The photos at your engagement session are supposed to be fun and easy, and they should also reflect who you are as a couple! Most couples come to me feeling worried about unflattering angles, or looking too formal and stiff. If you’re on of the ones who’s nervous about being awkward in front of the camera, these poses are for you!

Here are 5 of my favorite poses for your engagement session that are simple, but still go beyond the basic “hold hands and walk”. I’ve found these poses to be both flattering and fun, and I hope you do too!

Bonus! Your engagement session is a perfect time to test out which poses you like the best. But it doesn’t stop there- all of these poses you can use on your wedding day too! I’ve also included ways you can mix up each pose to get the most variety out of your photos.

1. The Backwards Hand Hold

How to do it: Stand so you’re both facing away from the camera, and hold hands in the middle. You should be standing really close together so your shoulders are almost touching, and the tips of your noses can touch. (If you can see your feet, take one foot and cross it behind you!)

Why I love this pose: It looks like a really private, genuine moment. Like we’re getting a sneak peek into your little bubble! This is also a great pose for wedding pictures, because it really shows off the train of your dress.

Here’s how to mix it up! After you’ve taken a photo of your noses touching, look back over your shoulder and give the camera your best “model face” while your fiancée stares adoringly at you.

2. The Kiss and Bend

How to do it: Face your fiancée and put one foot in front of the other. Your fiancée is going to place their hands on your waist and yank you in for a kiss so hard, you have to arch your back a little! (That arch in your back is key for a flattering photo!) You can put your hands either on their chest, around their neck, or around their waist. If you’re holding a bouquet, just let it drop down!

Why I love this poses: This is such a flattering angle, and it’s perfect for those epic, romantic shots that you can frame! It looks like you got swept up in a passionate moment!

Here’s how to mix it up! After you get a photo of you guys kissing, zoom in and take another photo of you looking over your shoulder! Your fiancée should be nuzzling their nose into the side of your hair while you giggle off to the side.

3. The Chilly Hands Ring Shot

How to do it: Have your fiancée cup their hands together- like they’re cold! Then you just put your hands on the outside of theirs. Make sure that pretty engagement ring is showing right to the camera. Then, just look into each other’s eyes and have your photographer focus on the ring!

Why I love this pose: This pose gets a perfect shot of the ring, but it also has that close, cozy feel of snuggling together!

Here’s how to mix it up! After you get a shot where the focus is on the engagement ring, then you can have another shot where the camera is looking over your fiancée’s shoulder just a bit so the picture shows your smiling face!

4. The Dancing Dress

How to do it: Have your fiancée stand in a strong stance, with the hand closest to the camera in their pocket. Their other hand is going to slowly twirl you around in a circle! Keep your eyes on your fiancée (or down towards your dress) as long as possible- don’t look at the camera. If you’re wearing a flowy dress, you can grab the edge of your dress and swing it back and forth as your twirl.

Why I love this pose: This pose has you moving around and interacting the entire time. Your real emotions come out when you dance, so it looks totally natural and genuine!

Here’s how to mix it up! If you can’t spin around or move around a bunch, no worries! You can still get dancing photos! Just grab each other’s hands in the middle and rock away from each other, then back in for a kiss. Keep rocking back and forth!

5. The Lift and Kick

How to do it: Your fiancée squats down, hands around you, and interlocks their fingers right under your butt. Then they just stands up straight! It’s actually easier than it looks. You should keep one leg straight and one leg bent. Don’t forget to point your toes!

Why I love this pose: This pose looks so intimate and dreamy. You can really see the connection between the two of you with this one! It looks impressive, yet effortless.

Here’s how to mix it up! If you don’t feel comfortable being lifted up, go for a faux dip instead! Have your fiancee put one hand on your back, and one hand under your kneepit (on the outside leg!). Your fiancée will tip you to the side a little bit, but you’ll still have a leg to support yourself on, as well as both of your fiancee’s hands supporting you.

6. Bonus! Wedding Day Pose: The Flower Garden

How to do it: Have your bridesmaids line up on both sides you, then have everybody hold their bouquets out to the center so it creates a huge garden of beautiful flowers! Make sure everybody is giggling at someone else in the group- don’t look at the camera!

Why I love this pose: This pose is where your flowers really get to shine and have their moment! Pushing all the flowers together like this really makes an impactful, impressive scene.

Here’s how to mix it up! Once you get a close up of all the flowers, zoom out a bit and catch all the bridesmaids laughing with one another!

Now you know my favorite poses for engagement photos!

Looking for a wedding photographer? I really pride myself on helping my clients feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. I’ve put a ton of my learning efforts into flattering posing to make sure my couples can trust me completely to give them photos that they love themselves in!

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer you can trust in North Carolina, drop me a message! I would love to hear from you!