We’re not quite at Mid-Summer yet, but Wedding Season is well and truly upon us. Many wedding photographers are busier than ever and plans are back in full swing after a two-year hiatus. But do you ever find that your mind goes blank when you’re called upon to pose the large bridal party groups? It’s challenging enough just to fit that many people in your viewfinder, let alone be creative at the same time.
Well, worry no more! Jake Weisler from Full Time Filmmaker walks you through ten different bridal party group poses that you can have ready up your sleeve for the next wedding you shoot. It’s aimed at video shooters but works just as well for still photography.
As with any type of photography, you’re always going to do well to get some safe shots done first. Then once everyone is a bit more relaxed you can experiment a bit and move on to some different and more fun and creative shots. Jake suggests starting with the typical “Prom Pose” where the entire party is lined up with the bride and groom in the middle.
The next pose is called “The Walk” and is well, yep you guessed it, a walking shot! This has the advantage of being an easy everyday activity that most people can manage. It has a beautiful natural feel and helps make everyone feel relaxed. You can also have everyone back up and do this shot several times to get the best images. Bonus points if you can get everyone smiling and laughing and looking at each other in a fairly natural manner.
There are several other very inventive ideas that Jake shows you, including the ‘Mosh Pit’, which could almost be renamed ‘The Rugby Scrum’, although I don’t think the general idea is to tackle the bride and groom to the floor exactly. ‘The Split’, ‘The Cross Walk’, and ‘The Flying V’ are all great ideas for creating dynamic poses, and they don’t require a ton of direction. With a few small changes, you’ve got a massive amount of variations at your fingertips.
Finally, and it might be my favourite, you have ‘The Toss’. And yep, it’s exactly like those kid’s birthday parties where the groom gets thrown up in the air. You may have to ask for permission and get some suitable insurance before attempting this one!
What are your favourite go-to poses for photographing bridal parties?