Every couple deserves beautiful photos that celebrate their love. These LGBTQ posing ideas will help you deliver images that shine!

Natural-looking poses require clear guidance and a light touch. Don’t over-pose your clients, or they’ll look stiff and uncomfortable. But if you don’t give them any direction at all, they may just stand there with awkward smiles and absolutely no indication that they’re 100% in love. That’s why it’s so important for you—their photographer—to know exactly how to help your clients relax, connect, and reveal their authentic selves to the camera.

#1: Shoot in a safe, supportive location

Some parts of the world are less friendly than others to LGBTQIA folks—and that’s putting it mildly. Whether you’re freshly focused on LGBT wedding photography or simply expanding your couple photography portfolio, you’ll want to know that the shoot location is a safe and supportive one. Collaborate with your clients to thoughtfully choose a photography venue that’s welcoming to queer and same-sex weddings, engagement photos, and families. When a couple feels relaxed, they’ll more easily embrace the poses you suggest.

#2: Get out of your own head

If you’re accustomed to photographing cisgender, heterosexual couples, you may worry that you’ll pose LGBTQ couples the “wrong way.” Before the shoot, spend some time reframing your gender roles-based expectations of how a couple “should” look in photos, and instead focus on the fact that every couple is unique, regardless of size, shape, color, or ability. Posing LGBTQIA couples isn’t any different than posing cis/hetero couples. After all, love is love and people are people and a smile is a smile—so don’t overthink it!

#3: Let the couple set the tone

Spend the first few minutes of your session getting to know your clients and their relational style. Some couples are super touchy-feely, while others may be less publicly passionate. To get the ball rolling, instruct them to move close together—”Close… close… closer!” They’ll hug or kiss or laugh or cuddle… This is where you’ll start to see how they interact naturally. Use those comfy connections as a jumping-off point for your first few portrait or wedding poses.

#4: Belly to back

This belly-to-back pose is an easy pose for every couple.

Seated:

If one partner is significantly taller than the other, have the tall partner sit, then guide the other partner to wrap their arms around their significant other. This is also a fantastic pose if one partner uses a wheelchair!

Standing:

If your couple is standing, you can still use the belly-to-back approach by asking one partner to wrap their arm around their SO from behind. Encourage your couple to adapt this pose to their comfort level, swap kisses on the cheek, and lean their faces toward one another. If it’s your couple’s wedding day, this could be a sweet idea for a first look!

#5: Almost kissing

Kissing is fun for the kissers, but the most beautiful photos are made during the “almost kiss”—you know, that moment before anyone’s lips actually meet. To capture this moment, ask your couple to slowly and gently rub noses. Tell them to get close enough to kiss but to hold back from actually kissing. Sparks will fly, and you’ll see sweet, sappy love in action!

#6: Holding hands

Hand-holding is a beautiful, low-pressure way to show connection between two lovers. In fact, your couple’s first physical touch was probably to hold hands! Reimagine that first touch with simple hand-holding poses like these…

Showcase the environment:

A wide shot with your couple standing side-by-side can highlight beautiful architecture or a stunning landscape. Ask your couple to space themselves apart so you can clearly see their clasped hands.

Holding hands and walking:

Once your couple is holding hands, instruct them to stroll together toward the camera while looking only at each other (not directly into the camera.) Your final images will feel candid and intimate. You can also photograph your clients walking away from you. Invite them to look back over their shoulders and at the camera for a series of parent-approved portraits.

Spotlight engagement and wedding rings:

When their hands are clasped, look for ways to highlight the couple’s wedding and engagement rings. Remember: not all ring photos have to be macro shots. You can make a meaningful ring photographs that tells a story by including hands and faces in the frame.

#7: Forehead to forehead

Whether they’re standing, sitting, or walking, your couple can make any moment more magical by simply leaning their foreheads together. Ask them to “move in closer, forehead-to-forehead,” and you’ll have an instantly intimate connection.

If your couple is still feeling stiff, encourage them to:

• wrap your arms around each other
• lightly place your hand on his/her/their cheek
• take a slow, deep breath, then slowly exhale along with your partner

#8: The “Grandma photo”

Sometimes called the “newspaper portrait” this is a picture with both partners smiling at the camera—you know, a photo that Grandma would frame for her mantle. If you clearly tell your clients that this is the kind of photo you’re taking, they’ll understand that it’s time to snuggle up and “smile cute.”

#9: Pets and other animals

Nervous couples feel more relaxed when they can include the animal friends in their portrait or engagement session. Be sure to make a few pet portraits in between sweet moments of the couple. Since we almost always outlive our animals, it’s a beautiful gift to receive quality photos of them. Give that gift to your clients, and they’ll be forever grateful!

#10: Kiss lightly

This is the simplest way to get romantic kissing portraits that don’t have to be censored: ask your couple to “kiss lightly.” On the lips, the forehead, the cheek, the shoulder… doesn’t matter as long as it’s a “light kiss.” Light kisses are family friendly, social media safe, and perfect for framing.

#11: Make posing easier with the right wardrobe

Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak. Help your clients bring their own personal A-game to their shoot by guiding them to select clothing that makes them look and feel great. When a client looks good and feels confident, their photos show it.

Get great outfit images:

If your clients are wearing something especially terrific, be sure to move in for a series of detail shots. You can also emphasize great wardrobe pieces by using them as props:

• a jacket clung over the shoulder
• twirling the luxurious skirt of a wedding dress
• creative close-ups of designer details

People matter more than poses

If you’re ever stuck and aren’t sure how to “pose” your couple, remember: great photos aren’t about achieving the perfect poses. Heirloom images reveal the beauty of the real people in front of your lens. Focus on the magic of each fresh moment, and your clients won’t care about a stray hair or fleck of sun flare. Instead, they’ll be basking in the glow of their love—and the way you brought it to life.