OXOX: some couples are so crazy in love that it leaps into the lens with no effort on your behalf. But if your clients are a little nervous, or feeling awkward having their photo taken by a professional, here are some ideas that will help.
Old-fashioned romance: showing love in your romantic portraits
These are great prompts to use for a couple shoot, an engagement shoot, or during the romantic portraits session of the wedding day. When asking couples to get romantic in front of your lens, it’s an excellent idea to give some warm up time first. Few couples will be comfortable diving straight into hot and steamy moments. For example, you could start with some classic couple portraits with both looking at the camera, etc, before you get romantic.
How to use this photo pose prompt
Get back far enough to give them privacy to feel the love with these prompts. I use my Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 for close ups, or my Tamron 28-70mm f2.8 for a wide shot. Then you just need to get in position and give the instructions.
Also, remember to set your ground rules for the couple: add connection wherever you can.
Idea 1: Hugs
- Hug each other like you are about to go overseas for 6 months. Tell each other what you’ll miss the most about being together.
- Have one wrap arms around the other from behind. Hum “your song” and sway. Find your favorite part of their neck and kiss it. Then whoever’s in front can twist back and meet lips for a kiss.
Idea 2: Kisses
- Take your partner’s face in your hands. Gaze into each other’s eyes, and then slowly kiss your favorite part of their face.
- Build tension: Get in close for a super sexy kiss. But don’t kiss until I tell you to!
Idea 3: Classic lifts and dips
These are obviously possible with same-sex couples as well; I’ve just used man and woman here to make it clear what each person is doing.
- Lift kiss: Have the man wrap hands under the woman’s bottom and lift high while making eye contact. Then kiss as she slips back down to the ground.
- Dip kiss: The key to a strong dip is to have the woman’s weight on the man’s knee, rather than him holding her entirely in his arms. Have the man step one leg out wide, as if about to do a lunge. Then, the woman leans onto his knee as he leans forward. He leans into the lunge and she leans back, stabilized by his grip around her.
Creative extension
- For a dip kiss in wedding photos, have an assistant or second shooter flick the dress (or veil) upwards, then run out of shot. Shoot a burst of photos so you can clone out your second shooter if needed!
How do you bring out the love in your couple photography? Tag @promptographerguide and use the hashtag #promptographerguide to share your work.
Want this prompt in your Field Cards set?
All the info in this prompt post is summarised onto a single card in the Promptographer Guide Field Cards, with the details given in the accompanying Guidebook. All the ideas are given on the one card so you have a rich, comprehensive tool for sparking ideas. I’ve designed it this way so you only need five to ten cards to build a whole photoshoot.
If you want this prompt in your set, make sure you include Set 3: Intimate Moments in your Field Cards.
