Your Best Posing Instructions w/ Examples

This is great stuff. I really enjoy taking candid shots at weddings but never thought of how I could create these shots on demand.

Bump on this great thread - let's see some more guys!

I've used the twirling method too. with this groom I had him pick her up and told him to spin her. Then I had to tell him that it wasn't supposed to be in slow motion. I think he took that as a challenge so boy did he speed things up. this is what I got.

I also like the distraction method. I had the groom draw a heart in the sand by their feet and took some pictures of there feet. But I kept a really close eye on them too. They thought I was taking pictures of just their feet but I was also taking great pictures of them whispering to each other.

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That's a great idea Federkeil!

Nice post. Thanks.

Tim Wee wrote in post #2747705
Yes, I'm familiar with the toyota ad, and jumps are fairly common in portfolios I've seen, and they are always fun.

I think a variation of that may be to have some jump and others seated or in other interesting poses and varying distances from the camera to give depth.

Love to see your examples of this. Tim . . .anyone?

Excellent idea for a thread! This is just what I was looking for, because I will be taking pics of my best friend and his fiance for their "Save the Date" picture they will mail out to all of the invitees.

jamesdean007 wrote in post #2895589
Love to see your examples of this. Tim . . .anyone?

Sorry. I only have a jumping shot. I will try my own suggestion next time!

Silverwool wrote in post #2746413
If you do a shot with the groom and groomsmen holding the bride in their arms, try the reverse. To see three or four girls with a groom laying across their arms is hilarious for the whole party. But you may have to warn them not to grope the groom. Some girls are worse than blokes in that department. Also lots of fun shots depend on the respective sizes of the participants.

Another one I like is to get the blokes to do a jump. In Australia we've had a Toyota ad with the tag line "Oh what a feeling, Toyota" with a big jump at the end of it. Not sure how widely its been shown round the world.

Digital is better than film in that you can show the couple something nice on the screen and then tell them 'if you don't like it I can delete it'.

yeah, just play around a lot.

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Nice Corey! Nice!

That first one, I think the 2nd girl from the left is getting a little frisky HAHA

CyberPet wrote in post #2664788
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).

CP... hey... just a follow up and a word of thanks!

Thanks for suggesting this very simple idea. I tried it with an Eagle Scout ceremony last weekend. Tight quarters in a chapel... but, it worked great for the group. Think it caused me to take a couple fewer shots. Even got some of the older folks teething a smile.

What do you do though when you get a bunch of uptight people? That is my big fear- people who have no emotion or stiffen up when you point the camera at them. In a regular portrait session you have time to direct- but in a wedding you don't and I am avoiding weddings because I fear that issue (among lots of other things LOL)

Another old thread coming back....... Hoping that it get rolling so that I can get see more and learn more since it was a good idea thread.

Scott_Quier wrote in post #2663638
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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This wasn't working, so I told him to "Grab her ass!" and got this - they were starting to loosen up...

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Turn about is fair play and I told her to "Grab his ass!"

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After that, it was all smooth sailing. Eventually, even the guy opened up and let some emotion/vulnerability show through.

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Now, I'm not saying that this will work for every couple. You have to be careful not to offend, especially with some more conservative folks

Wow, you actually said "Grab her ass?" To someone you didn't know? Lucky for you, this worked. Lucky for you you still have your teeth!

This is a great thread and hoepfully some of the seasoned veterans will add some more insightful suggestions.

I insist on an engagement shoot. But it's way more than that. It's a fact finding mission for me. I get to see how they interact, get an insight to their personalities, and learn the kind of things I can say to them.They get to see what it's like to have me photographing them. I want both of them to know me, my way of shooting and what to expect of me on their day.
The previous image to this had them in a standard cheek to cheek close up but I had talked to the groom beforehand and told him (without her knowing) to pick her up right after the picture. Quick zoom out and change of DOF and this is the result.

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