Lani & Martin

Set up Stand close with shoulders angled slightly inward. Groom’s inside arm rests around the bride’s waist; her inside hand rests on his jacket. Keep outside hands relaxed.

“Bring your hips a little closer. Turn your shoulders toward me and take a breath together.”

Capture Full length first, then waist-up. Both faces toward camera; check jacket, dress and hands. This is an added starting pose, not one of the reference photos.

Next → Keep the same feet; bride turns slightly toward groom.

Set up Bride rests her temple lightly on groom’s shoulder, with her hand on his upper chest. Groom stands tall without locking his knees; outside hand can rest in a pocket with thumb visible.

“Lean in just enough to get comfortable. Close your eyes for one, then both look at me.”

Capture A relaxed camera-facing frame, then a quiet eyes-closed version. Do not make her crane her neck to reach his shoulder.

Next → Bride lifts her head; both turn slightly inward and join hands at chest height.

Set up Bride stands just in front and to one side of groom. Keep her bouquet low; groom turns toward her temple.

“Stay facing me. Groom, give her a little kiss on the temple. Bride, soften your shoulders and smile.”

Capture Waist-up with flowers below faces. Shoot before, during and after the kiss.

Next → Turn together slightly away for the quieter shoulder-rest variation.

Set up Groom turns partly away from camera. Bride rests her temple on his shoulder and holds the bouquet below her chin. Her free hand rests lightly on his arm.

“Lean in and close your eyes for a moment. Hold the flowers low enough that I can still see you.”

Capture Close portrait, bouquet and her expression; groom’s partial profile supports the composition.

Next → Lift your heads, turn toward camera and make the shared hand heart.

Set up Stand shoulder to shoulder. Each makes half a heart; join fingertips at mid-chest, below both faces. Keep elbows loose.

“Make one heart together. Look at me first—now look at the person who made the other half.”

Capture Waist-up, with the complete heart and both faces visible.

Next → Release the heart. Turn fully toward one another and take both hands.

Set up Face each other with a little space between your feet. Groom gently raises bride’s hand; he comes toward it rather than pulling her arm upward.

“Bring her hand toward you and give it a tiny kiss. Bride, watch him and let your shoulders relax.”

Capture Three-quarter and close-up. Wait for the approach or a smile after the kiss.

Next → Lower joined hands to waist height; keep fingers soft.

Set up Keep the hand-kiss position. Angle bride’s back slightly toward camera to show her dress and veil. Arrange the train without stretching the veil.

“Hold that hand kiss for a moment. Bride, look down toward him with a little smile.”

Capture Step back for full length and leave space around the train. Change your angle before moving their feet.

Next → Lower hands for the joined-hand close-up.

Set up Hold one hand each between your bodies. Turn the ring hand slightly toward the light, without twisting the wrist.

“Just let your fingers rest together—no tight squeeze.”

Capture Close-up of hands, rings and sleeves. Move yourself for a clean background; focus on the rings.

Next → Step closer; bride places the ring hand on his jacket.

Set up Bring joined hands to shoulder height between them. Interlace fingers loosely and rotate slightly until rings face the camera.

“Hold hands like you normally would. Lift them just a little and relax your fingertips.”

Capture Focus on hands with faces soft behind them; avoid blocking both faces in the wider version.

Next → Lower hands; bride places her ring hand on groom’s jacket.

Set up Bride lays her hand softly near the boutonniere. Groom rests his hand lightly beneath or over hers without hiding her ring.

“Rest your hand here, like you’re smoothing his jacket. Keep your fingers soft.”

Capture Tight detail of hands, rings and boutonniere; leave a little breathing room around the fingers.

Next → Bride slides the hand from his chest to his cheek. Groom’s hand goes to her waist.

Set up Stand close, bodies gently angled. Bride cups the side of groom’s face; groom’s hand rests at her waist. Bring foreheads near each other without pressing noses.

“Touch his cheek gently. Bring your foreheads close and take one slow breath.”

Capture Side-angle waist-up, then a tight portrait. Photograph the almost-kiss before asking for a brief kiss, if they want one.

Next → Stay in the embrace; bride moves both arms comfortably around his shoulders.

Set up Remain face to face, groom’s hand at her waist. Bride lowers bouquet alongside her outside hip and rests her free hand near his shoulder.

“Bring your noses close, pause, and smile. You can kiss when you feel like it.”

Capture Full length with dress and bouquet visible, then a tighter expression frame. Keep both independently balanced.

Next → If her dress has back detail, pivot her gently so it faces the camera.

Set up Bride turns her back three-quarters toward camera, facing groom. Keep one hand joined low. Groom looks toward her face; she looks down toward their hands.

“Turn just enough to show the back of your dress. Now look down at your hands together.”

Capture Full length for the back and train, then a waist-up over-shoulder angle. Bouquet can stay low in an outside hand.

Next → Turn back into a comfortable hug for the over-shoulder ring detail.

Set up Bride rests her hands across groom’s upper back, with her ring hand on top. She keeps her shoulders down and avoids gripping his neck.

“Give him a comfortable hug. Let your hands rest where they naturally land.”

Capture Move behind groom for the hands and ring. Change your angle to avoid hiding the ring behind a sleeve.

Next → Lower one of her hands and turn both bodies a little toward your camera.

Set up Stay close in the same standing embrace. If wearing a veil, an assistant holds one edge loosely toward the camera, away from eyes and under no tension.

“Stay close. Bride, look at me; groom, look softly toward her cheek.”

Capture Focus on the eyes with the veil softly crossing the foreground. Also get a clean frame without the veil. Skip if no veil.

Next → Assistant releases the veil. Step back for full length; bride picks up a small fold of skirt.

Set up Groom keeps one hand at bride’s waist. Bride holds a small fold of skirt out to the side; she stays balanced on her own feet and leans only as far as comfortable.

“Show me a little of the dress. Lean toward each other and smile—keep your feet planted.”

Capture Full length, dress and shoes included. Use a tiny lean rather than a deep dip; the reference does not require a lift.

Next → Let the skirt fall. Separate a few steps for the playful heart-frame sequence.

Set up Groom stands close to your camera and forms a heart with his hands. Bride stands several steps beyond him. Move your camera until her face sits inside the opening.

“Make the heart a little wider. Bride, hold your bouquet low and look right through to me.”

Capture Focus deliberately on bride’s eyes; foreground hands can be soft. Avoid cutting her face with a finger.

Next → Keep the same background and exchange positions.

Set up Bride makes the foreground heart while groom stands beyond it. Keep her hands far enough from the lens to make a readable opening.

“Your turn. Groom, give her your best smile—now a slightly ridiculous one.”

Capture One polished frame and one playful reaction. If the opening is awkward, enlarge it rather than making people contort.

Next → Walk to the bench or chair; get seated portraits before trying stairs.

Set up Use a stable bench. Bride sits comfortably, dress arranged freely, knees angled slightly. Groom stands behind the bench with hands lightly on the backrest, near her shoulders.

“Sit tall, then let your shoulders soften. Groom, lean forward just a little—both look at me.”

Capture Full length and waist-up. Keep his head close enough to feel connected; avoid an excessive height gap.

Next → Groom comes around and sits beside her. Turn both knees slightly toward each other.

Set up Sit close, angled inward. The reference uses a lap sit; the easy default is side by side, with her hand on his shoulder and their free hands joined. Use a lap variation only if both want it and the seat is stable.

“Scoot close, turn toward each other and bring your foreheads together. Keep your hands relaxed.”

Capture Three-quarter frame and hand detail. Side-by-side is the comfortable alternative for this couple.

Next → Finish the bench set completely before moving to stairs. Stairs are optional if time or comfort is limited.

Set up Use the same bench. Bride can remain seated beside groom and turn toward him, or choose the lap variation only if both are comfortable and the bench is stable. One hand rests on his cheek.

“Touch his cheek softly and lean toward him. Keep the pose comfortable enough to hold while you laugh.”

Capture A close portrait and a wider dress frame. No lift is needed; the side-by-side version gives similar connection.

Next → Finish seated photographs, then move to stairs only if desired.

Set up Sit on a wide, clean step with enough room for both. Angle knees slightly together; arrange the dress down the steps while leaving a clear walking route. Bride rests a hand on his cheek or chest.

“Turn toward each other. Bride, brush his cheek; groom, lean a little toward her.”

Capture A wider frame showing the stairs, then a close portrait. Use a bench instead if sitting low is uncomfortable.

Next → Only if comfortable, groom moves one step higher and bride sits just below, between or beside his knees.

Set up Keep the same side-by-side seated position. Rest inside shoulders together; hands lie naturally on knees or over one another.

“Keep your bodies close and bring your eyes to me. Take a breath and let your shoulders drop.”

Capture One formal smile and a relaxed laughing frame. Include enough staircase to establish the location.

Next → If comfortable, move groom one step higher for the seated embrace.

Set up Groom sits one step higher; bride sits independently on the step below. His arms rest loosely around her upper waist; her hands rest over his. No pulling or weight on her neck.

“Settle into a comfortable hug. Bride, look back toward him; groom, bring your cheek near her temple.”

Capture Portrait crop with both faces visible; also get one looking toward camera. A bench with a staggered seated position is an alternative.

Next → Help them stand without holding the dress or camera. Let them find stable positions before joining hands.

Set up Stay in the staggered seated embrace. Bride rests bouquet low across her lap; groom’s hand loosely meets her free hand. Both turn their heads toward each other.

“Keep the flowers on your lap. Look back at him; groom, lean close for a little smile.”

Capture Vertical three-quarter portrait, preserving hands, flowers and dress. Do not ask for a large backward neck turn.

Next → Stand with support and choose fixed positions for the standing staircase frames.

Set up Bride stands one or two steps above groom, each balanced independently. Join hands loosely; use the railing for support as needed. Keep the dress clear of feet.

“Pause right there and look at each other. Keep your own balance—your hands are just connecting you.”

Capture Wide frame showing the staircase and dress, then a closer view. Photograph them stationary; no walking backward on stairs.

Next → Release hands before moving. Finish with a relaxed camera-facing portrait on level ground if needed.

Set up Reverse the height arrangement: groom stands one step higher, bride below and turned toward him. Both keep a railing available; dress lies away from walking feet.

“Stay on your own step. Turn your shoulders gently toward each other and look at one another.”

Capture Full-length vertical frame including the dress. Use a small height difference rather than stretching her neck.

Next → Keep the feet fixed; both turn faces toward the camera.

Set up Keep groom one step above bride, hands loosely joined. Open shoulders toward camera while preserving their balance.

“Keep holding hands. Bring your eyes to me and give me a relaxed smile.”

Capture Formal full-length portrait with the railing leading toward the couple. Keep it from crossing either face.

Next → Hold the position while the photographer moves to an accessible upper landing.

Set up Couple remains close on a roomy landing or wide step, hands at waist and shoulder. Photographer uses a secure upper landing; never lean over a railing to get the angle.

“Stay close and look at each other. Bring the bouquet slightly toward the outside so I can see it.”

Capture Look down from the landing for the dress, flowers and staircase geometry. Skip if no safe unobstructed viewpoint.

Next → Release hands, gather the dress and leave the stairs normally.