Your Best Posing Instructions w/ Examples

We tend to focus on a lot of technical aspects of photography on the forums in terms of settings, gear, PP, business, etc. but for me, by far the most challenging aspect to shooting has been learning to 'be in charge' and tell other people what to do. It does come down to the photographer to set the scene and create the image, which to me is the greatest pressure. I browse these forums hoping to pick up new ideas that will help me learn better dialog to use when shooting.

What are your favorite directions to give when posing a couple? It would be great if you would post and example of the results. The actual dialog you have with the couple is more instructive than any posing chart will ever be, so please share!

I shot a series of weddings and engagement sessions with a mentor of mine last fall, which taught me more about wedding photography than anything else. I'll share a technique I learned then, to illustrate the instructions that were given. I posted this image of Scott and Becky at that time.

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After I asked Scott to stand behind Becky and face me, I told Becky that she could lean into Scott a little bit, but then my instructions were as follows:

"Scott - your job is to kiss Becky on the neck, and Becky, your job is to not let him..."

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That sounds interesting. It seems to me to be the hardest to get the guys to do as I want. So sometimes I pose with the girl to show him what he should do.

GREAT IDEA!!! please please post some more!

You pose with the girl? Hmmmm, I bet that's not enjoyable at all.

Well I really like to do a "dip" pose. In my experience the guy never gets it right, and both of them look very uncomfortable, forced, or stiff, so I show him how to dip her.

This is the result I get

What a great idea for a thread. This is something I find hard too. It's getting the instructions right so the couple know exactly what you want. I have found showing them works well but I've always found the dipping pose above hard to direct. As Lin-z says, they can all to easily end up looking uncomfortable. If anyone can give the verbal instructions they use for this pose I'd be eternally grateful!
One tip I heard that I have found very useful (sorry don't have example to hand) where a shorter bride is looking up at her groom, is to tell her to look at his forehead, this keeps the eyes open more.

I have them practice the dip a few times. Also sometimes I have to shoot it, change locations then have them "do the dip again" and they get it going the second time around pretty good.

Here's a couple I with which I was having a challenge. Part of the problem was that the guy didn't really know me even though we did talk for 10 or 15 minutes before we got started. I don't think he really trusted me. When I asked him to hold her, this is what I got.

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OK i had a tough groom this weekend, he didn't smile properly (Most guys dont haha) but the bride asked me to get him to smile...with his TEETH! At first i was telling him "Say Moneeeey" he would go "Money" quicker than i could click!!!! So by the end...(This sounds really nasty) i was telling him to say other things like....."P***S" lol and then the grooms men liked this so they were saying other things....so the opposite of that other word issssssss.....im not writing it LOL he was laughing and giving natural smiles after this
Del

PIXI_666 wrote in post #2664042
OK i had a tough groom this weekend, he didn't smile properly (Most guys dont haha) but the bride asked me to get him to smile...with his TEETH! At first i was telling him "Say Moneeeey" he would go "Money" quicker than i could click!!!! So by the end...(This sounds really nasty) i was telling him to say other things like....."P***S" lol and then the grooms men liked this so they were saying other things....so the opposite of that other word issssssss.....im not writing it LOL he was laughing and giving natural smiles after this
Del

I must be totally clueless - I'm not getting it!

Dipping is a popular way to pose, though I think it makes for a better full frame type pose rather than a tight close up. The angles in a dip can work really well with certain backgrounds.

Has anybody done the piggy back ride thing?

Saying "yes" is also a way for people to smile with their teeth. Plus it's more fun than saying cheese (as people then freeze into a silly smile).

A with the boys that dont smile much we use the words "panties" and if they are older "boobies" It always makes the guys laugh and smile. And panties is usable for even the little guys

One other posing technique we use is ALWAYS having the female stick her chest out. It sounds bad, but photographs beautifully because it elongates the neck and evokes confidence.

Nice thread and thanks to everyone that shared their ideas and their shots.

THis is such a great idea for a thread (THANK YOU!) I am always trying to explain how I want them to pose...then I get them all confused and I say I know how I want it in my mind I just can't figure out how to tell you to get to that. It's always pretty funny hearing what I am saying...