The Best Wedding Poses and Engagement Poses

What are the best wedding poses or couples poses?

Are you nervous about your engagement photos or wedding photos? Are you looking for couples poses that are fun and flattering? I compiled 25 of my favorite engagement and wedding poses for you to do during your engagement photo session or at your wedding. Keep in mind, these poses can have tons of variations. They can be changed up by adding a kiss, a laugh, the direction you're both looking, hand placement, and a dozen other things! Use this as a base to tell your photographer (or me) what you're looking for. Some are prompts and others are "hard poses." You should still have a good dose of candid moments captured as well.

1. Running Holding hands -How to Pose

This is one of my favorite poses! Even on the wedding day if the bride's dress permits. This prompt makes an adorable photo that looks effortless and candid. It usually takes two tries to get, "the shot," but it's well worth it. Hold hands with your significant other and run down the street, a trail, or a valley while gazing at each other. It works best when you're not making eye contact with the camera. Those pose also works well with all hight variations because you're not trying to pose each person to look natural and comfortable. Needless to say, it's not a traditional shot, but it's fun and exciting. It's a great way to spice up your wedding photos or engagement photos. This engagement pose is another reason why I suggest couples wear or at least bring "functional shoes" to their session.

2. Walking with Arms Linked - How to Pose

If you're not into running that's fine, link arms or hold hands with your significant other, and have a conversation while walking. This wedding pose works best when you're engaging with one another verse looking at your wedding photographer. Crack a few jokes and make each other smile for a few more good pictures. This image can be done more candidly throughout your wedding day, just remember to focus on one another a bit!

3. Closed Book - How to Pose

The distance between the two objects tells a lot about their relationship. When you get close and turn your hips towards one another snugly that signifies you're lovers, and it shows through the photos! So don't be nervous to press your up against one another. This is one of the most popular wedding poses, and it's best when it feels all touchy and lovely, so remember to GET HANDSY. Your hand placement says a lot about your relationship too. Ment tend to put a hand at their side or in their pocket. Instead put your hands all over each other, especially in this wedding pose. Touch your significant others' arms, lower back, chest, and neck. Sneak a little, butt grab in there for a few smiles if that's your style! Add nose rubs, kisses, or gaze off into the distance together in this pose.

4. Twirl and Dance - How To Pose

If you're wearing a poofy dress show it off with a few spins! I suggest doing a few of these because even with speedy cameras on burst mode it's hard to no get hair in your face or the perfect poof of the dress. When you're done twirling each other around pull your significant other in for a candid kiss!

5. The Piggyback Ride - How to Pose

This engagement pose is great for all couples but especially those with a large height difference. For instance, it's difficult for Sydney to kiss Greg on the check normally since he's a foot taller than her, and if Greg lens in it's not as flattering for him! It's fun and more playful than just staring at the camera. Ad a little spin in for more action.

6. The Booty Scoop - How To Pose

This is one of my favorite engagement and wedding poses of all time. You don't have to scope by the booty, it can be the lower back or lower legs, but of course, the bum area tends to be an easier grip. From this position either kiss, rub noses, or tilt your heads back and laugh!

7. Chin Pull - How to Pose

Curl your index finger up and lead your significant others to chin into a kiss! This always leads to an adorable photo. I like the hand under the kiss because it gives you more context and story than just two bodies pressed up together with lips locked (but that's still a great photo).

8. The Arm Hug

This is a great pose for couples of any height variations. If your partner is significantly taller than you hug on their arm and rest your shoulder on their head (pictured above). If you are roughly the same height, that's fine, you can make it look cute and natural (another variation on the left). You can switch up your hands and how you hug your partner's arm, there is no wrong or right the answer as long as it feels natural to you. This generally works best if you place your shoulder behind your partner and you get in really snug. Notice that shifting your hips towards your partner makes the image look more intimate than if both of you have your hips shifted straight towards the camera.

9. Nose Rub

We do a lot of noses rubbing here! Why? Well, it adds a little bit of anticipation which makes a photo great. While kissing photos are great and necessary, the nose rub makes it look like the moment before you go in for a kiss. Think of the painting "The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo, with the fingers almost touching with the tiny gap. The anticipation of the action happening is what makes that photo so great. For me, that's the moment before your lips meet.

10. Nose Rub with a Reach

Want to build even more anticipation? Add a little space between your bodies and reach in! This engagement or wedding pose is a great way to show of your figure and add simple bits of variation to your photos.

11. The Dip

The hardest part of this pose for couples is to generally figure out what way the dip in orientation to the camera and backdrop. Practice at home first if you know you want a dip photo and you're not used to it! You would be surprised at how many people are nervous to do this or have a difficult time doing it comfortably! Dipping beautiful takes practice!

12. Pickup and Spin

This is always a playful and fun pose. Grabe your future spouse and pick them up and swing them around (gently). If you're being held make sure you bend your knees and touch your legs in. Straight legs don't look as good or natural.

13. Whisper Sweet Nothings (or jokes)

Don't be afraid to make each other tear up or laugh. Come prepared with something cute to say, or something hysterical, and whisper it in each other's ear. While only one of you might be completely in the frame, you'll still love it when you look back and see how happy you make each other!

14. The Rockstar

I'm not entirely sure where I got the name of this pose (I may have stolen the name from someone else) but it's a favorite of mine! It makes it easy to cover each other kisses. Stand behind your significant other and instead of placing your arms around their waist come over the top with one. Then go ahead and kiss from their forehead all the way down to the should for some intimate shots. Of course, this is easier for the taller person to do, if your shorter don't be afraid to stand on something to get a better reach!

15. Sit and Snuggle

Here's a key to sitting poses, most people don't look flattering when they're lounging back, however, if you can sit up with better posture it will look much better! Make it intimate by sitting between each other's legs. Pro-tip, if you're sitting between your partner's legs and want to turn back towards them do not sit flat on your bum, instead adjust your wait to the side of your hip and you now can both reach them better!

16. The Prom Pose

Here's a twist for your prom pose (you know exactly what pose I'm talking about). Lean against something to make it feel a little more unique, just like I have Chelsea and Steve. Even though it may be one of the most generic poses I think it's still a good one to have!

17. The Hip Bump

Instead of running or walking bump hips while holding your hands. I love this because it creates big laughs instead of serious faces! This works well if you're of a similar height, but if your a foot off it may hurt a little. Be gentle!

18. The "Hi Mom" Pose

It's not exactly the prom pose, it's the one you take for your mom. She wants to see both of your outfits and your sparkling smiles. I consider your body position in these two photos "open book" because your shoulders are touching but your torsos aren't entirely facing each other. Make it a little more interesting by holding hands with each other. Sometimes couples only want "candid looking" photos and don't want a simple photo like this. I try to remind them while it may not be there favorite now, it will be their favorite later!

19. The Champagne Pop or Toast

Pop a bottle to celebrate your wedding or engagement! This creates a fun action shot that is much more cand/documentary feeling!

20. Get Handsy

Place your hands on each other's arms, booty, hips, lower back, neck, and head. Remember to wiggle your finger so your hands don't look too stressed or like you're choking one another. You always want what I call, "gentle touches." The more handsy you get the more intimate your photos will look.

21. Step and Stare

I love an epic view behind a couple as there's a little space between them. This pose looks best if you're gazing at each other so there's so connection and intimacy in the photo since the distance between your bodies. Unless.... (continue to next pose)

22. The Hipster

Do you want a really hipster vibe? Cool step apart holding hands and now look the opposite direction! Although it's not my favorite pose, it's probably my most requested pose (thank you for that, hipsters of Instagram).

23. The Female Gaze

I love this wedding shot because you can show off the ring and the bride! It also makes it look like shes gazing at her significant other. I usually try to keep them in the frame to give the photo a little more context. This isn't a traditional wedding or engagement photo, but it's a fun one. Your partner will cherish it because of the look on your face when you're gazing at them. Cute right!?

To do this extend your arms but leave a little bend in the elbow. Make sure your wring is tilted towards the camera because the photographer can focus on the wring for a shot instead of you as well!

24. The Yin and Yang

This is my favorite pose while laying down. With your heads near each other shoulders and feel free to play with each other's hair. You can lean in and kiss or just gaze around.

25. The Tickle Attack

Not everyone is ticklish but if you are it can make for a cute playful candid. Don't squeeze or tickle too hard, and I suggest making a surprise (unless one of you really hates being tickled).

How to Pose Yourself In Photos:

Flat Arms Aren't Flattering

If your arms are flat against your body it will look unflattering, this is generally true no matter what your body type is. I suggest lifting your arms of your body, even if it's just a few centimeters or an inch so they aren't pressed against yourself so they're spreading out. Practice in a mirror to see what positions look natural.

Eliminate Your Double Chin

If you're worried about a double chin press push your face out towards the camera like a "turtle." I also pretend that somethings pulling up on my head so my neck feels more stretched out, and I pull my shoulders down and slightly back. This will help the focus be on your face and eliminate the potential double chin.

Want a Curvy Figure? Arch Your Back

If you want to emphasize your curves arch your lower back so you feel like you're sticking your booty out. Or pop a hip to one side to emphasize your hourglass shape.

Want to Look Big and Strong?

Pull your shoulders back and press your chest out!

Wiggle Your Fingers

Wiggling your fingers makes it so your hands don't look awkward and stuff when you cup your significant other's face or neck.

Want to Look Slimmer?

While I'm going to tell you that you're already perfect I'll still tell you this little secret. If you want your lower half to look slimmer and more shapely put all of your weight on the leg furthest from the camera. Pop your hip back a bit. This distributes your weight and literally shifts things back, what's closer to the camera looks bigger, so you're fixing that!

Have Fun

If you're having fun it shows in your photos! Pick a place you enjoy, and also a photographer who makes you feel comfortable as well! This makes a huge difference.

Want to make sure you find those posing guide again? Pin it!

Are you looking for an engagement photo? I took all of these photos in this blog! Let's get in touch and plan your session. If you're getting married, even better! Check out my work here.

Oh hey! That's me! I'm Cassandra, a Colorado Engagement Photographer, Wedding Photographer, and Elopement photographer! I create adventure photo experiences for my clients that result in epic photos! I'm an expert in posing as well - and this includes all body types. Let me know how I can help you feel comfortable in front of the camera!