Wedding Photography Poses and Tips

*** Updated: Take a look at my updated wedding work. As usual I would

love to hear from you guys. Good or bad.
A photographer can be one of the most important components of your wedding day.
When friends or relatives volunteer to take your wedding pictures, think long and
hard about it. A professional will thoroughly understand lighting techniques and will
be experienced in capturing the joyous occasion. Interview photographers early, at
least 6 – 12 months in advance.
Determine your budget clearly at this meeting. Be sure you understand exactly the
quantity and size of prints you will be buying, when proofs will be available and if
you get to keep them, the type of proofs provided, when the finished work will be
ready, and how long the negatives will be kept in the photographer’s filing system (if
they’re not given to you).
Remember, price is not the most important item – look for quality and creativity.
Also make sure that they will respect the sacredness of the ceremony and not turn it
into a “show” (i.e. some photographers disregard this and take flash pictures during
the ceremony or walk up and down the aisle just so they can get the best pictures).
Be sure you feel comfortable with the photographer.
Note for photographers looking for tips and advice – make the couple relaxed and
comfortable, make that your number one goal. The poses will come naturally.
Twitterme up here: twitter.com/dahul

Photos During the Ceremony

• Interior of the church (or other wedding site) with guests
• Lighting of church candles
• Parents and other honored guests being escorted to seats
• Entrance of minister (or other officiant), groom, and groomsmen
• Minister, groom, and groomsmen waiting at altar
• Entrance of bridesmaids (escorted or unescorted)
• Entrance of flower girl and ring bearer
• Entrance of bride and father (or other escort)
• Father giving away bride
• Various shots during the ceremony (usually without flash and from the back of the
church, from balcony, or best available vantage point)
• Telephoto close-ups of bride, groom, and officiant at altar
• Wide-angle shots of entire wedding party at altar
• Special moments (such as bride and groom facing one another, lighting of unity
candle, vows, ring exchange, kiss, presentation of bride and groom to the guests as
new husband and wife)
• The recessional (bride and groom walking back down aisle, groomsmen escorting
bridesmaids down the aisle)

Formal Photos after the ceremony (see note below)

Various combinations and numbers of the following photographs are
typical.
• Bride (several shots)
• Groom (several shots)
• Bride and groom (several shots)
• Bride, groom and minister (or other officiant)
• Bride with maid of honor
• Bride with bridesmaids
• Bride with flower girl
• Groom with best man
• Groom with groomsmen
• Groom with ring bearer
• Bride and groom with bridesmaids
• Bride and groom with groomsmen
• Bride and groom with maid of honor and best man
• Bride and groom with flower girl/ring bearer
• Bride and groom with entire wedding party (bridesmaids,
groomsmen, flower girl, ring bearer, ushers)
• Bride and groom with bride’s parents
• Bride and groom with groom’s parents
• Bride and groom with both sets of parents
• Bride and groom with bride’s extended family (grandparents, sisters
and brothers, other special family members – various combinations
are usually desired)
• Bride and groom with groom’s extended family (grandparents,
sisters and brothers, other special family members – various
combinations are usually desired)
• Bride and groom with any special friends/guests in attendance
Wedding Photography Poses Checklist
Photos to be taken before arriving at the Ceremony
Location:
 _ Mother/Maid of Honor adjusting veil
 _ Bride putting on garter with Bridesmaids looking on
 _ Bride in her dressing room with mirror
 _ Corsage being pinned on Mother
 _ Boutonniere being pinned on Father
 _ Mother and Bride
 _ Father and Bride
 _ Brothers and sisters and bride
 _ Group Shot of Bride and Bridesmaids
 _ Individual shots of Bride with each Bridesmaid
 _ Bride leaving house with Parents and Bridesmaids
 _ Father helping bride into car
Photos during the Ceremony (Pre-approved by
officiator)
 _ Bride's Mother on usher's arm
 _ Groom's Mother on usher's arm
 _ Grandparents accompanied down the aisle
 _ Other people accompanied down aisle 
 _ Bridal party coming down the aisle
 _ Bridesmaids, flower girls, and ring bearer coming down the aisle
 _ Bride being taken down aisle by father
 _ Father giving away bride
 _ Special Decorations at the Ceremony Venue
After the Ceremony at the Location
 _ Bride and groom coming down the aisle
 _ Receiving line right after ceremony
 _ Best man signing certificate with bride and groom looking on
 _ Matron of honor signing certificate with bride and groom looking on
Bride's Group Shots: Traditional and Romantic
 _ Bride solo with 2 or 3 lighting configurations 
 _ Bride with Bridemaids flowers around her
 _ Bride and Groomsmen
 _ Bride and bridemaids on the steps of the church or other picturesque
location 
 _ Group shots back inside church  (Use church altar/steps, etc. as a
studio)
 _ Bride with her parents
 _ Bride with her mother
 _ Bride with her father
 _ Bride and Matron of Honor 
 _ Bride kissing Father on the cheek (vice versa) 
 _ Bride and Mother with Father looking on
 _ Bride and Bridesmaids group pose in vestibule or dressing room
 _ Mood shots in and around the church/grounds and/or  on the way to
the weddings reception site.
Groom's Group Shots: Traditional and Romantic
 _ Groom solo with 2 or 3 lighting configurations 
 _ Groom with Bridemaids
 _ Groom and Groomsmen
 _ Groom and bridemaids on the steps of the church or other picturesque
location 
 _ Group shots back inside church  (Use church altar/steps, etc. as a
studio)
 _ Groom with his Parents
 _ Groom with his Mother
 _ Groom with his Father
 _ Best Man adjusting Groom's tie
 _ Groom and Best Man handshaking, etc. 
 _ Stylish shots in and around the church/grounds and/or  on the way to
the weddings reception site.
Bride and Groom Shots (Indoors): Traditional and
Romantic
 _ Groom kissing Bride at the altar full length
 _ Groom kissing Bride at the altar 3/4 pose
 _ Groom kissing Bride at the altar tight head shot pose
 _ Groom putting ring on Bride's finger
 _ Bride putting ring on Groom's finger
 _ Bride and Groom lighting candles, full length
 _ Bride and Groom lighting candles, 3/4 pose
 _ Bride and Groom's hands with rings and flowers
 _ Bride and Groom with officiator
 _ Bride and Groom and bridal party with officiator
 _ Bride and groom at church door (or stained glass window) in silhouette
 _ Bride and groom on the steps of church
 _ Bride and groom with bridal party standing
 _ Bride and groom with bridal party sitting
 _ Bride and groom with bridal party  (alternating male and female)
 _ Bride and groom with all of the Brides family
  _ Bride and groom with brides immediate family
 _ Bride and groom with bride's parents
 _ Bride and groom with all of the groom's family
 _ Bride and groom with groom's immediate family
 _ Bride and groom with groom's parents
 _ Bride and groom with both sets of parents
 _ Bride and/or groom with special family members  (e.g. favorite uncle,
best friend, generations photograph, etc)
 _ Bride and groom leaving inside of church
 _ Getting into car or limo
 _ Shot through the sun roof of the limo
 _ Shot while seated in limo
 _ Wide shot of church/ceremony site and limo
 _ Mood shots in and around the church/grounds and/or  on the way to
the weddings reception site.
Group Shots (Outdoors): Traditional and Romantic
 _ Outdoor shots of bride and groom (around special outdoor decorations
like arches, gazebos or other themed decorations)
 _ Outdoor shots of wedding party
 _ Shots of groom and best man
 _ Shots of groom and groomsmen
 _ Shots of bride and maid of honor
 _ Shots of bride and bridesmaids 
 _ Other Group shots
At the Reception
 _ Receiving line (If not taken earlier)
 _ Wedding cake (prior to being cut)
 _ Guest book
 _ Guests signing book
 _ Wedding Favors
 _ Gift table
 _ Introduction of the wedding party
 _ Wedding party toasting bride and groom
  _ Close up of bride and groom toasting
 _ Close up of bride and groom at head table kissing
 _ Group shots of guests at their table during the meal
 _ First dance
 _ Parent dance
 _ Bride and father dance
 _ Groom and mother dance
 _ Parents dancing
 _ Bridal party dancing
 _ Guest dancing
 _ Bride showing rings to bridesmaids
 _ General dancing shots (wide and close up)
 _ Flower girl and ring bearer together
 _ Candids of guests and bridal party as conditions permit
 _ Bride and groom posed in front of the cake
 _ Cutting the cake
 _ Bride and groom feeding cake to one another
 _ Bride faking the bouquet toss
 _ Bride throwing the bouquet
 _ The catch of the bouquet
 _ Groom taking off garter
 _ Groom and garter
 _ Groom throwing the garter
 _ The catch of the garter
 _ Group shot of bride and groom with the recipients of the  bouquet and
garter
 _ Guest leaving
 _ Posed departure shot of bride and groom (kissing, waving, etc.)
 _ Getaway car
 _ Bride and groom leaving reception area (birdseed, rose pedals)
 _ Bride and groom in car as it goes in to the distance.
Your Guide to the guides
A brief  description  of what you will find in each guide

Guide 1. Bride with long train - standing alone 

Guide 2. Bride with long train - standing alone - and with train removed 
Guide 3. Bride - standing alone and in close-up 
Guide 4. Bride & groom - standing together 
Guide 5. Bride & groom - standing together 
Guide 6. Bride & groom - standing - embracing 
Guide 7. Bride alone - seated on ground - gown spread out (also joined by groom) 
Guide 8. Bride & groom - mixed poses 
Guide 9. Bride seated on ground, interacting with groom 
Guide 10. Bride standing - groom on one knee 
Guide 11. Bride & groom apart, then coming together, plus close-ups of bride with rose 
Guide 12. Bride leaning against groom 
Guide 13. Bride seated alone and with the groom seated on the floor 
Guide 14. Bride seated - groom standing and groom seated. 
Guide 15. Couple standing - backs to camera, and sideways. 
Guide 16. Holding hands while standing apart - almost like dancing. 
Guide 17. Bride seated. Groom seated and standing. 
Guide 18. Portraits of the groom, and the bride with a single rose