Amongst the MANY amazing classes I took part in at UNITED 2014, popping in on Melissa Kilner (Gig Harbor, Washington Wedding Photographer) was one of the best things I did. Can I start off by saying how AMAZING this girl is!?! She is SO real…so down to earth…so positive and an overall amazing teacher. She taught this whole class with a coffee in her hand and lunging into deeeeep lunges to exagerate certain points and stances of a bridal party. Hahaha

It was a total “you had to be there” situations….but what I took away from that class, I hope to share here so you can feel as though you were right there beside me! (Which I so wish you were…yeah you….the one reading this that didn’t get to attend this year….don’t worry…2015…Ill be looking for you! : P )

Anyway…the bride and groom (spoiler alert) in this styled class/shoot are actually the faces of my NEW promo video that will be released this upcoming spring! So excited to share. They so generously gave up their time…as well as every other member of this bridal party (all United atendees and photographers) and I am so thankful for that.

**Tip: In this case the MOH (Susan) was in a different color dress and so was the maid on the far right (Christina) so spacing here was KEY so attention wasn’t drawn away from the bride.

Below is the infamous “bridal party walk”. Simply line up the party in pairs, stagger, and have everyone smile/laugh at each other, walk forward and repeat until you get your perfect image. From here, you can put everyone in a shoulder-to-shoulder straight line, a staggered flying “V” with the bride and groom centered and up front, and then from there have the girls go to one side and the boys the other.  Right there you have a mixture of candid, posed, formal, traditional, and fun. BOOM! : P My KNP Wedding families know this pose WELL!!! : )

The “jumping portrait”. Now, I have to admit, this is not my FAVORITE of requests, but being at the beach…we get a request for this a lot. PLUS, I have a younger wedding market and they are ALL about fun on a wedding day…and as their hired wedding photographer and FRIEND…if they want this image, then by golly we will go for it. This pose USUALLY takes a lot of takes or a lot of coordination. I have seen the, everyone in a straight line and jump pose, but I love how Melissa switched it up with the guys in the back being the goofballs and putting the girls into the ‘sorority squat.’ I loved this idea too, for girls with short and flowy dresses that may not be the best for “jumping” if you catch my drift : )

Now the following pose was NOT part of Melissa’s class per say. As she was tackling some Q+A, the groom Rob and his handsome groomsmen were just standing around, but perfectly posed all by themselves. If you are waiting for the girls to get situated, or you have a second shooter shooting side angles while you are primary….this is a GREAT time to turn around and catch the guys “being guys”…”candidly watching…waiting in the flanks on standby for their turn, etc ”  These shots may be your saving grace if you realize later you forgot to capture the groomsmens’ details.

Then…while the girls see you are shooting the guys at their “finest”…lol…they get into the pose you asked them to a few moments ago….but NATURALLY! So turn back and snap that image of the girls being “just the girls”….it wont be forced and the laughs will be genuine….that is exactly what happened here : ) Perfection!

Melissa- I took away so much from this class…and I was REALLY loving the part about telling the bride to “pick her favorite bridesmaid and smile at her.” That was so brilliant! Thank you for so selflessly giving up your early morning to share your talent and gift with us. I cant wait to implement some of your bridal party FLO PO this upcoming wedding season.

Final Bridal Party Posing RECAP: (What I took away from the class….)

1. Make allies. Go for the ones whose names you can remember, ones that will be your voice, and friend.

2. Start large, then go small. Start with bigger formations and then break off into ‘just girls’ and ‘just guys’ and even smaller groups from there. Start with easier and more traditional/formal portraits to make sure you get the necessary safe shots…then have some fun with it. Save “special” requests or “hey I have an idea” shots until the END!

3. BEFORE the wedding, use consult time to figure out YOUR client and their wishes/expectations. Church formals…bridal party formals at the venue, ideal shooting locations, any props added ( banners, confetti, sunglasses, etc)

4. Be consistent. Don’t keep moving people all over. DO all images with the girls on one side and boys on the other, THEN start grouping them into “aisle” buddies/’walking partners/couples…whatever you wish to call them. People don’t want to feel like pieces on a checker board. Get as much as you can in that one pose/place. 

5. End the bridal party portraits on a HIGH note…something fun…something positive. You know the bridal party just wants to get to the drinking and dancing and you just kept them from that for at least 30 minutes…have them walking away knowing “that wasn’t that bad at all…actually, it was pretty fun.” Those allies you made in the start of the day, give them a high five or a hug….they MAY just be your next referral or better…CLIENTS!