Natural Posing Tips for Couples Beach Session | Maui Photographer

As a photographer who strives for authenticity, I’ve learned that natural posing and genuine emotions is what makes the photograph look beautiful and memorable. I often hear from people that they are “terrible models” and “don’t know how to pose”. The truth is, it doesn't matter! What matters is creating an environment where you feel at ease. To make your couples session go smoothly, here are some posing tips that will help you feel comfortable and create beautiful photos that celebrate your love story.

Choose Comfortable Outfits

Feeling comfortable is essential for a photoshoot

Your outfit choice can significantly impact your comfort level and the vibe of the photoshoot. I recommend wearing clothes that fit well and make you feel confident and comfortable. When the clothes don’t match your personal style, it results you feeling awkward and unsure. Comfortable attire will not only enhance your experience but also contribute to the relaxed and carefree feel of your photos.

Show Connection

Don’t look at the camera - focus on your partner and enjoy each other!

I believe that genuine emotions is what makes photographs truly beautiful and memorable! Rather than looking directly into the camera, focus on being together and enjoy the moment. Look at each other, hold hands, hug, kiss, caress your partner or make him/her laugh... By redirecting the attention to your partner, we create a space for authenticity, allowing intimate connection to shine through.

Embrace Movement

Movement is a key ingredient to making people relax!

I’ve observed that movement is one of the secret ingredients to making people feeling relaxed. As we move, we are being in a present moment and forget about the camera. That’s why I make my couples engage in playful activities - for example, walking hand in hand, or holding hands and spinning around, or running and play tag etc. As you move, you get relaxed which translates beautifully into photographs.

Find Natural Poses

Take some time to find a comfortable position

Natural poses give authentic feel to the photographs and reflect the genuine connection and chemistry of the couple. During photoshoot, photographer will guide you through poses, however, not every pose fits everyone the same way. Sometimes you need to find a position that feels truly comfortable for both of you. Do what feels natural - walk along the beach, play with the ocean waves, have a dance, or sit on a rock and watch sunset. Allow yourselves to explore different “poses”, and you will find the ones that reflect the essence of your relationship in a way that feels natural.

Take Your Time

At the beginning of the session people may feel a bit stiff and aware of being observed…

…which changes completely as time goes by!

I've observed that as time goes by, people gradually relax into the rhythm of a session, forgetting about the camera and slowly revealing their true selves. The best pictures are always at the end! So, give yourself time and go with the flow.

Create Pinterest Board

I usually recommend my clients creating a Pinterest board to gather inspiration for the upcoming photoshoot. You can search for “couples photoshoot poses”, “beach couples photos”, “couples poses” etc. Collecting poses and styles that resonate with you both is a great way to share your vision with a photographer and incorporate some of the elements into your shoot.

Your couples’ session is a way to capture the your love story, and preserve a special moment in your evolving relationship. Enjoy the experience, have fun with your partner, and have your romance captured in beautiful photographs.

Would you like to have a couples’ photoshoot? Feel free to reach out and I’ll be happy to help you!