If there’s anything that lends itself to big, showy movements, it’s a wedding dress. This prompt is an easy way to add dynamism to wedding photos during the romantic portrait session of the day. Usually occurring after the ceremony and before the reception, it’s often impacted when other parts of the day run over, so it’s important to have quick, effective ideas up your sleeve.
Bust a move: movement prompts for the portrait session of the wedding day
This prompt is versatile because you can use it for big, flamboyant, movement-filled photos as well as intimate, romantic couple moments. It’s easily implemented, and that’s important when working under a tight schedule.
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How to use this photo pose prompt
I generally use this the portrait session of the wedding day. If the groom can pick up the bride, great: if not, use the side-by-side variations. Have your camera on a fast shutter speed, and set the focus mode to servo. Keep your focal point on their heads. Use f3.5 or f4.0 to give you a better chance of making focus, or shoot with a long focal length (e.g. 200mm) if you need the f stop lower (e.g. f1.8) to suit the light.
You can also apply this prompt to a couple shoot: have an engaged couple give you a preview of their first dance, or have an anniversary or maternity couple re-enact it! It works well for families too: pair up mother with son, father with daughter, and have everyone give you some simple moves in sync.
Prompt: Bust a Move
- Direct couple to use big movements: tell them to think big, flamboyant, or as if they are on stage. Have the bride use her hand to swish or swirl her dress, then drop it: shout “drop now!” right before you shoot.
- Safety first: check the ground to be aware of obstacles and holes, and have the bride remove high heels if necessary!
- Have the groom pick up the bride (as if carrying her over the threshold) and spin with her legs leading, i.e. letting the dress trail behind. Have them spin a few times, then come to a stop and kiss.
- Side-by-side variations: have the bride spin (swish or swirl dress with hand) and the groom watch. Have them hold hands at arms’ length and the bride swish her dress back and forth. Have the bride spin underneath the groom’s raised hand.
- Roll-in-and-out: have them stand holding hands at arms’ length, then roll the bride inwards so that the groom’s arm is wrapped around her shoulder. Pause, kiss and shoot. Have the bride grab her dress, then have them roll outwards with speed and flamboyance, bride flicking the dress out and letting go as she raises her hand.
- Intimate variations: have them practice (or re-enact) their first dance. Get close (with a long focal length) and shoot tight, focusing on faces close together. Capture details: hand on the small of the back, hand on neck or shoulder, hand resting gently on a cheek, fingers playing with hair.
Creative extension
- Play with blur and frozen motion together using a flash: select a long shutter speed (a second or more), close down the aperture (e.g. f16) to correctly expose with this shutter speed, set flash to rear curtain sync, and then have them perform the big spins and big movements. You’ll have to experiment but the idea is that the movement will blur across the scene and then the final position will be “stamped” onto the frame with the flash. For more, see Get Flashy and Light Painting.
Tag @promptographerguide and use the hashtag #promptographerguide to share your favorite photos captured with this prompt.
Want this prompt in your Field Cards set?
All the info in this prompt post is summarized onto a single card in the Promptographer Guide Field Cards and App. All the ideas are given on 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 4: Energy Moments in your Field Cards.
