Tips for Posing Bridesmaids in your Wedding Photography

This Northern Utah Photographer wants to take a moment for the girls!

Bridesmaids pictures steal my heart! I love the moments where the bride gets to connect with her best friends and sisters that she has shared so many memories with! THE LOVE RUNS DEEP! There is always a lot of excitement, tears of joy, and connectedness in the bridesmaids pictures!

Here are some tips when photographing your bridesmaid images as a wedding photographer!

1. Read the Room

What kind of group are you working with here? If you can take a moment to read the room and socially connect to your bridesmaids, this will make your day so much easier! Are they the party group? Are they a little more shy or timid? Are they stressed because traffic caused them to be an hour behind schedule on hair and makeup? Are they outgoing and willing to help you call groupings for family and bridal party pics? Do they appreciate naughty humor while posing or are they more on the conservative side?

These are all things to think about! Once you have gotten a read on the bridal party, try to connect with them in a way that makes them feel comfortable and safe with you. When people feel more at ease, the photos turn out a million times better!

These girls loved to joke around and have a good time!

2. Have Your Arsenal of Poses Ready

Time is short, and weddings usually don’t run perfectly on time. This means you need to have a plethora of poses in your head that are ready to go!

Need some ideas? Check out these options!

1. Bridesmaids First Look

   Have bridesmaids in a row turned away from bride. Count to 3 and they will turn around to see the bride for the first time! Encourage them to go in for hugs after!

2. The Stand and Smile with bouquets

   The traditional pose!

3. The Horseshoe Shape Standing Position

   Bride is in the middle and bridesmaids look in at her and laugh. Bridesmaids closest to you in U shape will blur on the sides.

4. The Hug

   Bridesmaids lean in towards bride so that their normal stance has become more cheek to cheek, creating a sweeter pose.

5. Walking Forward

   Have bridesmaids walk forwards and look in at each other.

   Try to keep them in a similar row or plane for best results!

6. The Getting Ready

   Have Bridesmaids surround bride in the bridal suite mirror! They can admire her veil or hair.

7. The Zoom Out

   Have the bridesmaids stand in front of an epic view or structure to get a far away shot of the scene.

8. The Momento

   If something special was handed out like shoes, neckalaces, braceletes, robes, Koozies, be sure to get all the girls in for a picture to document this.

9. Bouquets in the Air (Like You Just Don’t Care)

   Create different heights of bridesmaids (crouching and standing) and ask for different angles and directions of bouquets. This creates a celebratory look in your bridesmaid picture!

10. Individual Posing with each Bridesmaid

    I like to do three pictures for each bridesmaid’s individual shot with the bride:

    • One up close

    • One with the whole body and shoes showing

    • A silly pose together to show their personalities

3. Become Besties with the Ma(tron)id of Honor!

This person was usually picked for their outgoing personality, their ability to be organized and get things done, and their love of the bride.

The Maid of Honor can be so helpful on a wedding day. They usually know the families names that you are meeting for the first time. They know the bridesmaids. They can help you move things along time wise for pictures and are generally super helpful!

BECOME THEIR BESTIE AND IT WILL HELP YOUR WEDDING DAY RUN SO SMOOTHLY!

Have a good time with the girls while shooting your wedding day!

The bridesmaids moments are always so sweet and turn out to be some of my favorite shots!