The ultimate guide to candid couples portraits that feel romantic AF

This is The ultimate guide to candid couples portraits that feel romantic AF, designed for couples working with a photographer who blends posed and candid shots to create a true day‑in‑the‑life vibe. Ready to Book a session with Stacie, Let's do it!

The ultimate guide to candid couples portraits that feel romantic AF:

Firstly, Hire a cinematic or candid focused photographer

This guide is tailored specifically to couples who don’t want all smiling-at-the-camera and perfectly posed photos. You've picked your photographer based on their style and how they interact with their clients-- ask them what percentage of their session is posed/candid.

Clients pick me because I like to focus on prompting rather than posing. I work with couples who are okay with embracing imperfection and who want to interact with less awareness of the camera. This posing guide might not be helpful for every couple because the goal of my artistic candid photography is to photograph real moments made through prompts, experiences, intimacy, and fun.

If you're picking a photographer who works with mostly candid prompts, you've set yourself up for success and this guide will be super helpful for you!

Cinematic Photo Sessions are about Two Characters Connecting through unbroken moments and eye contact

Consider your photo session this way: In movies we see two characters going about their business because they don’t know the camera is there; with photography we've been taught to pose and then break. Smile at the camera, take the photo, drop the smile.

As a photographer who loves to create authentic art, I've been asking for years: Can we unlearn the art of smiling for the camera? When couples focus on interacting with one another & focus less on what their bodies, faces, lips, or hands are doing— we create epic photo sessions that really tell a story.

I encourage my clients to stay in moments instead of breaking out of them. It might be so tempting to receive a prompt from your photographer, accomplish the prompts, then look at your photographer when they give direction or feedback, but what if you didn't look at your photographer at all? During the entire session? What if you just stayed connected to your partner and simply used your ears to listen to the photographer directing, but what if your eyes never left the moment you're actually in?

While this might be challenging at first, it's the best way I've found to describe staying connected and "in the moment" to couples when working with them.

Sometimes I even tell them the goal is not to look at me. If they talk to me or ask me questions, I encourage them to stay connected with one another via eye contact no matter what.

Your photo session is about photographing your you-i-ness as a couple.

If you don’t touch much in real life, don’t feel as if you must for your session. But if you want to practice holding one another and looking at one another beforehand, that’s a great idea!

As a photographer in New York City, sometimes I notice couples excitement for a photo session dissipates when they realize it might feel odd interacting physically in public. Practicing hugging, kissing, holding hands, smiling at one another can really help when nerves or awareness of others watching in public happens.

Photos your photographer may be actively looking to take:

Even with a somewhat candid approach I am always looking for moments

that yield intimacy and connection:

• Looks you give one another

• Close details of faces and emotions, jewelry, eyes, hands

• Reflections of you in windows, glass, mirrors, etc.

• Interactive hand movement

• Different levels: standing, sitting on floor or steps or bench, etc.

• Photos from outside window looking in. Or of couple going between

two rooms.

• Holding each other close.

• Fearless closeness.

• Breath and mouths mingling

• Walking without touching

• Fixing yourselves in a mirror

• Hugs of gratitude.

Characters in movies don’t know they're in movies. They don’t know there's a camera—

they are blissfully unaware of the camera.

Posing and Prompting

There is no “Right Way” to pose or interact. My prompts are meant to get you creative or encourage you to interact more. If you get too stuck in. your head just remember--- you’re there to give the person across from you some love-- feel free to pause and hug them out of gratitude for their presence in your life.

There’s no right or wrong and if we need to try something again in a different way, we will.

I really want you to fully embrace a scene instead of a pose. Stay in the moment, don’t rush out of it. Scenes don’t end until the director says "cut", so stay with it even if you’re not sure.

Intimacy to Practice Ahead of Time

• Holding Hands. Interlace your fingers together.

• Close the distance. Start facing one another (no touching), with your hands at

your sides; connect your hands and look into one another’s eyes.

• Close your eyes and put your foreheads together as your hands stay connected. Close the gap between your torsos and feet. Stay here and just enjoy this moment.

• Big bear hug. Switch places being the big bear and the little bear.

• Spontaneous hug from behind. While one of you is doing dishes or making food, have the other come up from behind and give a hug from behind. Both pause and enjoy this hug.

• Fear not the face. One or both partners put their hands behind their partners

head or on their partner’s face/neck and give them kisses on their cheek and lips.

Linger here for two minutes giving kisses every few seconds.

• Couch potatoes. Without too much slouch, sit down next to one another, one

partner facing out, the other facing their partner. Snuggle up like you’re going to

watch a good movie together. When you’re comfortable, have one partner lay

down and rest their head in their partner’s lap. Interlace your arms and

your hands and rest together in this position.

BASIC posing TIPS for Couples

• Face Each Other: Even a slight angle toward each other creates

intimacy. Use Your Hands: Hold hands, touch a cheek, or wrap an arm around

each other’s waist or shoulders.

• Create Movement: Walking together, swaying, or even spinning can add

a dynamic feel.

• Forehead-to-Forehead: Close your eyes, lean in, and enjoy the closeness.

• Nose-to-Nose: A playful, soft touch with a sweet vibe.

• Back Hug: One of you wraps arms around the other from behind for a

protective, loving moment.

• Whisper Poses: Whisper something sweet (or funny!) in their ear and

enjoy the reaction.

Experiences to Create, instead of Poses to Focus on:

• Walking your dog on your favorite route

• Strolling through your favorite neighborhood or part of town

• Book your favorite seat at your local diner or cafe (or a window seat)

and enjoy a cup of coffee or a whiskey together.

• Go about life inside your home as you usually would on a Saturday-

make pancakes together, cuddle on the couch, have a dance party, etc.

• Do a shared hobby together.

What if a pose feels uncomfortable?

I hesitate to say "ask your photographer if the pose looks good" because I want you to know that oftentimes, poses feel unnatural, but they look amazing on camera. It might be worth communicating with your photographer that something feels unnatural or

uncomfortable. You could say-- "this feels uncomfortable but you'd give us feedback if it looked bad right?"

And of course you're always allowed to tell your photographer you’d like to try something else. Really not into it? That’s okay, a good photographer isn’t there to force you into

anything. A good photographer can give you different direction and feedback.

How to mentally and physically prepare for your photo session: Be mindful of Your Body and Your Mind

Stretch and get loose beforehand!

One of the number one ways I see couples show up to sessions is-- well, rigidly.

Doing some yoga or stretches to release the tension in your neck, arms, chest,

hips, and legs is so so helpful ahead of time! With many of my sessions I have

couples sway their arms back and forth (I even have them do some silly

stretches so they feel a bit more carefree, especially if they are having their

photo session in public).

Save primping for the photo session: I love photos of a couple making sure one

another looks great. Fix your hair or touch up your lipstick as the photo session

begins, not beforehand.

Do you know the best way to feel disconnected from one another and to feel super rigid during your photo session? When you're late.

Did you know when we aren’t on time, we can stress ourselves out? And that

stress can actually lead to zero relaxation in our minds and bodies. Plan to show

up to your location session at least 15-20 minutes ahead of time for peace of

mind and less tension in your body. If your partner tends to be “the late one” tell

them the photo session starts earlier or tell them you want to pick up a coffee in

the area before your session starts.

Avoid Common Pitfalls of a Rigid Photo Session

• Overthinking: Don’t stress about perfect poses; focus on each other.

• Stiffness: Keep your body relaxed and natural.

• Forgetting to Enjoy It: Remember, this is about capturing your love and

personality. Have fun!

Are you planning a photo session with your partner soon? Do you have any questions about how you can prepare for it?