The SMP Guide to Posing Naturally During Couples Portraits

Feeling comfortable in photos isn’t about being “photogenic.” It’s about feeling guided, relaxed, and supported throughout the experience.

My approach to posing is intentionally light and natural. Rather than placing you into stiff positions or asking you to hold uncomfortable poses, I use gentle prompts and thoughtful direction that allow real interaction and connection to come through. You never need to worry about how to pose or what to do next. That’s my role throughout the entire session.

Engagement sessions are designed to help you feel comfortable in front of the camera and comfortable with me. This time together allows us to build trust, establish a rhythm, and create an experience that feels familiar long before your wedding day arrives.

Connection Comes First

While we’ll capture a few classic, camera-aware portraits, the majority of your session focuses on how you naturally interact together. I’ll guide you into positions that feel easy and flattering, then encourage movement, conversation, and closeness so your connection can take the lead.

This approach creates images that feel relaxed, genuine, and emotionally honest, rather than posed for the sake of a photo.

Gentle Guidance, Not Stiff Posing

I’ll always let you know where to stand, how to shift your weight, and how to move through each moment. That guidance is constant, but subtle. I’m making small adjustments as we go so nothing ever feels forced or uncomfortable.

If something doesn’t feel natural, we adjust immediately. There’s no pressure to “get it right.” Some of the strongest images happen in between moments, when you’re laughing, talking, or simply settling into each other.

Movement Over Stillness

Movement creates ease. Walking together, leaning in, adjusting your stance, or shifting your weight naturally keeps your body relaxed and your expressions genuine.

Rather than holding poses, I encourage fluid movement throughout the session. This allows your personalities to come through and keeps the experience feeling natural and unforced.

Trusting the Process

For many couples, this is the first time they’ve been professionally photographed together, sometimes since senior portraits, and that’s completely normal. You don’t need experience to create beautiful images.

By trusting the process and staying present with each other, comfort builds quickly. I’ll guide the pacing, the prompts, and the transitions so the session never feels rushed or awkward.

The In-Between Moments

Some of the most meaningful images come from moments when you’re not thinking about the camera at all. A quiet glance, a shared laugh, the way your hands naturally find each other.

Those moments are what I’m always watching for, and they’re often the images couples return to again and again because they feel honest and real.

At the end of the day, engagement sessions aren’t about posing or perfection. They’re about creating space for you to slow down, connect, and be yourselves together.

My role is to guide the experience in a way that feels easy, natural, and supportive, so you never have to wonder what to do next. If you’re feeling nervous going into your session, know that you’re in good hands. I’ll take care of the direction, pacing, and details, allowing you to simply enjoy the time together.

The result is imagery that feels relaxed, authentic, and true to who you are.