5 Fun Posing Prompts to Get Couples Moving
If you’re looking to capture genuine reactions and emotions from your couples, all while making couples feel more at ease and comfortable in front of the camera, then give these 5 fun posing prompts to get couples moving a try at your next session. Start prompting rather than posing. Think less about giving couples a pose to hold and more about guiding them through an action. I love using prompts to get dynamic photos with a lot of movement and connection. Along the way, your couples’ true selves will start to come through!
So here are 5 fun posing prompts to get couples moving, perfect for bringing variety to your couple’s sessions, whether it’s an engagement session, anniversary session, or on the wedding day:
1. The Drunk Walk
Have your couples walk towards you as if it’s the end of a Saturday night out and they maybe have 1 too many drinks in their systems. The key to prompts like this is that you have to be willing to also make a fool of yourself a little, so I always demonstrate what I mean to them. I say things like, “maybe you’re stumbling into one another about, maybe John, your arm comes around Jane’s shoulders.”
And of course, the result is always a lot of laughs and movement.
2. Leading One Another
I ask my couples to take turns leading one another as they walk slowly and to look at each other, unless I tell them otherwise, the whole time. You can have them do this towards you and the camera, across from you, and even walking away from you. Every 2 or 3 steps, you’ll have them switch who’s in front so they each lead the other a couple of times. Once they start walking, (usually the 2nd time through now that they have a hang of the motion), I’ll start telling them to look at me every once in a while for more variety. This gives me the opportunity to put the focus on one partner while still keeping the other involved and the sense of connection between the two of them alive.
3. Twirl
A true classic, “go ahead and give her a few twirls!’ Then, I demonstrate what I mean with my arm. I ask couples to twirl one way, and then the other, alternating a few times in each direction. And make them both use their back arms, or their arm furthest away from the camera so they don’t block their faces during the twirl.
4. The Fake Drop
If your couples are willing, this one can be super fun! Always ask if she’s willing to be picked up and if he’s willing to pick her up. If so, I explain this one by saying, “Alright, John, I’m going to have you pick up Jane like you just moved into a new home and you’re about to carry her over the threshold.” Most people will right away understand what I mean by this! Then, I’ll have him rotate around a time or two before yelling out, “give her a little fake drop!” (while I demonstrate what I mean with my arms) “and let’s see what happens!” Some guys will get really into it and it’s awesome.
5. The Sneak Attack
Have one partner stand a few feet behind the other and tell them they’re gonna sneak up and attack the other person. I like to tell the attacker that they know their partner best and what’s going to get them – kisses, a big bear hug, literally sweeping them off their feet, tickles – whatever! Then I tell the attackee to embrace what they give you, don’t worry about the camera, and whatever they do, be sure to hold on to them or grab a hold of them somehow.
I have a laundry list of prompts of all kinds that I’ve memorized and nailed down over the years, but these 5 fun posing prompts to get couples moving are some of my favorites for lively, dynamic, and energetic photos. And don’t forget to experiment! Take these prompts and tweak, change, adjust, add on, etc. Vibe off your couples and the scenery and play around with photographing the same moments from multiple angles and directions. You never know what you’ll get and because every couple will do things a little differently, each session will be unique to the couple and their connection. Happy prompting!
Oh, want to see more from this engagement session? Check out Sam and Holden’s winter engagement session in Lexington, Michigan!
