who am i, you may be wondering?
I'm Jennifer! Bay Area Engagement Photographer + Posing Expert
"Expert" sounds a little intense - let's just say I specialize in Engagement Photos and have been helping my couples pose naturally and effectively for 6+ years now!
I know all the poses and prompts to help you and your partner absolutely smash your engagement session, and I'm going to let you in on all my best ones.
Walking - it truly deserves it's own category!
I could write a Ted Talk about the variations of walking you could do for an engagement session. Seriously. The classic walking towards me, the arm over the shoulder walk, the follow the leader walk, walking away from me. There's also the drunk walk (walk kind of crazy, stumbling all around and pulling each other - designed to make each other laugh!), and the push and pull walk (you hold hands but keep some space between you two so you can pull each other in and push each other out, as the name implies).
Walk towards me
The classic - hold hands and walk towards me. I always encourage my couples to look at each other, or out at the views around them during this. (It's awkward if you're staring at the camera the whole time)
Arm over your shoulder
Slight variation - Have your partner put their arm over your shoulder. Make sure you interlock your hands. It's also a great opportunity for them to kiss your forehead!
Follow the leader
Instead of walking towards me, this one you walk across from me. Perpendicular, if you will. One person leads the other, and the key is to keep a little distance between you two, arm's length apart.
Walk away from me
Walking away from me always comes across as a sweet, natural moment. Sometimes I ask one partner to look back at me or even flash their ring hand at me as they walk away.
Close ups of your ring
This is an engagement session after all! I love to get close up shots showcasing your beautiful new ring. I do this in a variety of ways, and some of my favorites are shown below. There are many ways we can utilize close ups of your hands with the ring in full view, or the ring by itself. Which one is your favorite?
Ring in the flowers
I always look around at what the location has to offer, and try to find a creative way to get a close up shot of your ring. I'll gravitate towards placing it in a flower or otherwise interacting with the natural environment however possible.
Hands on their neck
Of course, we have to get the classic pose of wrapping your hands around your partner's neck! You could layer your hands on top of each other, but I personally like how it's done in the photo above with one hand above the other.
Hands reaching for each other
I love doing a photo where your hands are reaching for each other but not quite touching. It's giving *Sistine Chapel*.
POV: admiring the ring
By shooting the camera over your partner's shoulder, I can get a nice shot of their point of view of you two admiring the ring together.
Standing poses
Let's face it, most of the session will likely be standing. But that doesn't mean it has to be boring! Here are some variations I like to do to the classic standing pose.
Back to back
Exactly as it sounds. Go back to back with your partner, and reach for your hands. Bonus points if you lean your heads back against each other and close your eyes, like you're really taking in the moment.
Little spoon
Let's be so for real - men love to be the little spoon! This pose is for them. Have one partner stand facing away with both their hands in their pockets. The other partner will stand behind and hold onto their arm.
Reach back
Start by having one partner in front of the other, in some what of a spoon position. Have the partner in front reach back their hand to caress the neck/cheek of their partner!
Hold hands, arm's length apart
I do this pose at every single session, without fail! Something about it is so simple yet elegant. Hold hands like normal, but take a step apart to create a little distance between you two. Change up the way you're looking, from looking at each other to looking at the camera to looking opposite ways.
Sitting poses
Sitting poses are some of my absolute favorites. There's something about them that automatically makes the couple look more natural. There's many ways we can sit, from in between the legs to side to side, even back to back or facing each other. Check out some of my favorite sitting poses below.
Sit in between their legs
The most classic way I like to do a sitting photo is by sitting in between your partner's legs. This is the basic pose, but from there we can do lots of variations with what you do with your hands.
Sit facing each other on their lap
This pose is for the more adventurous couples. It might not seem that crazy, but it gives off a unique vibe (and you'll likely need to be wearing pants, not a long dress).
Sit next to each other
I call this picnic style! You simply sit next to each other, typically with the man's legs more forward (maybe with one knee up for a more casual look) and the ladies' legs elongated out to the side. Snuggle up close!
Sit with your arms around their shoulders
This pose doesn't have to be on the stairs, as pictured here. You can also achieve this look by one person sitting on their butt, and the other person sitting on their knees to get the higher vantage point to rest their arms around the other persons' shoulders.
Laying poses
One thing about me - I loveee a laying pose. They're always some of my favorite shots at the end of a session. Something about them is just so adorable, unique, and romantic. I can bring a blanket if you don't want to lay on the actual ground, but it can add a great element if you're willing to lay amidst the nature!
Lay opposite ways with your heads together
Exactly how it sounds. I'll have both of you lay on the ground, opposite ways so that your heads will be in roughly the same area. In this photo, she has her head resting on his chest, giving the perfect angle for them to look at each other.
Lay on their lap
This pose is too cute, and you can't convince me otherwise! One partner sits up, potentially with one knee up to help prop up their partner's head. The other person will lay in their lap, rotating between looking at me and each other.
Lay on your belly
While one partner gets the easy job of sitting up, the other partner will have to be a bit of a trooper. They'll lie on their belly, with their legs kicked up. From there you can look at each other, lean in for a kiss, etc.
Movement poses
Many photographers will say that movement-based poses are their favorites! This is because any movement the couple does will create a more natural look, compared to potentially looking stiff in a still pose. Here are some prompts to try for your own engagement session -
Chase each other
Chasing each other is so cute for engagement photos! It gives off such a playful, candid energy. I love to adjust my camera settings to capture motion blur for some of these as well, giving a cinematic look.
Hold hands + spin in circles
I call this the Titanic. (Anyone remember Jack and Rose doing this?) It's just as it looks - you'll face your partner and hold both their hands, and spin each other in circles until you get dizzy!
Spin
Spinning is a great, easy pose. Some people ask me what direction they should spin. That doesn't really matter to me, I'll usually just advise to try both ways and see if one feels more natural to you.
The cradle pick up
I don't know why I call this one the cradle pick up, but if you hear me say that know this is what I mean! You'll pick your partner up all the way, then dip them back. I love when the person lets their head hang - it gives such a free-spirited vibe!
Mid/Close ups
A lot of these poses I might start with getting a full body shot, and then I can move into a close up. But these ones in particular are even better at a mid to close up range!
Kiss your hand
It's simple - your partner will kiss your hand in a way that will show off that engagement ring.
Hand on their neck
I have to get this shot at every engagement session! It's the perfect way to showcase the ring hand, while also seeing both your faces nicely in a close up. You can rub noses, go in for a kiss, "kiss with your teeth" (almost kiss, but stay smiling at each other), etc.
Forehead to forehead
This is somewhat of a stereotypical photoshoot pose. Going forehead to forehead can give the appearance of being super connected as a couple, so I'm here for it, as cheesy as it is!
Kiss attack
This one I'm actually super specific about! I have you stand close together, with your partner having both hands around your neck (in a romantic way, not a choking way). They'll rapidly kiss you all over (cheek, neck, temple, forehead) while you try to dodge the kisses. Trying to dodge the kiss attack always causes laughter, and great close up shots!
Classic poses
There are some poses you simply have to get at every engagement session. The ones mom will want to frame, or that you'll likely use on you Save the Dates. These are some of mine!
Classic smiling
There are different ways to pose a classic smiling photo. I personally like to have you stand next to each other holding hands, and have you hold your partner's arm with your ring hand as well. This way I can still incorporate the ring, and give a great traditional vibe.
Kiss + kick up your leg
A lot of poses I'll have you start by facing each other with your hand draped around your partner's neck. From there, I feel like it's such a classic pose to kick your leg up and really lean into the kiss. So cute!
Pick up under the butt
I love this pose. It's a classic for a reason! Your partner will pick you up from underneath the butt, and you'll kick your feet up as you wrap your arms around their neck. Optional: run and jump into their arms, or have them spin you around once you're in position.
Dip + kiss
Such a classic! The dip and kiss can actually be trickier than it sounds. You'll want to grab the thigh of your parter (their leg that's closer to me) and sort of lunge to dip them back. From there, you can kiss or let you head hang back.
More poses that showcase your ring
This isn't just any couple's photoshoot - this is your engagement photoshoot! Naturally, we have to get lots of photos showing off that rock. Here are some poses you can try:
Admire the ring together
There are many variations you can do with this! Your partner could cuddle you from behind and kiss you on the cheek while you look at your ring hand. You could sit snuggled up with them and admire the ring or look deep into each other's eyes while you extend the hand out.
I got the ring!
I call this the classic "I got the ring!" shot! Have your partner throw you over their shoulder and run away with you, while you flash your ring hand back at me.
Flash the ring at me
You could extend your ring hand out towards me, or keep it more subtle by tracing your ring hand around your chest/shoulder area. You can stand next to each other, or have your partner spoon you from behind.
Contact me to book your dream engagement session
I hope this gave you inspo for your own engagement shoot!
Of course each session is different, and I like to get to know each couple a bit through my questionnaire and simply chatting to assess their desired vibe for the photoshoot. Some are down to be super playful and physical with the poses, chasing each other and jumping into each other's arms. Some are more reserved, and might do best with a sitting pose or something more intimate. Both are amazing!
I'll be here to help guide you with these poses, but hope this helped give you some ideas you can try!
