matter of style and taste, yet as soon as someone mentions it, the same old school teachers names are put forward.

There's a lot to be said for studying the real old school, but more fore the tips below the surface, you don't want to be copying them by rote, but it's handy to understand why they do what they do.

Phil V wrote in post #16554244
Although I'm an admirer of his flow technique, I find Doug's poses to be somewhere between meh and eugh!

It's rarely broached, but posing is largely a matter of style and taste, yet as soon as someone mentions it, the same old school teachers names are put forward.

There's a lot to be said for studying the real old school, but more fore the tips below the surface, you don't want to be copying them by rote, but it's handy to understand why they do what they do.

Phil

I tend to agree with what you have said. I use his flow pose techniques for our bridal one on one sessions during the day. I like it because it give the girls that look. Its just another look that we have incorporated into our routines with the couples. To be honest, its very simple and effective so i think its something good wedding photographers should have down. Sometimes you only get 15-20 minutes of good alone time to get THE shot..so Dougs flow pose helps you get a lot done in a short period of time...........Its a great tool.

I just watched some parts of that video and I can't help but feel a lot of the posing is very wooden. I'd much sooner have people interacting with each other more naturally to how they do normally with each other. Every couple is different and so a different approach is often needed for each one.

The techniques I use revolve around getting couples to interact naturally. My cues are questions to ask each other and things to say to one another. Open the conversation between the couple on a subject which means a lot to them and they'll soon lose themselves in each other. You can't beat raw emotion in my book.