To round off the month of love, we’d like to share some photography tips and tricks for capturing love and emotions in pictures.
Whether you want to remember a special moment forever, take a picture to make an important announcement or just work on your technique, I think it’s safe to say we’d all like to be able to take the perfect “couple shot”. You know, the slightly cheesy sort of photo that shops put in frames to makes people think “that frame will make my pictures look that awesome”.
Although we can easily line up a photo with a loved-up, happy couple, it is not always so simple to capture their ‘spark’ and get a shot that feels romantic, warm and natural. So, in this post we’ll take you through a few simple pointers to get you started.
Capture The Magic Moments
If you are working on your portfolio of candid photography, pictures of couples can be really powerful for connecting to viewers, often making people wonder what their situation is and what’s causing the emotion you capture.
What could be more romantic than a proposal? by @dkbarnett
TIP: When photographing people in a circumstance that you should ask their permission, try snapping them in their own little world before showing them a picture and asking for permission - we all know how people can clam up once they know they’re the subject.
Experiment with poses and have fun!
Hands
Embracing one another with strategically placed hands is a great way to start:
Holding Hands by @laetitiapetrussa
A Hand on His Chest by @tskipper
Wrapping Arms Around Each Other From Behind by @aliha
Wrapping Arms Around Her Waist by @amyleewinfield
Body Language
Science has proven that humans translate certain body language into affection and love:
Her Head on His Shoulder by @houdiniem
Only the Girl Looking by @hrb73
A Kiss on the Forehead by @Tabbycat
A Kiss on the Cheek by @my_photofun
Action Shots
Get the audience hooked on intriguing moments that makes them wonder what the couple’s situation is:
Just Before A Kiss by @lauramalone82
Whispering a Secret by @jaynspain
Dancing by @seattle
Location: Embrace the Great Outdoors
Sometimes a location can transform a shot and getting in the great outdoors can make the audience subconsciously think the couple are in a perfect setting and are perfectly in love:
A Deserted Beach by @lily
A Warm Sunset by @lesip
Open Fields by @onarom
Urban Framing by @fueast
Have Fun With After Effects
Finally, to inject even more romance and emotion into a finished photo try using simple after effects can. Experiment with a black and white filter or selective colouring to really focus the attention on the couple:
Black and White by @californialover
Selective Colouring by @fntngrma
I hope you enjoyed this post and feel inspired to think about how you can capture more emotion and romance in couples photography going forward.
Don't forget to check out our archive of handy, helpful and inspiring tips for better photography.