The Art Behind the Moments
More than a blog for my associate and second shooter team.
Before We Begin
Before we jump into posing, I want to explain why I'm writing all of this down.
Photography is an art, and every photographer has their own style. This guide isn't here to take away your creativity or tell you there's only one right way to photograph a wedding. It's here to help you build a strong foundation.
Everything in this guide comes from years of photographing weddings, working alongside other photographers, learning from mentors, making my own mistakes, and seeing what consistently creates polished, professional images. These aren't random rules. They're lessons that have been learned through experience.
When you're photographing for Fresh Feature, I ask that you follow these guidelines so every client receives the consistent experience and quality they've come to expect from our brand. Outside of Fresh Feature, I encourage you to experiment, try new techniques, and continue developing your own creative style. That's one of the best ways to grow as a photographer, and I never want you to lose what makes your work unique.
The little details matter. Most clients won't know why a picture looks polished, but they will know when it does. My hope is that this guide helps those details become second nature so you can spend less time thinking about the technical side of photography and more time creating meaningful images.
Clothing
Before you ever press the shutter, take a few seconds to look your subjects over. A quick adjustment can make the difference between an image that looks polished and one that feels sloppy.
Guys' Jackets
Guys' jackets should never have the bottom button buttoned. If you catch it, fix it before taking the picture.
Standing = Top button only.
Sitting = Jacket unbuttoned.
It's a small detail, but one that immediately stands out when it's wrong.
Boutonnieres
Boutonnieres belong on the left lapel of the jacket, almost even with the collarbone. Make sure they're sitting upright and aren't drooping or twisted before you begin shooting.
The Bride's Veil
For formal portraits, the bride's veil should almost always go over the shoulder closest to the camera. It frames her face beautifully and keeps the veil from disappearing behind her.
Like every "rule" in this guide, there will always be creative exceptions. Learn the standard first, then intentionally choose when to break it.
Formal Posing
Formal portraits are some of the most important pictures we take on a wedding day. These are the images that get framed, printed, and shared with family for years to come. Slow down, pay attention to the little things, and don't be afraid to make adjustments before clicking the shutter.
One-on-One Formal Pictures
When taking the formal picture of each person with the bride or groom (the one-on-one pictures), they should be standing next to each other and turned slightly toward one another.
Guys
Hands should either be:
Left over right with closed fingers ("fists")
In pockets
Position them on the same line. Don't put one slightly in front of the other.
No hugs. Let me explain further, jackets need to be unbuttoned before a hug. Otherwise you'll get bunching in the jacket, and it doesn't photograph well.
Never, NEVER let someone put their hands on another person's shoulders where all you can see are fingertips sticking out behind their neck. It immediately pulls attention away from their faces and doesn't look professional.
For everyone, hugs should stay around the waist during formal poses.
Girls
Flower height matters.
Either match the bride's bouquet height or have all the bridesmaids hold their bouquets at the same height. Nothing looks tackier than flowers floating around at different levels.
Hand Position Matters
Hand position can make a polished image look intentional or make it feel awkward.
When doing formal wedding party pictures, make sure the guys are all doing the same thing. Either everyone has a hand in their pocket or everyone has their left hand over their right with closed fingers ("fists"). Mixing hand positions throughout the group is distracting. Consistency is key.
Feet Position Matters
Most people never notice feet until they look wrong.
Everyone should stand on their back foot and lightly rest on the front foot. This creates a more relaxed and flattering stance.
For the guys:
Point the resting foot toward the photographer.
For the girls:
Turn the resting foot slightly forward, but not all the way.
A slight bend in the knee works well.
Stretching the front leg out can also be flattering.
Don't be afraid to make small adjustments. A few inches can completely change how natural a pose feels.
Remember the Details
Before every formal portrait, take one last look.
Ask yourself:
Are jackets buttoned correctly?
Are boutonnieres straight?
Is the bride's veil where I want it?
Are everyone's hands consistent?
Are bouquets all at the same height?
Are feet positioned naturally?
Is anyone slightly in front of the group?
Does anything need adjusted before I click?
Taking five extra seconds to fix the little things is much easier than trying to fix them later or wishing you had noticed them in the moment.
Composition
Great posing can still produce a poor image if the composition isn't strong. Before you press the shutter, slow down and look at the entire frame. Pay attention to what's in the background, where you're cropping, and what might distract from your subject.
Watch Your Crop
One of the easiest mistakes to make is cropping at a joint.
Avoid cutting at:
Ankles
Knees
Wrists
Elbows
If you're going to crop, do it intentionally between joints instead. It creates a much more natural-looking image.
Three Shots to Always Get
If time allows, every pose should include these three images:
Full body
¾ body
Tight portrait
Don't stop there if you have extra time. Change your angle, move your feet, and look for ways to create variety without completely changing the pose.
Whenever possible, capture a mix of both vertical and horizontal images. Couples love having options when they're printing, creating albums, or sharing online.
Walking Prompts
Walking pictures should feel natural, not staged.
When photographing the wedding party, put one or two people slightly in front of the bride, groom, or couple. This gives them someone to naturally look toward instead of staring straight into the camera.
One thing I try to avoid is making the lead person walk in front of everyone else. That usually results in the back of their head being the main focus of the image, and that's rarely flattering.
Watch Your Horizon
This is one of those little details that can quietly ruin an otherwise great image.
People's heads should either be above the horizon line or below it. Don't split someone's head with the horizon. It creates unnecessary distractions and makes the image feel less polished.
Keep Your Camera Level
Don't take tilted pictures. Period. A crooked horizon usually looks like a mistake, not a creative decision.
If you're going to tilt your camera, do it because it adds something meaningful to the image, not because you weren't paying attention. Ninety-nine percent of the time, keeping your camera level will produce a stronger photograph.
Slow Down Before You Click
Before taking the picture, ask yourself:
Is my horizon level?
Am I cropping anywhere awkward?
Is there anything distracting in the frame?
Am I shooting this vertically or horizontally?
Can I take one step to improve the composition?
The best photographers aren't necessarily the fastest. They're the ones who notice the little things before pressing the shutter.
Technical Reminders
You can pose people perfectly and still miss the shot if your camera settings aren't where they need to be. Weddings move fast, and there are very few second chances. Make a habit of checking your settings often throughout the day, especially as the lighting changes.
Focus on Lighting
Lighting can make or break a photograph. Green color cast is bad. I don't want to fix that in editing.
If you're photographing people outside, avoid putting them where grass is reflecting green back into their faces. Whenever possible, place them on a sidewalk, gravel, dirt road, concrete, or another neutral surface.
If you can't avoid the grass, use your light.
When you're indoors, use windows to your advantage. Window light creates beautiful direction and depth when used well.
Guys' portraits usually look better with a moodier feel. Look for darker backgrounds and side lighting. If you have cool chairs, interesting architecture, windows, lamps, or other elements that add character, use them. Don't be afraid to use your environment.
Great lighting is only half the battle. Once your light is right, your camera settings need to keep up with everything happening around you.
Weddings Are Full of Movement
One of the biggest technical mistakes I see is using a shutter speed that's too slow.
Weddings are full of movement. People are walking, hugging, laughing, dancing, spinning, and celebrating. Those moments happen in an instant, and if your shutter speed isn't fast enough, you'll end up with blurry images that simply can't be fixed in editing.
If I have to choose between a little extra noise from a higher ISO or a blurry image, I'll choose the higher ISO every single time. Noise can usually be reduced. Motion blur cannot.
Fresh Feature Standard
When photographing people who are moving during a wedding, keep your shutter speed at 1/320 or faster whenever possible.
In my experience, 1/250 is pushing it and can easily result in soft images during fast-moving moments. If your shutter speed starts dropping, raise your ISO before sacrificing sharpness.
That doesn't mean every image has to be perfectly frozen. I love intentional motion blur when it's used creatively. The key word is intentional. If a photo is blurry because you wanted to tell a story or emphasize movement, that's art. If it's blurry because your shutter speed was too slow, that's a missed opportunity.
Every setting on your camera should be a choice, not an accident.
Check Your Settings Often
Wedding days change quickly. You'll move from bright sunlight to shade... Outside to inside... Bright windows to dark reception halls...
Get into the habit of checking your settings before you start photographing each new part of the day. A quick glance at your shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and white balance can save hundreds of images from unnecessary problems.
Don't assume your camera settings are still correct just because they were correct five minutes ago.
Details & Backgrounds
The big moments are important, but it's often the little details that help tell the complete story of a wedding day. Train yourself to slow down and look beyond the obvious.
Don't Forget the Small Details
Before moving on to the next location or pose, ask yourself, "What details would the couple want to remember?"
Sometimes those images become their favorites.
Groom Details
Don't just photograph the groom standing there.
Look for the little things.
Capture:
Hands adjusting the tie
Just the hands and watch
Shoes
Shoe tying from the side (hands and feet only)
Most of these don't need the full face. It's perfectly okay if all you see are his hands, tie, watch, or even just his lips. These images help tell the story.
Have him smile for a few, then give you a serious expression. Both are worth capturing.
Bride Details
Pay attention to the little things.
Does she have:
A special bracelet?
A meaningful necklace?
A family heirloom?
A charm attached to her bouquet?
A custom ring?
Beautiful nails she just had done?
Don't just photograph the whole person. Move in close and capture the details that mean something to her.
Backgrounds Matter
Your subject should almost never be standing directly against a wall, treeline, building, or any other background.
Pull them away as much as comfortably possible.
Creating separation adds depth, makes your subject stand out, and gives the image a much more professional look.
As you're choosing a location, look for backgrounds that add to the image instead of distracting from it.
Keep an eye out for:
Pretty buildings
Bridges
Interesting textures
Leading lines
Architecture
Anything that helps frame your subject
Sometimes moving your subject just a few feet can completely change the image.
Create Beautiful Background Blur
One of the easiest ways to create a more professional-looking portrait is by separating your subject from the background.
Longer focal lengths make it much easier to create beautiful background blur.
Whenever possible:
Pull your subject farther from the background.
Zoom in instead of standing close with a wide lens.
Keep your subject tack sharp while letting the background melt away.
Blurry backgrounds are prettier because they remove distractions and naturally draw your viewer's eye to the people.
Slow Down and Look
Before you press the shutter, take one final look around.
Ask yourself:
Is there anything distracting in the background?
Can I move my subject a few feet to improve the image?
Am I telling the story with enough detail shots?
Did I capture both the big picture and the little moments?
The little things are what separate a good photographer from a great one. Most clients won't know why an image feels polished, but they'll recognize the difference when they see it.
Final Thoughts
Hello!Thank you for taking the time to read through this guide. I know it's a lot of information, and I truly appreciate your willingness to learn and grow.
I don't expect anyone to remember every single tip the first time they read this. The goal isn't perfection. The goal is to build good habits. Every wedding you photograph will teach you something new, and I hope this guide helps shorten that learning curve.
When you're photographing for Fresh Feature, I ask that you follow these guidelines so every client receives the consistent experience and quality they've come to expect from our brand. Our couples trust us with one of the biggest days of their lives, and I never take that responsibility lightly. Every photographer on our team plays a part in protecting that trust.
Outside of Fresh Feature, I encourage you to experiment, push yourself creatively, and continue developing your own style. Some of my favorite techniques have come from photographers who weren't afraid to try something new. I never want you to lose what makes your work unique. In fact, I hope you continue learning, growing, and becoming a better photographer with every wedding you shoot.
Most of all, thank you for being part of the Fresh Feature team. It means a lot that you've chosen to be here, and I'm genuinely excited to have you beside me. There's something special about working alongside people who care deeply about serving others, paying attention to the little details, and creating images that families will treasure for generations.
I believe the best teams are built on trust, encouragement, and a shared desire to keep learning. I hope this guide gives you a strong foundation, and I can't wait to watch your confidence grow as we photograph weddings together.
Let's create something our couples will never forget.