In this wedding photography posing guide, we address the wedding party with ideas for how to photograph each side separately. The wedding party is an wonderful opportunity for fun, creative photos. I always photograph the entire wedding party together and separate - the bride with her bridesmaids and the groom with his groomsmen. In our pre-wedding consultation I talk to the bride and groom about their wedding party to get a feel for the group. Are they more reserved and traditional or are they fun and boisterous? For the more carefree group, I suggest personalizing their wedding party photographs by adding props. I always photograph each side of the wedding party in a standard pose. From there we build, gradually getting into the more fun poses.

The Bride's Side: So we've just finished the traditional pose - bride in the middle, bridesmaids and flower girl on each side, each holding their bouquet or for the flower girl, a basket. Typically if there is a flower girl, I'll remove her from the rest of these photos at this point. Now I tell the bride and bridesmaids we want to do a girl friend shot. Casual, bouquets can hang to the side, linking arms or arms around each other.

If the bride has props we'll incorporate them at this point: parasols, sunglasses, balloons. In one of my recent weddings, the brides props, Mardi Gras masks, did not make it to the wedding. So we borrowed the grooms props...pistols. The girls really got into it and the contrast of these beautiful ladies holding pistols made for some fun photos! One of my favorites poses is to photograph the girls walking away from me and then toward me. This can be down a long driveway or out in the middle of the street! If you're in the street, make sure to have your assistant keeping an eye out for cars. Encourage the girls to look and talk to each other as they are walking.

The Groom's Side - Think strong, tough and too sexy for my tux! Again, we've finished the traditional pose of groom in the middle, guys on each side, jackets buttoned. In this pose, their hands can either be clasped in front, at their sides or clasped behind them...just so they are all doing the same thing. Now again, we build on this. I have them unbutton their jackets, shift their weight to stand in a relaxed pose, hands in pants pockets or arms crossed.

Then we try a walking or secret service pose - groom slightly in front, the groomsmen scattered about behind him, some pretending to talk into their watch, others with their hand in their jacket like their reaching for their pistol! In another pose the groomsmen can pick up the groom and hold him either horizontal or in a bucket pose. Be ready to shoot as the men are getting into and out of these poses. Sometimes the best shot can occurr when they are putting the groom down! If they have props, we incorporate them here: sunglasses, guns, flasks, cowboy hats, etc.

When you are photographing each side of the wedding party, mix it up a bit by moving around or changing angles. Get down low, get up high. Photograph the group from the side, focusing in on the bride as she is laughing. Wedding photography posing does not have to be over the top! Keep it simple and natural for great looking photos!