Romantic & Natural Couples Poses Made Easy

Posing for couples portraits is like sex - there are really only so many ways two human bodies can fit together. So HOW (emotionally, not mechanically) you fit together is really the important part. The trick to natural looking romantic couples photos is to choose any basic pose you like and then make it your own by injecting emotion. 

In an ideal world, you would snuggle as if you were all alone on a deserted beach, moving together as if to soft music only you can hear, the setting sun a warm golden glow on your skin as you gaze into each other's eyes with that blush of first love. The photographer would be like a unseen ghost, circling slowly around you both, camera clicking silently, capturing the loving eyes and carefree laughter before it floats away on the wind.

Yeah...well... let's get back to real life and real people like ourselves! :-) Since none of us are Hollywood stars, we'll have to do the best we can with our imperfect shy selves!

There really is, however, a little bit of acting involved. Or maybe a better word for it is emoting. I prefer to call it remembering. Because that means anyone can do it. All the images in this blog post are just to give you a starting point to know what to do with your physical bodies. Simpy pick a pose, get into position, and then OWN it by making any slight adjustments that would be how YOU would stand like that with your sweetheart. And finally, to take it from a "pose" to a real connection with your sweetheart, think of any memory or thought that helps you FEEL the love and appreciation you have for them. Think of simple, everyday things you appreciate about them. When that feeling rises in your heart, your face and eyes will soften naturally as you look at them, your hand rising of it's own accord to their arm or cheek. 

It's really as simple as that. 

The bottom line is that you could be in the perfect pose with someone, but it would still look stiff and unnatural if there was no emotional connection between you. It's that emotional connection that makes two bodies relax and connect naturally. 

One of the reasons I love to shoot weddings is because its nearly impossible to catch the bride and groom in a bad photo on their wedding day... they are so filled with emotion. Love and happiness is there in every glance, the way their hands keep straying to each other, and how their faces light up when they simply look at each other. 

All the couples images on this blog post are from surprise marriage proposals, engagements, honeymoons, anniversaries and vow renewal photography sessions but they can obviously be used for any couple in love, no matter what the occasion may be. 

If you look at the expressions on the couples in these photos you can see the love and connection they have for each other. And when you see that, it really almost doesn't matter what pose or position their bodies happen to be in. 

So the real secret to romantic couples portraits and the perfect pose has little to do with what your bodies are doing and far more to do with what your heart is feeling. I know that we can't all feel that glow of our wedding day again (especially if we've never married), but we can think of all the little things we appreciate about our partner on an everyday basis. And that is really all it takes. Feel the love, let it show. That's it.

Click. Wow, beautiful photo!

(Check out my 7 Tips For Fun & Romantic Engagement Portraits blog post)