Question about the dreaded "Hand on arm" Pose

[steveng6920]

Hello all,

I'm not sure if questions go here but I am shooting a friends wedding later this month for pretty much free since it's my first and I am totally stumped on how to pose the bride and groom for the family photos they take after the ceremony. I really don't like traditional poses such as the bride and groom in the middle with say their parents beside them with the hand on the couples arm, you all know which pose I mean right? I would like to come up with something a little more fun but I am completely stumped....do you guys have any tips on posing for those family photos? Any help would be certainly appreciated! LOL

[Jeremy_G]

Captain Tom has just the post for you: http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...t-wedding.html

[oats123]

Originally Posted by Jeremy_G

Captain Tom has just the post for you: http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...t-wedding.html

Wow! Amazing that someone nicely pointed the way to helpful information first rather than insulting, belittling, or otherwise discouraging them for being a beginner.

[steveng6920]

LOL thank you for the links I will be checking those out all day! Much appreciated! :)

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by oats123

Wow! Amazing that someone nicely pointed the way to helpful information first rather than insulting, belittling, or otherwise discouraging them for being a beginner.

since you're new, I won't belittle you for pointing that out

[Jake]

Originally Posted by steveng6920

......I really don't like traditional poses such as the bride and groom in the middle with say their parents beside them with the hand on the couples arm, you all know which pose I mean right? I would like to come up with something a little more fun but I am completely stumped....do you guys have any tips on posing for those family photos? .....

FWIW, I wouldn't try to get to creative with the formal posing.
Two reason for that:
#1. Time.
It's a lot faster to set the bride and groom up and then just bring in the "extras" to pose around them.
If you try and do a unique posing for the family formals that going to take more time.

#2. Those are more for the parents anyway and odds are they just want some nice traditional formals.

We normally do the non-traditional posing with the B&G and actual wedding party, not the family.

[bryanlindsey]

Originally Posted by ndsimm

Quote:
Originally Posted by oats123
Wow! Amazing that someone nicely pointed the way to helpful information first rather than insulting, belittling, or otherwise discouraging them for being a beginner.

since you're new, I won't belittle you for pointing that out

Ok, I will then.

Pretty hypocritical and not well thought-out IMO.

[/thread-hijack]

Back on point, wedding formals generally don't offer too much latitude for creativity. But if you have an exception to that rule, it wouldn't hurt to have some more fun stuff up your sleeve. Just playing the funky angle with the parents, maybe have the shot with HIS parents with him and his dad shaking hands and the bride and mom staring each other down. Then for HER parents, have mom and daughter all snuggly with dad eyeballing the groom. Could be fun.

[steveng6920]

Hmmm very true jakestir I never thought about that! Ok I'll try to think of some traditional poses without the hand on the arm, lol!

[toverman]

I agree with Jake, at least for the group shots keep it simple and straightforward. You can do some fun things with the couple alone, but don't take too much time with those, either. Look at some of the edgier engagement photos here and elsewhere for couples ideas ... you can go for the same feel, it will just be more obvious that they're married because of their clothes.

[KD5NRH]

Here's one I've seen before; grab 'em while the bride and her mother are about half-done with their make up, line 'em all up in front of a dirty wall like a group mugshot and shoot 'em with a bare strobe.

I'd post a link to an example, but it seems the guy's website is gone. No idea why: he appeared to be doing a huge business in courtroom and trailer-park-community-room ceremonies.

[FireHeart Photography]

Where you can get creative is in bridal party shots... family shots are straight up money shots - great posing and comand of your group is essential -the larger the group the more difficult the process... so since this is your first wedding - like them or not - I would learn how to pose people properly and once you've masterd that - go for the creative stuff...

[abril1127]

For me, I try to get done with the family formals in 30 minutes. On my 3rd wedding I had to sign a contract for the church that said no more than 30 minutes for pictures after the ceremony or they would bill the bride for the time. Even though that is crazy, I think 30 minutes is enough time out of the party.
So make sure everyone knows they are going to be having their pictures taken.
Line them all up b&g, parents, grand parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd cousins 2x removed. Get everyones attention, and demonstrate male then female posing, tell the ladies it will make them look thinner and the guys it will make them look like manly men! *snap* remove the aunts, uncles & cousins *snap* remove the siblings *snap* remove grandparents *snap* add siblings *snap* remove parents & siblings, add grandparents *snap* done, now on to the grooms family. IF everyone stays put and stays posed it works pretty well!
I'm sure there's many ways to do it but this is my way. It's really easy to burn an hour taking family photos, especially if you are trying to be extra creative.
Good Luck!