20 Couple Photoshoot Poses for People Who Hate Posing

Most people do not photograph badly. They photograph badly when someone says “okay, now pose”. The fix is to give your hands and eyes a job, so there is nothing left to be awkward about. The twenty poses below are sorted from “no eye contact needed” to “look at the camera”, so you can start where you are comfortable and work up.

Level 1: nobody looks at the camera

1. Back hug, eyes closed. One person behind, arms around the waist. Both close their eyes. Breathe out. Shoot.
2. Forehead to forehead. Stand close, touch foreheads, look down at each other’s lips. The instruction that fixes it: “smile with your mouth closed”.
3. Walk away holding hands. Ten slow steps away from the camera. Nobody looks back the first time.
4. The whisper. One person tells the other something ridiculous. The reaction is the photo.
5. Fix the collar. She adjusts his collar or tie; he watches her hands.
6. Read together. A book, a phone, a menu. Heads close, eyes on the page.
7. Sit back to back. On the floor or a low wall, leaning on each other. Look at the sky.

Level 2: one person looks at the camera

8. Cheek kiss, she looks. He kisses her cheek, she looks straight into the lens with a small smile.
9. Over the shoulder. Walk away, one person turns back on the count of three.
10. Piggyback. The one being carried looks at the camera. The one carrying looks at the ground and laughs.
11. Chin on shoulder. She rests her chin on his shoulder from behind and looks at the lens; he looks off to the side.
12. Bouquet peek. Bouquet up to cover his face, she looks out from beside it.
13. The hand hold with a turn. Hold hands at arm’s length, one person turns toward the camera as if pulled.

Level 3: both look at the camera

14. Cheek to cheek. Press cheeks together, both look. Tilt heads slightly toward each other.
15. The seated pair. One chair. One sits, one stands behind with a hand on the shoulder.
16. Arms crossed, shoulders touching. Confident, editorial, good in a suit and a slip dress.
17. Umbrella frame. Share an umbrella and let the edge cut the top of the frame.
18. The lift. Carry her in front of you. Everyone laughs, that is the frame.
19. Walking toward the camera. Talk to each other while you walk. Eyes come to the lens naturally on the last step.
20. The formal. Stand straight, hands joined in front. One frame like this belongs in every set for the parents.

Three rules that fix most stiff photos

• Give hands a job. Hold a bouquet, a jacket, a coffee, the other person. Empty hands look nervous.
• Shift weight to one leg. Straight, even weight looks like a passport photo. Bend one knee.
• Exhale before the shutter. Everyone holds their breath. Breathe out and the shoulders drop.

Posing is optional now

If the idea of being directed for two hours is the reason you have not booked anything, there is another route. TwoShotPro generates couple and wedding photos from a few selfies, including all the poses above, so the only thing you actually have to do is take a clear photo of your face. You approve a free likeness sheet first, then choose the scenes.