How Direction Can Lead To A Better Wedding Day Experience

Why Posing Can Enhance Your Photos

I understand that a lot of couples want their wedding day to have as many genuine moments as possible and so do we! But it’s important that the day also has structure, so everything goes smoothly!

A wedding photographer’s job is to not only provide beautiful, timeless photos but also to make the day as easy as possible for their couple. Your wedding day shouldn’t feel like just a photoshoot, and it’s important that you stay in the moment and enjoy it with the ones you love! A professional photographer’s goal is to be as hands-off as possible; however, there are times in a wedding day timeline where instruction and leadership are important to keep things on track.

Posing during wedding photography is one of the easiest ways we can guarantee not only that your day stays on schedule but also that you get every photo you want on your wedding day! Each wedding usually follows a timeline. I will put an example below:

• Bridal Details 2:30 – 3:15
• Bridal Prep 3:15 – 3:45
• First Look 4:00
• Portraits 4:15 – 4:45
• Bridal Party Portraits 4:50 – 5:20
• Bride in Hiding 5:30 – 6:00
• Reception Details 5:30 – 5:50
• Ceremony 6:00 – 6:30
• Family Portraits 6:40 – 7:10
• Sunset Portraits 7:15 – 7:30
• Reception 7:30
• The Exit 10:30

Now I understand that looking at this may be overwhelming. But again, let us worry about the wedding day timeline while you enjoy the day with your friends and family!

Let me paint a scenario of why posing is so important. Wedding timelines can and will fall behind. Let’s say bridal makeup and hair take longer for the bridesmaids, and we fall behind 30 minutes or more. Something like the wedding ceremony is nonnegotiable in terms of moving the time because of family and guests. So as your wedding photographers, it is our job to get everything back on schedule!

With the posing system we have in place, this allows us to make up time efficiently while making sure you have a good experience during your wedding portraits!

Here is a small sample of the bridal prep photography section of the day. These photos and many others were taken in 10 minutes or less, which allowed us to quickly make up time while still having fun and making memories!

Now here is a big insider tip from us photographers:

Bridal Party Portraits and Family Formals are the most intense part of a wedding day!

Why? As much as we’re happy as your wedding photographers that you’re enthusiastic about your photos, not everyone shares the same excitement. Which is completely understandable! It’s probably hot, and everyone’s hungry and ready to move on to the next part of the day. Unfortunately, this is the main time where everyone needs to be involved in the photo process, and photographers have to be proactive about creating and setting up photos quickly.

Let’s say we only shot bridal party portraits and family formals in a candid way. While this sounds great, it would likely take 30-40 minutes when it could have taken 15 minutes or less! When this happens, no one wins – it cuts into bride and groom portrait time and delays cocktail hour and dinner for the guests.

Also, I’m sure we’ve all experienced a long school day where the teacher asks everyone to share a fun fact, and we collectively groan. It’s the same here! Amid chaos, everyone wants some sense of direction.

That being said, there are many parts of the day where we’re hands-off and capture candid moments! One of the best examples is the first look. It’s important that this intimate moment is captured in a non-intrusive, private way. Remember, this day first and foremost belongs to the couple, and we want you to have the best experience possible.

Other moments with lots of candid shots include the getting ready process, the wedding ceremony, and the reception!

There are many reasons why photographers pose clients. Posing gives you more variety on your wedding album spread and more options in your delivered gallery. It can also help set the stage for genuine moments like the signature laughing poses. The trick isn’t just asking you to laugh (which rarely feels natural). Instead, when someone in your bridal party laughs genuinely, it sparks everyone else’s laughter – producing a series of beautiful candid photos!

Finally – and personally, I think this is the biggest reason – guiding people on a wedding day is important because not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera. Staring down a giant lens can make people feel like a deer in headlights. Providing instruction helps everyone feel at ease and find their rhythm when being photographed. I’ve seen couples and bridal parties become naturals in front of the camera by the end of the day!

My favorite moments are staging family in affectionate, intimate poses that may not naturally happen often – like a mother kissing her daughter on the cheek or a father embracing his child. These moments become timeless memories you’ll treasure forever.

I hope this post has helped you understand the importance of why posing is important on your wedding day! If you would like to see the full post of the wedding featured in this article you can view it here!

I’m dedicated to making your Wedding or Portrait session in Albany, Upstate NY, and beyond, a smooth, personalized, and memorable experience. Ready to capture your special moments? Get in touch here!

If you liked this post you might also like these!

A Beautiful & Intimate Washington Park Wedding | Albany NY

Washington Park in Albany, New York is a Beautiful Place to Get Married

Rainy & Romantic Engagement Photos at Yaddo Gardens

Thanks for reading!

-Raf