Relationships have different types of intimacy, but they are often expressed in similar ways. This image of a young woman and her boyfriend (facing page) is executed in much the same way as if it were a mother and toddler. Notice the closed eyes as their faces gently touch. This is consistent with my relationship portraits with all age groups and types of relationships. I am always looking for connection, intimacy, touch, and drama. A lot of the drama comes through lighting and body position.
Posing
This couple was seated a few feet apart, straddling a bench. He was elevated and leaning in toward her. That lean stretched his neck, giving a beautiful elongated feel. There is a wonderful diagonal line produced by having her lean with her body. By leaning both of them, I created an elongated pose, better diagonal lines, and more movement. In this way, I compensated for the camera, which wants to take away movement. I have her grabbing the back of his neck, pulling him in toward her.
If you ask a couple to embrace, it never looks real because they are self-conscious being in front of a camera. However, by having them lean in toward each other and coaching them to “snuggle, snuggle, squeeze, squeeze,” I made it all come together. With the proximity of their faces and their closed eyes, it translates into a believable pose. If you do not have the wherewithal as an image maker to encourage couples in this fashion, your poses will look very stiff and forced.
“By leaning both of them, I created an elongated pose, better diagonal lines, and more movement.”
Additional images from the same session.
Style and Branding
This is truly a relationship portrait because it tells how they feel about each other and the dynamic between them. It’s not just a reflection of what they look like. Not all studios can be successful with images like this, but we are consistent—so clients who seek us out already know that they want our style of photography. With our branding, we drive away people who want something else and we attract people to us who are looking for our style of portraiture.