Choosing Your Wedding Photograph Poses

Something that many couples don't consider until they are prompted to by their newly chosen wedding photographer, is what photographs they actually want to be taken. There is an assumption that photographers have a standard set of pre-wedding, couple, family and group photos, and the couple themselves don't need to think about it. Unsurprisingly this is not the case - you know your family and friends much better than your photographer (unless they are a member of your family!), and so only you will know which shots and which are the groupings you will want.

Pre-wedding Photographs

If your wedding photographer is going to be there while you get ready, do you mind having photos taken in your dressing gown with rollers in your hair? Or do you want to look perfectly put together in all your photos? You may want photographs taken of certain details of your wedding dress before you put it on; perhaps the laces at the back, or your bridal shoes. Once you are in your dress, do you want some pre-wedding shots of you and your bridesmaids, or your parents?

Couple Photographs

There is a new trend to have some couple shots taken before the wedding, but don't worry, you don't need to see each other before the wedding! You can reach round a door or the corner of a building to hold hands without ever seeing each other. After the wedding you may choose to have some photographs taken in front of your wedding car, or in a certain part of the venue's grounds.

Family Photographs

Your photographer will probably have some suggestions, which will probably be much the same as the 'standard' groups which are;

• the bride and groom with their bridesmaids and groomsmen


• with the bride's parents


• with the bride's family


• with the groom's parents


• with the groom's family


• with the bride's siblings


• with the groom's siblings

That's only seven photos, but I'm sure you would want more than that! What else you need will depend on your specific families; things get more confusing and complicated when you have step-families to contend with, or even cousins you are close to.

Other Group Photographs

As for your friends, well, you can have any group photos you want! Some to consider are;

• the bride and her hens from the hen party


• the groom with his stags who attended the stag party


• the bride and groom with their individual work colleagues


• the happy couple with any group of people who are special to them! Reading groups, gym buddies, school friends...any group of friends you have!


• Some newly weds have even requested that their dogs are brought to the venue so they can have a group photograph taken with their beloved pets!

Whatever pictures you want your wedding photographer to take, you should write them down in a list, and consider designating one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen who knows most of your guests to chase people down for their photographs to be taken.