Bridesmaids Poses: How To Photograph The Bridesmaids Portraits

What are your go-to bridesmaids poses?

When I started the “How To Photograph The Bridal Party” series, I had no idea that it would become so popular. So many of you have messaged, liked, commented, and pinned the posing ideas I shared with you and I couldn’t be happier that my approach to shooting the bridal party portraits has helped my fellow photographers all over the country.

If you have missed the first two parts, How To Shoot Bridal Party Portraits and How To Photograph The Groomsmen Portraits, make sure to check them out. Today, I want to share the third and final posing system I use when photographing the bridal party, How To Photograph The Bridesmaids Portraits.

You probably already know that I like to to use each pose to create a new one. This method helps me get all the shots I need without getting stuck on what to do next. Here are my favorite bridesmaids poses!

1. The first shot is the classic bride+bridesmaids portrait where I have everybody look and smile at the camera.

2. From pose #1 I ask the bride and bridesmaids to look at each other and smile or laugh. To get a more candid reaction, I sometimes encourage them to give me a “fake” laugh (“Ok, ladies, now I want you to give me a big, fake laugh). It sounds silly, but they actually start laughing at themselves laughing, which makes for some candid, fun photos.

3. Next, I ask them to lean in and look at the camera. This is normally a waist up photo.

4. From pose # 3 I ask them to chat with each other,  and laugh or smile once again while looking towards the bride or each other.

5. Then I ask the bride to take a few steps forward. This portrait is going to focus on the bride while the bridesmaids are going to be blurred in the background.

6. I call this pose the “editorial” pose. For this shot, I have the bridesmaids pair off in groups of two (the number will depend on how many bridesmaids there are) on both sides of the bride and have them slightly turn in towards each other. I also make sure to have them each hold their bouquet. In some shots, I will have them each hold their bouquet straight down their leg, below the waist, while in others I will have them each hold their bouquet however they wish.

7. I call this the “walking” pose. I simply ask the bride and bridesmaids to walk towards the camera while laughing and chatting with each other.

8. Bride+each bridesmaid. These are always a special moment and usually the last picture each of the cherished friends will have with the bride before she officially ties the knot!

And this is it, friends: my go-to bridesmaids poses! I hope you enjoyed this series. Let me know in the comment section below if there is anything that you do differently and/or if this posing series has helped you in any way.

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• HOW TO SHOOT BRIDAL PARTY PORTRAITS