This blog posts highlights some unposed photography prompts I offer my clients. Rather than simply telling them to ‘act natural’ or ‘interact with each other and pretend I’m not here’, I give them a prompt to act on. This helps make my photography sessions fun, realistic and natural.

As I discussed in a recent blog post, choosing a photographer you want to hire should include everything from their editing to their posing style.  In that blog post I highlighted the various ‘styles’ of photographers, including Lifestyle. Capturing authentic moments as a lifestyle photographer can sometimes be one of the hardest things to master. I’ve never had a client who is a professional model, and very rarely do I get couples who are both as comfortable in front of the camera as each other. Therefore, I often offer a little posing guidance.

What works for me is to get to know my couple beforehand. I get all my clients to complete a questionnaire so I get to know their personalities a little. I also try and meet all of them before the session, and if this isn’t possible, I will at least Skype or Facetime them. This gives me a basic understanding of their personalities and how I think they may react to some of the prompts.

I’ve listed 5 unposed photography prompts that help create those natural moments in photography. During my sessions I have found these have created genuine engagement between the couple.

Getting Comfortable In Front Of The Camera

Many of my clients are uncomfortable in front of the camera. Rather than diving straight into the session, I try and create a fun atmosphere and help them forget I’m even there. It’s not everyone’s idea of fun and I don’t do all the prompts with each couple, but a splattering of some seems to work.

• Couple stands side by side and each person tells me a fun story about their partner. This has had some of my couples doubling up in laughter.
• Facing each other, in their sexiest voice, the couples take it in turns to whisper the names of all their pets into their partners ear.
• Tickle your partner. This always ends up fits of giggles.
• I ask one partner to stand behind the other and wrap their arms around their shoulders. The partner in front tries to get away. This is a fun prompt, and enables me to get lots of different pictures whilst moving around the couple.
• I ask them to face each other and stare into each others eyes. The one who blinks first makes dinner that night.

Romantic Prompts

I try and make these playful and encourage the couple to touch each other more and get closer to each other. I very rarely just say, ‘Annnnd kiss now!’ to the couple as this can be uncomfortable for many. Here are a few more romantic unposed photography prompts.

• Hug each other pretzel style.
• The ‘lift and spin’ is always fun for couples who are comfortable with that pose.
• If they aren’t a ‘lift and spin’ couple, the ‘dip’ is easier and just as fun.
• I’m not a huge fan of ‘kissing shots’ so I often ask the couple to face each other and kiss their partners favorite part of their face other than their lips.
• Wrap your arms around your partner from behind and hum your favorite song.
• Kiss your partner as many times as you can other than the lips in 5 seconds.

Walking + Movement Prompts

One thing I always find the most useful is that I constantly keep them moving and engaged with each other. Walking together along a beach or through the park usually allows me to stand back, use a longer lens, and allow the couple to feel alone for a few moments.

• One partner walks slightly in front of the other and gently pulls the other along. They take turns looking at each other, at the camera, and at another focal point to mix it up.
• I often ask partners to walk side by side, holding hands and smiling. Every few slow steps they take, they must stop, lean in to kiss each other, and start walking again.
• If we are at the beach, I ask the couple to get up to their ankles in the surf and kick water at their partner whilst walking. This almost always emerges into a water fight and is fun to photograph.
• If the couple are married, or if it’s an engagement session, I ask them to practice their first wedding dance.
• One I love to do is ask the couple to walk together slowly toward me. One of them must bump hips with the other, gently, to try and knock them off balance.

Sitting and Kneeling Prompts

Sitting poses can be difficult. If we aren’t at a beach or park there might not be the most comfortable floor area for the couple to sit down. However, if it’s possible, there are a few go-to unposed photography prompts I love to do.

• Couple sit side by side with their hips as close together as possible. I ask them to put their legs and arms where they feel most comfortable. Both look off into the distance and think about the day they’ve just had.
• One partner sits slightly behind the other, wraps their arms around their neck or shoulders, and whispers in their partners’ ear. It can be something romantic such as what they love the most about them, or something silly such as their favorite joke or anecdote.
• The couple kneel whilst facing each other as close together as possible. They slowly go in for a kiss and pause a second before the actual touch. I shoot through this whole process. It captures the build-up and emotion leading to that kiss minus the smush of faces at the end.

Intimate Prompts

Intimate shots require a lot of trust between myself and my clients. They are letting me witness a moment usually reserved privately for just the two of them. Therefore, I usually reserve this section towards the end of the shoot, or if I’m certain they are comfortable around me and the camera. But there’s still no reason why we can’t have a bit of fun with this part.

• Partners hold their faces as close together as possible. They look into each other’s eyes and try and guess what the other is thinking.
• Couple puts their foreheads together whilst standing. Close their eyes for three breaths, open their eyes for three breaths, then start to slowly turn their heads so they face the camera with their temples together. This sometimes makes the couple giggle as it can be a difficult thing to master. It only really works when the couple is similar in height.
• I also ask them to put their faces as close together as possible. For five breaths, think about what they are going to have for dinner that night. Open their eyes, then one of them should kiss the other on the tip of their nose.
• Eskimo kisses. This is always a cute one to do.

As I mentioned, these unposed photography prompts don’t work for all my clients. They may not work for all photographers.

If you are a photographer or a client who has any prompt suggestions that have worked for you, I’d love to hear them! Contact me so I can update this post!