Christmas kitchen40 Creative Engagement Photo Poses for Unforgettable Memories
Love is the most beautiful feeling in the world, and it’s even more wonderful when forever captured in a cute, emotional, and profound photoshoot.
If you’re a photographer with the mission to shoot a loving couple who’s just been engaged: we’re here to help!
Engagement photos have endless possibilities, as they can be shot in many different ways! So, if you don’t want to get overwhelmed during your gig, but rather arrive prepared and inspired, I suggest you keep reading. We will share loads of inspiration, advice, tips, and poses ranging from traditional to unique to classical and funny.
Let’s get started!
Traditional engagement photo poses
First things first: let’s talk about traditional engagement photos. So many couples would want to have a traditional shot to be forever cherished as a memory of their engagement. So, if this is the case, here are some traditional engagement poses you can get inspired by.
1. The good old classical kiss
The most loving act in a couple is, indeed, a kiss. Whether you choose to shoot your models in a passionate kiss at the beach, in a park, at home, in a forest, or front of a romantic backdrop… that’s up to you and the vibe both you and your clients want to recreate! Whatever you choose, it will be such a sweet act that resembles all the love of two yet-to-be-married lovers.
2. The rehearsal
Another traditional engagement photo idea includes the recreation of a wedding photo, but without the actual outfits the bride and groom will wear during their special day. Have her dressed in an elegant white dress and him in a fancy suit, then shoot them while sharing their emotional selves. This photo will be great for them to announce their wedding too and as an intimate and emotive way to rehearse for their big day!
3. She said yes!!
What’s an engagement photoshoot without the actual proposal? If you’re lucky enough to be part of the actual moment where the man gets on his knees to ask his beloved to marry him, then, of course, be ready to seize it in real time and try capturing them from the side so you can get the best of both surprised and emotive expressions! If you’re not going to shoot this special moment in real time, you can ask your models to recreate the scene they lived privately, so they can still have it forever captured!
Image from Pexels
4. The protective
A classical must-do engagement shot is to have the groom-to-be carry his future wife in his arms. This picture will resemble the sweet bond of the couple while showcasing a classical wedding shot before its moment as if it whispered “She is forever mine!”. It will look especially great if shot at the beach or in any natural environment!
Image from Pexels
5. “I’m in love” pose
This is a pose that aims to shout “I’m in love!” Have your models stand facing the camera while one of them, preferably the woman, looks at his partner while he smiles at the camera, or vice versa, or even have both lovingly look at each other. This pose will capture their features and showcase all the love and admiration they have for one another. It is recommended to shoot this in front of a backdrop (either abstract or a romantic theme, according to the vibe you aim to recreate) to truly focus on their expression and not have too much visual noise.
6. The forehead kiss
For a playing safe traditional engagement picture, after having captured the passionate, romantic, kiss, you can choose to have your groom-to-be kiss his future wife on the forehead as a symbol of protection, affection, and safety.
Image from Pexels
7. The spontaneous lovers
What’s better than capturing a spontaneous, authentic, love? For this engagement pose idea you can get the future bride, to run towards her beloved, while he prepares to carry her in his arms. While they move, keep taking several, spontaneous pics of the moment and see how magical, beautiful, and authentic shots will come out of these motion pictures.
Image from Pexels
8. The Titanic pose
For this engagement pose, think Jack and Rose in Titanic, looking towards the horizon, while Jack embraces his beloved and Rose feels held and protected. Have your male model hold his future wife from the back, while their body faces the same side. Suggest they either both look at the same side, or one one of them stares directly at the camera. This shot will be especially great if captured at the beach, facing the ocean.
9. The lovers’ portrait
Recently engaged lovers will want to have some good portraits of them so they can always have something to look back to that makes them recall how they looked like during their youth. As well as to have a nice, clear, professional photo they will want to showcase to their kids one day, so they can remember everything about the young features of their love. So, for this engagement pose, have them both face the camera and take a close-up shot of the lovebirds.
10. Let’s walk towards the future
A profound, yet traditional, engagement photo idea includes having the lovers hold hands while walking. Take several shots of them while in movement so that the final result can end up looking like a “Let’s walk towards the future, hand by hand” image. Your shot will enhance if you capture it during sunrise or sunset while walking towards the sun. Besides increasing the photo’s beauty and artistic vibe, it will also symbolize walking towards the light together.
Unique engagement photo poses
Not everybody aims to have traditional photos as a memory of their engagement. Some couples prefer to have unique, distinctive, and special pictures that represent their love in a singular and unrepeated way.
If you aim to be unique, rather than traditional, or your models crave to have unusual shots, check the next paragraph out!
11. The nature lovers
For traditional engagement shots, the couple usually chooses to go to the beach, in a studio, or at home…. but if you want your pictures to stand out, then try going in an unusual place - like a forest, the jungle, the peak of a mountain - and take a picture of the beloveds in the wildness of nature. If you want to make it look extra unique, have them wear a really elegant, fancy dress to have an eccentric contrast.
12. The romantic picnic
Some couples don’t necessarily feel the need to wear elegant clothes and have a fancy, formal, photoshoot for their engagement. Some lovers simply wish to have their love forever captured in simple moments filled with depth and presence. If this is the case, suggest the models have a sweet, simple, picnic where they get to dress casually, sip on some wine glasses and eat fresh fruits. It will turn into an authentic, lovely, and celebrative engagement shot.
13. The sweethearts
The same idea can be recreated in a little more formal way if the couple chooses to have a picnic but in a fancier, more elegant, and posed way, rather than simple and casual. A great tip is to have it captured as the sun sets, to have an extra magical touch and a golden light glow.
Image from Pexels
14. Red lights
If your model couple wishes to be truly unique and out of the norm during their shoot, they’d probably want to have a capture of a sexy, intimate moment that represents their sensual life. For this photo idea you can have them pose nude or in lingerie, preferably in bed or in a studio, and maybe surrounded by fairy lights or a red light that adds up to the hot mood. They’d love to look back at this youthful, out-of-the-norm, engagement photo.
Image from Pexels
15. Tarzan & Jane
If your models are not the traditional couple that loves to get elegant and fancy for every occasion, but rather, loves to be simple and wild… then you can suggest a Tarzan and Jane style photoshoot. Have them wear comfy, wild clothes and get them to walk barefoot in nature. Ideally, you could shoot them while climbing a tree, or hugging each other while under a nice tree or plant. It will turn into an engagement photo that has Mother Nature as a witness.
Image from Pexels
16. The daring dance
A couple’s dance is simply so romantic. Also, it is traditional to have a sweet wedding dance. So, for this pose idea, you could choose to combine the traditionality and romance of a couple’s dance with some quirkiness and uniqueness by having your models dance in a really fun and unusual place: a parking lot, the laundry room, the middle of a street. This idea will allow your shot to be classic with a touch of individuality.
Image from Pexels
17. The serenade
If any of your models is a musician, get them to play the instrument they’re good at and shoot them while playing a serenade for their beloved - for example, the groom can be playing the piano, while his woman is singing or dancing, or the bride can be playing the guitar while her man is lovingly looking at her. If your models don’t happen to be musicians, you can still recreate a serenade-style shoot by having your models pretend they’re playing any instrument. It will turn into an artistic, unique, and incredibly romantic shot.
18. Wanna adventure with me forever?
Here’s an engagement pose idea for adventurous couples, who don’t necessarily love fancy and elegant settings, but prefer the thrill given by adventure and exploration. Maybe they’re the kind of couple who, for their honeymoon, chooses to backpack the whole world. Or they’re the creative spirits who want to express a deeper meaning through their photoshoot. If this is the case, have them pose in front of a boat, an airplane, a canoe, or a bus, while looking at one another as if they’re subconsciously whispering “Wanna adventure with me forever?”
19. The vintage babes
If you aim to recreate more of a vintage, old-school love kind of look, to spread uniqueness and personality through your engagement shoot… then you can consider having your models dress up in a 70s outfit and capture them in a studio, with a plain background. Then edit the photo in black and white and add some analogue film effects so to recreate a photo booth kind of outcome. It will turn into an incredibly precious and distinctive memory.
20. Road trip?
Romance is not only sensually filled with roses and wine. Some people, find romance in an unexpected escapade, a road trip toward the unknown, an adventure that smells like adrenaline! If you want your engagement photos to be unique and to share a tingling feeling, then you can consider capturing your lover models while in the front seats of a car (if it’s a vintage kind of car, even better!) while you’re in the back seat and shooting them from the back. it will turn into a creative, original, and deep photo that they will want to forever cherish.
Image from Pexels
Ring engagement photo poses
When photo shooting an engagement, you need to consider that after the groom and bride-to-be, the other star of the shoot is the ring! Usually, the man proposes with a precious ring, as a witness of their love, as a promise of their forever. Couples tend to be especially excited about it - as it represents a man's effort and creativity to find the perfect ring for his beloved, and a deep love gesture that a woman gets to carry and showcase, forever.
So, during your engagement photoshoot, it will be great to save some shots for the ring to enhance. Let’s dig deeper into how you can do this!
21. The pinky promise
One cute and significant ring picture includes a pose where the couple gets to stand and look at the camera, while they stretch their arms and lock their pinkies so that you can put the camera’s focus on the hands and especially on the ring(s) - some men, also choose to get a ring for themselves so that people get to know they’re taken too! So if this is the case, even better. This picture will not only showcase the beauty of the ring(s), but also the power of love, and of a pinky promise that whispers “Forever”.
Image from Pexels
22. Hold my hand
Another ring engagement photo idea includes a close-up of the bride-to-be’s left hand. Take this shot from the top and ask the man to hold his future wife’s hand, making sure he leaves space for the ring to shine and enhance. Proceed to shoot the scene, as close as possible.
23. One for the ring
Don’t forget to save an engagement shot for a solo ring picture. Usually, when men propose, they put the ring in a nice little box they get to open directly while pronouncing the “Do you want to marry me?” phrase. You can take some shots of the ring in the box, so that the lovers get to have it endlessly captured and through it relive the emotional feelings of their special engagement day, forever.
24. You, me, and our love’s proof
Another variant can be shot, with the addition of the lovers’ hands. Have the groom-to-be hold the open ring box in his hand, while the woman’s hands are holding onto his. Capture this scene from the top, for the best result.
Image from Pexels
25. The baciamano
A photo filled with chivalry and gallant vibes includes the old-school baciamano, where the groom-to-be gets to hold onto his future wife’s hand - the left one of course, where she has the ring on - and gently kiss it. This will give the chance for the ring to enhance while spreading a romantic and picturesque feeling.
Image from Pexels
26. I’ve got a surprise for you!
Another original ring engagement photo includes the recreation of the surprise. Focus on the man’s hand holding onto the ring he’s about to gift, while in the background the wife-to-be stands out of focus and ready to be surprised.
Image from Pexels
27. He’s mine and she’s mine
If you, or your models, want the ring to enhance while giving a bit of a sensual touch to the picture, you can suggest the bride-to-be place her left hand on her future husband’s shoulder. You can put the camera’s focus on the ring, while still capturing a bit of her look. This shot will end up looking like a “He’s mine, and I’m his” concept picture.
28. The team
For a less sensual, but very cute capture that aims to represent the team behind a couple, you can take a close-up of your models’ hands placed one on top of the other with the woman’s left hand being on the very top so that the ring can be the cherry on the cake of this hands tower.
Image from Pexels
29. The showcase
For another sweet, and more traditional, engagement ring photo, you can advise the couple to stand while the man holds onto the woman’s left hand at gently showcases it towards the lens, to expose his loving gesture, and her new ring, to the world.
Image from Pexels
30. Check it out
A classical, must-do engagement ring photo includes a capture of the bride-to-be showcasing her ring straight to the camera, with her fingers facing the lens and the ring shining bright!
Funny engagement photo poses
If your models are the kind of couple who don’t like to take life too seriously but rather love to have a laugh and be more light-hearted, you can suggest some funny engagement photo poses that will make their photoshoot original, amusing, and out of the norm!
31. One with the furry babe
Many couples, before getting engaged, love to adopt a furry babe, whether it’s a cat or a dog, especially as a way to train and get ready to take care of another life before having children. If this is the case, you might want to suggest taking some funny shots of the couple with their sweet pet, maybe holding onto his ears, or holding him in their arms as if he’s a child. It will turn into an unusual but entertaining engagement photo they will want to look back to one day, maybe together with their future kids too!
Image from Pexels
32. In the clouds
A symbolic, but almost ironic, fun shot can be one of the two lovers in front of a cloud backdrop that screams “We’re finally engaged, we’re literally in the clouds now!” It will end up being a funny yet still meaningful and, indeed creative picture.
33. The matchy costume
Most couples who choose to get engaged are best friends before being lovers. A healthy relationship includes a good friendship before anything else. If your models aim to capture their bond, rather than a fancy love, you can advise them to wear a funny, matchy costume and pose in it! Whether they choose to dress up like Bonnie and Clyde or like two funny ghosts, that’s up to them and what they want to symbolize through their witty engagement photoshoot.
34. Moving in together
Some couples, when engaged, decide to move in together or change house to start a new fresh chapter of life together. If this is the case, an interesting and fun engagement photo shoot can be captured while in the process of moving - in between boxes, bits and bobs. If this is not the case, you can still choose to recreate this scene in a studio to make your photo shoot extra original, and significant but with a touch of funny entertainment.
Image from Pexels
35. Cheers!
Not all couples love wine and cocktails! Maybe your models prefer to have a funny memory of their engagement celebration, and would rather cheer it with their favorite meal rather than with a refined drink. Consider capturing them in a cheering moment with a greasy burger, a cheesy pizza, or some salty fries to give their shoot a touch of fun and a lot of personality.
36. We’re table game buddies
Are your models game lovers? If what they aim for, through their engagement photoshoot, is to recreate moments that deeply bond them, get them together, or represent their communal interests, you could consider capturing them while intimately playing a table game in the comfort of their own house. This will allow their photoshoot to capture them in the genuine, simple acts that bring them together, and have this beautiful memory to look back to, forever captured. For an extra funny touch, have loads of shots captured while they play, so that you can get their competitive, funny, concentrated, authentic expression captured and endlessly appreciated.
Image from Pexels
37. You can’t run away now
Another fun shot includes the “You can’t run away now” shot where the bride-to-be gets to run and her future husband gets to hold on to her dress or hand (or vice versa). It will be such a fun shot especially if the relationship has been a long one and the engagement has been long awaited.
38. The daily habits
Another fun engagement shoot involves the capture of the two lovers while in their routine - for example, while they’re both brushing their teeth, and maybe one of them is sitting on the toilet, for an extra funny touch. This picture can be captured as a symbol of “we’ll be doing this forever, now!” but funnily and creatively.
Image from Pexels
39. The fast forward
If your models happen to be extra creative and willing to have a funny, but ingenious engagement photoshoot that they can look back at with a smile, then check this out. Suggest the future husband and wife dress up in an old-school almost medieval-looking elegant attire (preferably in black and white, to resemble the wedding colors). Have them sit at a dinner table with lit candles and pose while looking straight at the camera. This shot will recreate a marriage scene, but with the funny touch of being vintage representing a sort of fast-forward to the married days.
40. Forever BFFs
Last, but not least, you can suggest the lovers get cozy and have fun in bed, playing like kids, having a pillow fight, telling each other secrets, raising their legs… have fun like two BFFs that are about to start a new life as an officially married couple! So that they have their special bond forever captured.
Image from Pexels
We hope you got inspired to think outside the box for your engagement pose ideas. Whether you get to photograph a traditional couple, a funny one, or one that craves uniqueness… we’ve got you covered!
Remember that the most important tip is to make the lovers feel comfortable and especially, extra special for the beautiful milestone achieved, so that they showcase all the thrill, excitement, and love that their new chapter of life is about to give them.
