Do you have a couple’s photo session planned but have no idea what poses will work best for the pictures? This post is for you. We have prepared a list of some of the most creative and romantic couple poses that you can use as an inspiration and guide.
Knowing some awesome poses for couples will help you feel more confident and make your photoshoot more successful. Other factors, such as location choices and outfit styles, help to form the theme of your photoshoot, and we will discuss them later in this post.
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Equipment that I use: Cameras: Canon EOS R5; Canon EOS R6
Lenses: Canon RF 85/1.2L; Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L; Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L
Light: Profoto B1 500 | Computer: Apple MacBook Pro | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
TYPES OF COUPLES PHOTOSHOOTS
You might be surprised to find out that there are different types of couples photoshoots. Couple poses depend on the kind of photo session you are having. Let’s determine the most common types of couples photoshoots.
ENGAGEMENT PHOTOSHOOT
An engagement photoshoot is a fun photo session that highlights the love of the newly engaged couple. It’s important to choose poses that bring the couple closer together, showcasing their love and affection. Simple poses such as holding hands, leaning heads together, or just making eye contact, can help make your images more intimate.
WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT
Wedding photoshoot is a more formal session where the couple is wearing specific outfits. These sessions typically include a balance of formal portraits and romantic couple pictures. One way of achieving romantic wedding pictures is to have a day after wedding photoshoot at a beautiful location with just the newlyweds. This type of photoshoot is meant to capture the couple’s genuine emotions and sincere love toward one another through authentic poses.
MATERNITY PHOTOSHOOT
Maternity photoshoot is a session for couples where the mother-to-be is getting the center of attention. This session is centered on capturing the mother’s belly and the last months of the couple being just the two of them. During maternity photoshoot, the woman gently places her hands around the stomach. All maternity poses are focused on showcasing mommy’s belly in anticipation of the baby’s arrival.
FAMILY PHOTOSHOOT
Family photoshoots are the time when your photographer is photographing you as a family, capturing your children’s growth and big milestones. One thing that many parents often forget is to take photos of them as a couple, and not just with the children. Make sure you ask your photographer to dedicate a few moments of their time to capture romantic moments of you as a couple. I can guarantee that these photos will be some of your most memorable images from each photo session.
If you are looking for a Sacramento based portrait photographer, Bidun Studio Photography is happy to offer our services. You can see more of our portraits gallery here.
IDEAS FOR COUPLE POSES
To give you some ideas and visuals for couples poses, we have put together a list of our most favorite poses. I hope you find them inspirational and helpful for your couple’s photoshoot.
COUPLE FACING EACH OTHER
This gentle and romantic pose suits well for engagement photo sessions. It’s great to start the photoshoot with simple poses that don’t require much flexibility or special skills. Shooting in a relaxing atmosphere will allow you to feel and look more natural in front of the camera.
With the bodies facing each other and a gentle hug – the image conveys a sense of love and protection. At the same time, it’s hard not to notice how much the couple enjoys this tender moment. This image will look amazing both from far away – to show the beauty of nature and in a portrait mode.
COUPLE WALKING ON THE BEACH POSES
Some of the most natural emotions come out when the couple is taking a slow walk while holding hands. You can look at each other, exchange some laughs, or say something romantic to each other while the photographer captures every moment. It’s a great idea to have one partner slightly ahead of the other and leading the way. Clean locations such as a beach are wonderful for this type of walking couple’s pictures.
GIVING HER A TWIRL
To achieve the best twirling shots, make sure you are in an open area where you can be photographed full-body. The guy is gently holding his partner’s hand while she does a few twirls. Try to make eye contact and smile at each other when you go for this pose. If the lady is wearing a flowy dress, it will be a big bonus and help make the images more striking.
GO FOR A ROMANTIC DIP POSE
You can achieve romantic couple’s shots with this dip pose. With the couple facing each other, they can either make eye contact, smile or share a few love whispers. The female needs to position her legs with knees slightly bent. Any location will work for this pose, but taking pictures in the shallow water is a super cool and romantic idea.
LEANING ONTO EACH OTHER WHILE WATCHING SUNSET
Couple’s poses are all about the connection between two people who deeply love each other. The connection is both emotional and physical. Small gestures such as a gentle touch, holding hands, or looking into each other’s eyes will add a hint of romance into your portraits. When the female is leaning onto her man while hugging him on the arm, it’s a sign of safety. The man looks brave, confident, and ready to protect his family.
SITTING POSE BY A COFFEE SHOP
If you are taking pictures out in the city, consider walking into a coffee shop for some cute couple’s photos. The interior space in coffee shops is always very cozy and has an ideal design. Outdoor shots are also very special. Here, the couple is genuinely enjoying each other’s company as they share a laugh. They are making a strong connection by holding hands and looking at each other.
HOLDING HER BY THE WAIST COUPLE POSES
This is one of the super romantic poses that many young couples love. If your fiance/husband is up for the challenge – definitely go for this creative shot. The female kicks her foot up for that playful look as the couple close their eyes, ready for a kiss. The photographer also needs to capture the moments right before the actual kiss, as their faces are not squished together and clearly visible.
SILHOUETTES IN THE RAIN
Silhouette shots for couples are one of the most romantic picture ideas. But it’s one of those tricky shots that is not easy to achieve as it requires a specific light setting. To accomplish this photo, a strong light source is needed to be put behind the subjects. The light can be either the setting sun or an off-camera flash. The main thing is that the light must be strong enough to illuminate the couple. Notice how the couple is standing facing each other, which creates a perfect profile shot. Little raindrops add a romantic touch to this photo.
COUPLE’S PICTURES WITH A DOG
Who said you couldn’t have a romantic couple’s photoshoot with a dog? This dog doesn’t steal attention from the main characters of the shoot but instead adds a bit of personality. When bringing a dog to the photoshoot, make sure also to invite a friend to help you with the dog during the session. I suggest to start the photoshoot with the dog, and when it gets tired or bored of the picture taking, delegate your friend to watch the dog while you go for the couple only shots.
The idea of ‘the almost kiss’ lets you get close to your partner and hug each other. Your photographer may take lots of different images, both full-length and in portrait mode. This setup is great for capturing different couple poses in an authentic way.
GENTLY TOUCHING THE FACE COUPLE POSES
As we’ve mentioned earlier, it might be a great idea to schedule a couple’s photoshoot while you are on a vacation trip. This was the case with this couple who vacationed in the Dominican Republic.
In this portrait, the female’s body is turned toward her guy, with one arm resting on his strong shoulder, and other gently touching the tip of his chin. This is a very tender moment, and often couples are encouraged to close eyes for a more emotional effect. The couple is truly enjoying this intimate moment in each other’s presence.
FACING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS
To add a bit of mystery to your photo, consider facing in the opposite directions. In this maternity photoshoot, the primary attention was on the mommy-to-be, so she’s facing toward the camera. With her head and shoulders leaning on her husband, it creates a beautiful and peaceful maternity portrait. The expectant mom stares into the distance while gently placing one arm under her belly.
TOUCHING WITH FOREHEADS
Couple’s pictures with closed eyes are some of my favorites. Here, the wife puts her arms around her husband’s shoulders as they lean toward each other touching the foreheads. You can see the couple’s profiles clearly with the beautiful sunset light coming from the back. There are so many variations that can be made to these couple poses. By doing simple hand movements, or having one or both partners face the camera – you will get lots of different romantic photos.
STANDING ON ONE KNEE COUPLE POSES
You might want to have a shot of your man standing on one knee as if recreating those scenes from the romantic movies. The main tip for this couple’s pose is to position each person at the right angle to the camera and use good lighting. For this night shot, I used a flash to add enough light to illuminate the main subjects of the photo. The man gives a light kiss to his fiance’s hands as his lady looks at him with love and admiration.
HUGGING POSES FOR COUPLES
What can be more reenergizing than spending time with your loved one at a magnificent location such as Yosemite National Park? Those views are so picturesque and are ideal backdrops for romantic engagement or couple’s pictures. The couple stands facing each other and hugging tightly. If the height allows, as in this case, the guy can give a kiss to his fiance’s forehead or head.
COUPLE POSES WITH FALLING LEAVES
Falling leaves are a gorgeous natural prop during any photoshoot. For this image, we used a flashlight from the back, which highlighted the couple, and the falling leaves beautifully. The couple is making a connection with their bodies and hands while looking into each other’s eyes. This romantic pose is perfect for a creative engagement photo session.
RUNNING THROUGH THE BEACH COUPLE POSES
The most authentic couple’s pictures are often achieved spontaneously. Whenever the couple is engaged in any type of activity, they tend to relax and forget about the camera being pointed at them. Running shots are one of the most fun action shots for couples. The photographer can capture you from different angles and perspectives, to get more variety of images. For any action shots, it’s important to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Choose locations such as a beach or a smooth road, where you won’t have many obstacles for the photos.
SITTING POSES FOR COUPLES
If your photoshoot location allows you to sit down, definitely go for sitting poses as well! It’s important to position the legs comfortably and naturally in this pose. Sitting at an angle to the camera will give you a good posture. This couple incorporated a camera into this shot, as a way of personalizing the photoshoot. They both look into the distance as the groom, who is also a photographer, captures the nature around them.
LOVELY EMBRACE WITH A REFLECTION
Portraits with a reflection are some of the most creative ones, as well as ones that are harder to accomplish. The photographer must find a reflective surface, glass, or a mirror to achieve this shot. Different couple poses can be used for this photo, but faces must be clearly visible in the picture. Notice that one partner is leaning onto the reflective surface with his back. To get the most variations of poses, start with drawing close to each other with the lady’s hands on her man’s shoulders. Then you can slowly go for a kiss. I bet you will love these images with the reflections.
HUGGING HER FROM BEHIND POSING IDEAS
The female is usually more petite, so it’s only natural that the male is standing behind her and giving a gentle hug around her waist. There is a strong connection between the couple in this pose. Their fingers are intertwined in a warm embrace. It is a natural pose that puts the couple at ease as they can interact with each other with real emotions. The couple can whisper words of love or something sweet into each other’s ear.
HORSEBACK RIDING AS A COUPLE
Are you up for doing something extraordinary in your engagement photoshoot? Horseback riding could be an excellent option for you. It will create a unique theme for your pictures and provide a variety of ideas for couple poses. You can slowly ride the horses while holding hands, and if the horses are well trained, you even try to go for a kiss while horseback riding.
PLAYFUL SPLASHING IN THE CREEK
After getting enough of more formal couple’s portraits, why not do some fun action shots to finish the photoshoot? This couple had an engagement photoshoot by the creek and were eager to jump in the water to cool off on this hot day. The female runs away as her fiance is splashing water on her. This fun activity is perfect for adding raw and genuine emotions to your pictures.
HUGGING HIM FROM THE BACK
There are a few romantic poses for her to hug the male from the back. This one is when the female stands on some elevated surface, which will allow her to hug her man around the shoulders. These two make a strong connection with their hands, as leans closer to his face. There is a sense of comfort and safety in this couple’s pose, as well as warmth and love.
CARRYING HER IN YOUR ARMS COUPLE’S POSES
I bet a lot of women secretly wish to be swept up their feet by the love of their life. And this is a wonderful idea for a couple’s photoshoot. If you have a strong partner who is up for a fun challenge, ask him to pick you up for a few romantic shots. This needs to be a graceful act where it seems like an effortless task for the man.
CATCHING A PIGGYBACK RIDE
Another fun idea for the action couple poses is doing a piggyback ride. The female sits comfortably in the back, hugging her man around the shoulders. Her guy doesn’t need to be a superhero to pull off this pose. He just needs to stand straight and take a few steps, just enough for the photographer to capture this moment. This pose would be excellent for engagement photo sessions.
ARMS TUCKED INSIDE POSES FOR COUPLES
When the female tucks her arms inside her husband’s warm embrace, it’s a sign of comfort and protection. She feels loved, appreciated, and taken care of. Her husband gently pulls her closer to him as he quietly whispers something into her ear. Everything in her facial expressions and body language shows comfort and happiness. This pose is easy to recreate during your photoshoot, and I’m sure you will love the result of this genuine portrait.
LEANING ON HIS SHOULDER AND SHOWING OFF HER RING
Both partners are with their backs toward the camera, but their faces are turned to each other. It is a tender moment that deserves capturing. This was a proposal shoot, and one of the main things to showcase is the engagement ring. With her left hand resting on his back, and forehead leaning on his shoulder, this couple is truly enjoying their time together. Her closed eyes are a sign of absolute peace and happiness.
GOING FOR THE KISS POSES FOR COUPLES
How do you take a kissing shot without looking awkward or squishing your faces together too much? There are a few tips that couples and photographers can use. Don’t rush it, but instead lean slowly to each other, just slightly touching the lips. I bet no one likes pictures of themselves when their nose gets pressed into the cheek, creating an unpleasant image. This couple creates a beautiful connection with their hands, all while their faces are distinctly visible in a romantic light kiss.
KISS ON THE FOREHEAD POSING IDEAS
A kiss on the forehead is a lovely and romantic gesture. Like with any kissing shot, you want to make sure that it’s a light peck and not a sloppy nose-squishing thing. It’s best for both partners to close their eyes for this shot, which gives the image a deeper emotional feeling. Notice how her hand gently hugs his neck. This type of image is perfect for any engagement, maternity, and even family photoshoot.
LEANING ON HIS CHEST POSES FOR COUPLES
This couple was brave enough to take a full dip in the lake after their anniversary photoshoot. After the sun sat down, and the sky was showcasing its magical tones, we still had a few moments to capture some romantic portraits. The female leans on her husband with both of her hands and her face resting on his chest. Even with open eyes, the couple seems to be fully relaxed and enjoying this lovely moment.
Equipment that I use: Cameras: Canon EOS R5; Canon EOS R6
Lenses: Canon RF 85/1.2L; Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L; Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L
Light: Profoto B1 500 | Computer: Apple MacBook Pro | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
LYING DOWN POSES FOR COUPLES
There are many different posing ideas for couples, including lying down. Lying down poses look most natural in locations out in nature, such as a flower field. It’s important to put something under the head when lying down, so it prevents you from looking disproportional in the pictures. Placing a small object under your head will help to raise it up just enough without creating a double chin.
In the following image, the woman is lying down on her back, and her husband is lying on his side, which helps to show him just enough for this shot. Since this was also a maternity photoshoot, they are both supporting the mommy’s belly with their gentle touches.
SITTING POSES FOR COUPLE’S PHOTOSHOOT
One creative way of doing a sitting pose is to turn slightly sideways with the couple’s legs pointed in opposite directions. The female leans back with her upper body, while her man supports her with his right hand. He gives her a light peck on the forehead, which is a very romantic gesture. Once again, pay attention to how you position the legs when you are sitting down. Always point the tippy toes forward, and watch out for weird leg poses. This image is shot from a higher angle to showcase the true beauty of the surrounding nature.
Equipment that I use: Cameras: Canon EOS R5; Canon EOS R6
Lenses: Canon RF 85/1.2L; Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L; Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L
Light: Profoto B1 500 | Computer: Apple MacBook Pro | Photo by © Sergey Bidun
GETTING READY FOR A COUPLE PHOTOSHOOT
To get the best outcome from any photoshoot, there are a few other essential factors to consider in addition to posing.
HOW TO PUT TOGETHER OUTFITS
It’s important to choose outfits that complement the location where you are getting your pictures taken. For example, you wouldn’t want to wear a formal suit and tie to an outdoor photoshoot in a park. Likewise, a photoshoot at the beach calls for comfortable outfits in neutral and light colors. Read our post on beach photoshoot ideas and what outfits look best at a beach location.
Besides sticking to the theme of the photoshoot, make sure all your outfits are clean, ironed, and fit you well. Stay away from bright colored fabrics, busy patterns, or tops with words on them. All of these things will be a big distraction in your portraits. You don’t want a busy background or bright outfits to distract from your pictures.
Find out more ideas for putting together outfits for your photoshoot in our family pictures outfit ideas guide.
CHOOSING A PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION
You might have some preferences and ideas for choosing an ideal photoshoot location. If you are an engaged couple, a meaningful photo session spot could be a place where you have been proposed to. It can be a beautiful beach, a hilltop, or a flower field. Some couples even try to have their engagement pictures taken during a vacation trip.
If you are out of ideas on what location to choose for your couples photoshoot, your best bet is to consult with the photographer. By learning some of your likes and wishes, the photographer will help you choose an ideal photoshoot spot. An urban city scene, a romantic corner out in nature, or even a lifestyle photoshoot in your home – it’s all up to your personality as a couple.
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A GREAT TIME
Don’t forget to show up to the photoshoot in a positive mood, prepared for a great time. If you do all the outfit preparation ahead of time and arrange for hair & makeup – the only thing left to do during photoshoot day is to enjoy the session!
This tip mainly applies to males, as they are often the ones who say they hate to have to take pictures. If one of the partners is not fond of photoshoots, it’s important to understand that the session is meaningful to your partner and try not to ruin it with a bad mood.
An excellent reward would be to plan on a romantic dinner as a couple right after the photoshoot. It will encourage you both to relax during the photo session, enjoying every moment while looking forward to a romantic date afterward.
PERSONALIZING YOUR PHOTOSHOOT
Every person and every couple are unique, with their preferences, interests, and hobbies. One way of personalizing your photoshoot is to include your hobbies or different props into the photo session.
For instance, if you enjoy horseback riding as a couple – why not have your pictures taken at a horse ranch? You can always do an outfit change to have more romantic couple photos in addition to the laidback pictures of horseback riding.
If you have a dog, definitely consider including him into the photoshoot as well! Dogs can add lots of energy and fun to the photoshoot, and even help you be more natural in front of the camera. The best types of locations for photo sessions with a dog are in a park or at a beach. Always try to keep in mind to choose an area where you and your partner are the most comfortable.
Your pictures will look the most natural and genuine when you are being yourself. Never choose a location that you don’t like and outfits that don’t fit your personality. When you feel comfortable and relaxed during your session, your pictures will show that, and you will love the result of the photoshoot.
CONCLUSION
A photoshoot couldn’t be successful without proper preparation and planning. Is it an engagement shoot, an anniversary shoot, or some other type of couple’s photoshoot? Make sure you have some ideas of what images you are looking for, as this will help out during the session tremendously. Whether you are going for a romantic photoshoot, a fun action-filled shoot, or a thematic photo session – the images will be significantly different.
Some of the best places for finding photoshoot ideas are search engines and social media platforms. Pinterest, Instagram, and Google are places where you can find endless sources of inspiration. After finalizing your photoshoot theme, you will find and put together the outfits for your session. The photographer is usually able to guide you with the ideal location choices.
Couple’s posing ideas is the knowledge that you should have not just for the professional photoshoot but also whenever you are taking photos somewhere with your significant other on your smartphone.
I hope that this couple posing guide will serve as a reference for your future photoshoots, and you will capture many authentic moments. If you are looking for a couple’s portrait photographer in the Sacramento, California area – we are happy to offer you our service at Bidun Studio Photography.
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Photographer: Sergey Bidun
Written by Maria Bidun
