Perfect Poses

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
DECEMBER 2015 - Issue 2 -
Vol. 1
How
pose for
to

the special
day.
Find it here.
Ideas for
showing
off that
sparkle!
Perfect tips for
posing the ring
to show it's shine.
Can't forget
the Ladies!
Ways to get
the girls involved
on that special day.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Capture those special moments
$4.99
DECEMBER 2015
PERFECTPOSES.COM
2 | Perfect Poses - Issue 2 - DECEMBER 2015

Perfect Poses
The ultimate guide to wedding
photography. Whenever those
times get scrunched, there are mo-
ments that go missed. Thanks to a
THE WEDDING GUIDE. photographer, those moments are
captured and saved forever! While
those are important aspects, getting
that perfect picture on the big day is

3 what really counts.

All About the Bride
Everyone knows that the wedding day is all
about the bride, take a look to find eye ap-
pealing poses just for her.

4 Only for the Man

Yes, wedding day is for the man, too. We
have come up with a great compilation for

Three him.

5 Bride & Groom - TOGETHER

The wedding cannot go on without captur
ing those two perfects side by side.

6 Can't forget the Ladies!

Get the girls together for some fun trying
out these unique poses.

7 The Ring
That sparkle is what everyone should know

Four

about. Find some jaw dropping ways to
make that sparkle really sparkle.

Six

Five Seven

Why to have Bridal Portraits Taken
by Jada Parrish
Bridal portraits are a very popular
Southern wedding tradition. Brides
usually have their bridal portraits tak-
en a few weeks before their wedding.
They are such a nice keepsake for both
you and your family. On your wedding
day, your photographer will definitely
take a few portraits of you, but more
and more brides are opting to have
a full bridal portrait shoot. Here are 5
reasons that you should have bridal
portraits taken before your wedding:
1. You Can Take More Time With Them.
Weddings are an uncontrolled event
that follow a strict timeline. It is very im-
portant that your photographer stick
to your wedding timeline, so that all of
your wedding festivities stay on sched-
ule. This means that your photogra-
pher is going to have to move relative-
ly quickly to capture all of the photos
on your wedding shot list. Having
bridal portraits taken before your wed-
ding will allow your photographer to
spend more time on the shoot. They
will be able to take their time, takes
tons of photos, and give you plenty
of options to choose from. Moving
more slowly through the shoot, will
help you feel more relaxed and allow
you to try out many different poses.
2. Use It As A Test Run. A bridal portrait
shoot almost serves as a test run for
your wedding day. It is the perfect op-
portunity to see how your entire brid-
al ensemble [ wedding gown, hair,
Courtesy Photos...
Brides love for their portraits to show beauty.
Issue 2 - DECEMBER 2015 - Perfect Poses | 3
Jeniffer is making sure to get that perfect profile picture that really shows her sparkle.
makeup, accessories ] comes togeth-
er. You can make any necessary ad-
justments before your actual wedding
day. I also think this is a great opportu-
nity to do a bouquet test run as well.
Have your florist make up a mock wed-
ding bouquet for you to use during
your portraits, that way you can make
sure it is exactly what you wanted.
3. You Can Go to More Locations.
Having your bridal portraits taken
before your wedding gives you so
much more flexibility. On your wed-
ding day, your photographer will
be somewhat limited with where
they can photograph you -- they
will want to keep you hidden from
guests and from your groom before
the wedding. If you have your bridal
portraits taken before your wedding,
you can take full advantge of your
entire wedding venue. Your photos
will have so much more diversity to
them. You can also have your photos
Courtesy Photo...
taken somewhere other than your
wedding venue if you would like.
You just have so many more options!
4. You Will Be More Comfortable on
Your Wedding Day. You will feel so
much more at ease posing for pho-
tos on your wedding day if you have
bridal portraits taken before hand. By
that time you will have a better idea of
what to expect and know which poses
are most flattering. You will also prob-
ably feel very comfortable working
with your photographer by that point.
5. It Is a Great Focal Point for Your Re-
ception. If you have your bridal por-
traits taken before you wedding, you
will have the opportunity to display it
at your wedding reception. You can
work with your wedding photogra-
pher to choose your favorite bridal
portrait. They can assist you with
printing and framing, so that it can
be a focal point at your wedding re-
ception. Guests will absolutely love it!
4 | Perfect Poses - Issue 2 - DECEMBER 2015

Poses for the Man Only - the Groom

By: ShootDotEdit
As you are shooting with the bride jacket behind his back. Tell him to jacket to create a different look than
and groom, you spend a lot of time think of his favorite magazine ad and what is already in the other images.
thinking about what wedding pho- imitate that for a compelling image. Once he is in this position, be sure to
tography poses you should use that 5. SIDE PROFILE SHOTS Try to cap- check that his arms are posed with
will make them look their best. Since ture the groom from the side to cre- his elbows out so that he looks pro-
posing is a critical part of your shoot- ate unique and dynamic images. If portionate in the photo.
ing routine, we thought we should he is always staring into the cam- 8. LEANING AGAINST A WALL As
cover another important part of the era, the images will be redundant the groom leans against a wall, he
wedding day how to pose the and may become stale. In one of may become more at ease and give
groom! The wedding day is as much the shots, be sure to have him look you a more natural pose and expres-
about him as it is the bride, and cre- down slightly while his hands are in sion. He can face his back to the wall
ating poses specifically for the groom his pocket. for one shot, then you can have him
will result in standout images that 6. CROSSED ARMS Posing the stand to the side and lean against the
they both will enjoy! groom is a bit different than posing wall. It is helpful to have the groom
1. STANDING UP STRAIGHT When the bride, and poses you use on the moving throughout the shoot so
you start off your shoot, have the bride cannot all be used with the you can keep him engaged.
groom create classic poses that help groom. In order to do this, have him 9. PLACING JACKET ON Another
him become comfortable with you stand with his arms crossed. This will way to create action within your
and the camera. While he is stand- create a pose that showcases his images is to document the groom
ing, have the him face the camera confidence in front of the camera, placing his jacket on. This is the last
and smile for a few of the shots. Try which highlights his best features. item he needs before he is ready to
to change the position of his head 7. HANDS IN POCKETS When the head to the ceremony. While he is in
as well as the angle of your camera groom is uncomfortable posing in motion, you will capture a variety of
to create dynamic images so that he certain ways, have him stand facing expressions and poses that will cre-
stays in posture and can easily smile forward with his hands in his pock- ate interest to the story of the wed-
for the shot. ets. Suggest that he unbutton his ding day.
2. ADJUSTING CUFF LINKS OR TIE
As you pose the groom, suggest that
he adjust his cuff links or his tie in the
shot. When his hands are moving,
he will not focus on posing and the
shot will look more natural. Be sure
to also capture his expression as he
focuses on the details of his attire.
3. SITTING AND LOOKING OUT
THE WINDOW Allow the groom to
sit down, on a couch or stool, and
relax while you take his solo shots.
This pose allows the groom to stop
smiling for a while and reflect on the
events of the most important day of
his life. You are sure to capture genu-
ine emotion that tells the story of the
wedding day with this pose.
4. HOLDING JACKET BEHIND HIS
BACK Every guy wants to showcase
his inner (masculine) model during Courtesy Photos...
his individual shoot. A creative way Mark, Jason, Kyle, John, Matt all prepare for their
big day.
to portray this is to have him hold his

Perfect poses for the Bride and Groom
Posing a couple is about get-
ting them into a position that
looks good visually and then
providing the spark that lights
up the shot and makes it feel
natural. Heres ten steps to
better poses:
1) Look at the shape being
created by the bride and
groom. The more interesting
the outline of the bride and
groom, the more interest-
ing the shot. If what you see
when you look at their out-
line is just a rectangle two
bodies just stuck together
youve probably got a bor-
ing shot. What I like to see
are legs and arms away from
the body, head bent, bodies
angled etc. 2) Arms
Courtesy Photo...
Jason and Lucy showing their true affection for one another.
should never lie flat against
the body.
When ever possible, arms
should be bent and away
from the body if even just
slightly so that you can see
daylight between the arm
and the body. This not only
makes for a more interesting
photo, it also make the person
look thinner which is never
a bad thing.
3) Keep the hands out of the
front pocket. Guys instinctively
will plop their hands in their
pockets. If the groom is with
the bride, it often makes him
look uninterested. Holding
hands or touching creates a
greater sense of connected-
ness. If you are going to have
Issue 2 - DECEMBER 2015 - Perfect Poses | 5
Courtesy Photo...
Anthony and Hannah making a heart together.
the groom place his hands in
a pocket, dont let the hand
disappear completely. Have
him hook his thumb outside
the pocket to keep the hand
partially visible. Consider hav-
ing the groom hook his hand
on his belt instead of putting
it in the pocket so that it
doesnt get lost.
4) The hands are the key
to a great pose. One of my
favorite poses has the bride
place her left hand behind
the grooms head. Not only
do you create a wonderful
connection with the shot,
but you also see the sparkly
engagement ring and wed-
ding band as well. Place
the hands and the body
will follow. Place the hands
on the waist or hips when-
ever appropriate. This bends
the arm, and breaks up the
dreaded rectangle.
5) Avoid kissing. Instead of
kissing, Ill tell the two to get
as close as they can with-
out kissing. That always leads
to fun interactions and usu-
ally a spontaneous laugh
which youd better be ready
for! Or Ill let them kiss, but
the shot that I want is the
moment right after the kiss.
Thats where you see the fun
looks and natural expressions.
Dont be like most photogra-
phers and start checking out
the LCD at this point. Keep
your eye on the camera so
that you can capture the
magic as it unfolds.
6) Kiss somewhere other than
on the lips. Try the cheek,
shoulder or even neck. Cre-
ate a fun alternative to the full
make-out session. Get playful.
Have the groom looking at
you and the bride in profile
kissing the groom. Odds are
shell leave lipstick on him.
Stick with the shot as she
laughs and wipes it off.
7) Place them on different
heights. This goes back to
breaking up the big rectan-
gle. If the bride is on a bench,
then shes got to lean way
over. Have her rest her wrists
on the grooms shoulder with
the bouquet over his back. By
having the bride taller than
the groom, youre lightening
up the mood and making
things different for the two
of them. Anytime you break
up the norm, thats when sur-
prises happen.
6 | Perfect Poses - Issue 2 - DECEMBER 2015
Great Photo Ideas for the Bridesmaids
By Isabel Hicks -
The photos of you and your bride-
maids will no doubt be some of your
most treasured from the day, so
why not take advantage of having
all your girls around you and create
some fun photo opportunities that
youll love?
Perfect props
With photobooths becoming more
and more popular at weddings,
brides these days know the impor-
tance of a funny prop! Moustaches,
glasses, hats and wigs make for
hilarious photo opportunities with all
your guests, but make sure you get
your photographer sends the images
through!
Cuddle with mum
If you have tiny flowergirls or if your
bridesmaids have young children of
their own, its nice to get a candid shot
of the family having a quick cuddle,
especially if the little ones are all dolled
up for the occasion.
Sign of the times
One of our favourite sign trends is for
the bridesmaids to write where and
when they first met the bride.
Funny face
Having younger bridesmaids or flower
girls is great for unintentionally hilari-
ous photo opportunities. Get your little
at least one with just you and the girls!
Getting ready
This ones a classic, but a surprising
number of brides forget it! Whether
its a natural shot of you all prepping
for the big day or a posed group
photo of you all together (these work
particularly well if youre wearing
matching robes, pyjamas or t-shirts!),
make sure you capture the atmo-
sphere of excitement and anticipation
before the ceremony.
Hes the one!
Dont forget to get a shot of your
bridesmaids with the groom! It may
not be traditional, but it makes for
a lovely photo that youll treasure.
The girls are getting ready for their best friend's big day. Gotta stop for a photo shoot.
ones to goof it up for the camera for a
sweet picture that youll love.
Give us a kiss
This is a cute photo opportunity that
bridesmaids of all ages can get in-
volved in. Just remember to stick to air
kisses, or youre likely to end up with
lipstick smudges all over your cheeks
before the ceremony!
Huddle up
We love this sassy shot, and its the
perfect way to showcase the brides-
maids dresses, shoes and bouquets.
You want to show off your gorgeous
girls and all your hard work, after all!
Look at that sparkler!
This is another photo trend thats
This is particularly important if your
bridal party includes members of the
grooms family, such as sisters.
Bridal balloon
This shot is a double whammy we
love that the bridesmaids are twirling
in their pretty dresses, and large round
balloons like this one are very popular
for a quirky wedding photo oppor-
tunity. Action shots may be a good
option for bridesmaids who dont feel
comfortable posing, too.
Bridesmaids rule OK
Another photobooth-inspired prop is
the chalk board. Ask your girls to write
funny messages on it for the photos,
and youre sure to be chuckling once
Courtesy Photos...
made it across the pond. You can
either have this photo taken before
the ceremony, with the girls admiring
your engagement ring, or afterwards
with the wedding ring.
Looking back
This is a great opportunity to show off
the back of the bridesmaids dresses
if they have pretty details like bows or
keyholes.
Swing out sister
Many country wedding venues have
swings in their grounds, so use them
for a photo opportunity! This is a par-
ticularly good shot for brides who only
have a small number of maids but still
want the fun of a group shot.

Wedding Ring Photography Tips & Ideas
Ring shots are an important aspect of
wedding photography. Besides the fact
that clients pay a whole lot of cash for
them, theyre important because of their
significance as a symbol of their union.
And as such, they tell an aspect of the
wedding day story thats unmatched by
any of the other wedding details, like the
brides shoes even the bouquet and gar-
ter.
Gone are the days of boring ring shots!
The classic shot of the rings on top of the
wedding day itinerary with their names
and date as abackground isoverdone.
And showing a close up of the couple
holding hands, exposing their rings is,
well, a little played out. Its time to think
creatively. Its time to apply to rings shots
all of the photography skills, techniques,
and knowledge that we utilize in other
aspects of our photography. Really, its
time to think of the wedding rings like
you think of your bride and groom in that
you want to deliver shots of your subjects
with creative light, creative compositions
and interesting backgrounds.
Here are 10 tips for getting better shots of
Wedding Rings.
1) Use a Macro Lens
Macro Lenses arent the cheapest
lenses,especiallywhen you take into
consideration that fact that you might
only be using them for one or two shot-
sthroughoutthe entire day, but its very
important to pick one up if youre con-
sidering adding good ring shots to your
wedding photography portfolio. If youre
Courtesy Photo...
Rings placed on a board to give a more rus-
tic look.
Issue 2 - DECEMBER 2015 - Perfect Poses | 7
on a Canon, youre probably looking at
the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Pin It or the
EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Pin It if you can afford
it. All other camera makers should have
equivalents.
2) Use Manual Focus and Take Multiple
Shots
Its going to be tough to rely on auto fo-
cus in this situation, as its just not accurate
enough. Get used to focusing manually,
take multiple shots, and make sure you
zoom in as youre checking the images
on the LCD to make sure you come away Courtesy Photo...
with a sharp, perfect focus. Theres noth- Rings that were place on a weed for a great
ing worse than having a great shot set nature photo.
up and not coming away with a usable
image. top, a piano or any other reflective surface.
3) Turn Up Your Aperture 6) Find Interesting Lighting
Crank up the aperture as high as you Often times, you can find interesting light-
ing by piggybacking off of the Lighting
setup at a reception hall and utilizing the
lights placed against the wall or surround-
ing the tables or trees. Make sure youre not
using direct flash (ideally using a video light
Pin It), as you dont want the background
lighting to be flashed out.
Keep in mind that bokeh on small back-
ground lights look great.
Courtesy Photo... 7) Find Balanced Backgrounds
Rings placed in a book. Symmetry and balance are the key to cer-
can take it (most likely around F4.0-F5.6) tain types of ring shots. Since youre deal-
without having your shutters drop below ing with such intricate detail, the slightest
an acceptable level. Whats acceptable? shift can throw your whole image off. For
Thats going to depend on your lighting example, if the image has a focus directly
and the presence or absence of flash, down the center, make sure everything is
but in general, make sure youre at least aligned. If your image has prefect symme-
above 1/100th. Why take your apertures try, adjust it so that its as close to perfect as
up? Theres a lot of detail beyond that your lighting and time will allow.
initial plane that youre going to want to 8) Think Creatively
capture. Dont forget to think outside of the box. Use
4) Use Additional Sharpening in Photo- silhouettes and other creative lighting tech-
shop niques. Place the rings in front of unique
Dont forget to cheat a little bit and touch backgrounds. Or surround the rings with
up/sharpen your rings in Photoshop to something interesting, like candles or flow-
give them that extra pop. ers. Unlike much of the wedding day, you
5) Find a Reflection actually have full control of this moment,
Find and utilize reflections to create verti- and you and your clients will appreciate
cal symmetry and add interest to a scene. the creativity and the attention to detail in
This can be a glass table, a granite counter these shots.
Perfect Poses THE ULTIMATE WEDDING GUIDE

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