Keeping Your Sanity When It Comes to Doing Formals…
Saturday June 3, 2006 by Bambi Cantrell
I promised you last month we’d start to develop some tips on posing techniques to make life easier on the day of the wedding. So, let’s get started with the wedding party.
When it comes to doing groups, the keys to success are flexibility, speed, simplicity and an unbelievable sense of humor! Remember, anxiety is high and the secret to creating the very best images is getting your subjects to relax and interact.
- Scout out the location in advance! I know it seems pretty basic, but at least a week before the wedding check out the location. If you can, make it about the same time of day as the event, so you can see the lighting on the scene as well. You’re looking for areas ideal for doing your group formals – uncluttered backgrounds, out of the main stream traffic flow and easy to move people in and out when it comes time to start shooting.
- Start shooting your formals immediately after the ceremony if you weren’t able to do them before. Once the ceremony is over it’s like herding cats to get everyone together – so start right away! Don’t forget that the difference between an amateur and a professional is that you NEVER wait on anyone. If you don’t have everybody you need, just go on to the next shot.
- Position your subjects in staggered positions. Remember Don Blair’s old rule of working the heads of your subjects into triangular patterns – don’t let yourself get caught in firing squad posing, putting all your subjects on the same plain.
- Pairing the subjects or breaking the big group up into smaller groups adds interest to the image.
- Pay attention to the style of clothing they’re wearing. More contemporary clothing is the perfect cue for more relaxed posing.
- When it comes to the order in which to best take the images I like to start with the bride, groom and bride’s family, including grandparents. Then I ask all relatives to step out except the bride’s parents. Next, I cut all of the bride’s family loose and bring in the groom’s parents, followed by having the groom’s relatives step into the photograph. Family groupings are now done and I concentrate on the complete wedding party, followed by the bride/bridesmaids and then the groom and his groomsman. At this point I’ve used up 20-30 minutes tops and I’ll finish with a few images of the bride and groom.
When it comes to posing your subjects, remember one simple rule: If it’s a joint bend it! Whether working with men or women, just a subtle bend of arms and legs will eliminate stiffness and make them look more relaxed and natural.
