You’ve sorted through dozens of dresses and finally found the perfect one. You’ve had your hairstyle picked out for months, and your nails came out perfect. Everything from your shoes to your corsage to your jewelry is in place. Now it’s the day of prom and time for pictures. But how are you going to pose to show off all of your hard work and capture those memories?
Don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. We gathered up some of the best prom poses out there for couples, best friends and groups. Whether you want to go elegant and classic or fun and lighthearted, these unique and cute prom picture poses can help you get there. Here are some of our favorites, along with some general tips for posing for prom.
General Prom Picture Posing Tips
No matter who’s in the picture or where you’re at, there are a few rules to follow that will help you nail your prom picture poses. As you get started on snagging the best prom photos ever, here are some general tips to keep in mind:
1. Practice, Practice, Practice
While it might feel a little silly at first, practicing your pose in front of a mirror is a great way to make sure you’ll like the result. There are so many little things you can do to adjust your pose — tilt your chin, angle your shoulders, smile this way or that — that it can be challenging to get the perfect angle on prom night. Practice your angles until you’re confident. Look back at some of your favorite photos of yourself and see what you were doing that you liked. You can even try taking practice pictures to be sure it looks as good on camera as it does in the mirror.
Another way to practice is to do a trial run of your makeup. You don’t need to go all out, but if you can get an idea for things like the length of your lashes, the shape of your contour and your highlights, you can more accurately gauge your end result. Don’t forget that lighting will be different if you’re doing pictures outside. It will probably be diffused and soft, so you won’t have a harsh bedroom light giving you glare.
2. Use Your Environment
Think about where your photos are going to be and what kind of environment you’ll have to work with. A beautiful backdrop can open up your options for poses. Sometimes, you can take advantage of unique features, too, by sitting on an old stone bench, leaning up against an iron fence or peering out from behind a lamppost or tree. Even something like a plain brick wall can be an excellent backdrop for your prom pictures.
3. Be Candid
Some of the best photos happen when you aren’t looking. Instruct mom and dad or whoever’s behind the camera to take lots of candids. You can get great in-the-moment shots while you’re putting on a corsage or boutonniere, or while you’re talking and laughing in between photos. These pictures are great for showing the mood and capturing the fun you’re going to have that night.
4. Include the Parents
Your special day is kind of their special day, too. Don’t leave them out of the photos. You could do a classic side-by-side, or get a little creative and have each parent kiss a cheek on either side of your face.
5. Snag Some Getting-Ready Shots
If you’ve got an artistic photographer, try having them take some shots of you and the rest of the girls getting ready. Putting lipstick on in the mirror, curling your hair — all make cute pre-prom pictures that will help you remember all that excitement and buildup for years to come.
For Group Photos
Let’s face it — prom groups can get pretty big. So how do you take unique group photos that make everyone look good? Luckily, there are plenty of cute prom poses you can do. In general, when doing group shots, try to take several photos, so you can find one where no one is blinking.
Also, say goodbye to your notions of personal space. Many prom-goers err on the awkward side and leave way too much room between themselves and other people. Get in close, and your group will look much more natural and comfortable.
1. The Classic
For your traditional group photo, have everyone stand in a long, slightly curved line against a clean background that isn’t distracting. Have everyone get in close and angle themselves somewhat toward the center. Another option for a group photo is to stagger people in windows, so everyone is visible.
2. Center Stage
Every group has a clown. If you want to encourage their goofiness, have them jump into the arms of the rest of the group. They can lean on one elbow or cross their arms. You can also do this on the ground and have them lay out in front of everyone else kneeling.
3. Balloons
For something unique, bring in some props. Have some of your subjects hold balloons that spell out “prom” or the year. Using the year gives your pictures a very reminiscent feel when you go to look back on them later on in life. You get a clearer image of your time in high school and the fun you had. You could also forget about spelling something out and just get standard balloons in bundles. Try multicolor for a lighthearted feel or your school’s colors to show a little pride.
4. Primetime Drama
Reenact a promotional photo from a primetime drama show. Arrange everyone at different levels and poses. Have them give their most serious face and stare down the photographer. You’ll look like you’d fit right in on a full-page spread of a magazine.
5. The Jump
This one’s going to take some coordination, but it’s fun, energetic and totally worth it. On the count of three, have everyone jump up and pose. Use a continuous-shot mode on your camera, so you can get a bunch of pictures and can choose which one looks best.
For Best Friend Pics
Getting a cute prom picture with your best friends is an essential part of the event. You can do more than just stand in a line if you want some Instagram-worthy shots. Again, those prom groups are big, so narrow it down and get some photos with just your close friends.
1. Add Some Sparkle
Get a little biodegradable glitter or confetti and incorporate it into your photos. You can toss it out in front of you or blow it out like a dandelion toward the camera. It gives you a cute action pose while adding some shimmer. You can also achieve a similar effect with leaves or flower petals.
2. Show Off Your Corsage
It probably took some work to coordinate your corsage with your date. Savor it and take a photo, so you’ll never forget it. Have all the girls put their wrists in a circle and take a photo from above, at an angle. This shot also lets you show off your nice manicure, too. Another way to get a picture of your corsages is to line up with the girls all facing the same direction, corsage hand gently resting against their side toward the camera. For an individual picture, you can also put your hand on your date’s chest, next to his boutonniere.
3. Dynamic Duo
This one works best with just a pair of friends. Lock hands and keep your arms straight. Stand either facing each other or away from each other with some distance between your bodies. This pose leaves room to show off your dress and connects you with your bestie.
4. From the Back
Have everyone face away from the camera and link arms or hands. With this pose, you get to see the back of everyone’s dress and those beautiful hairstyles that took so long to do.
5. The Selfie
You’ll probably end up with a lot of these throughout the night, but be sure to stop and get everyone in one shot as a group selfie. You know the drill — have one girl hold the camera up high, and everyone else gathers around her with big smiles.
6. The Shoe Reveal
You searched high and low for the perfect pair of shoes, so get them on camera at least once. Stand next to each other and angle your bodies to the side. Lift one side of your dress, so your shoes are showing. Go full Cinderella and let the dress frame your shoes for the full effect. This position looks good in a solo pose, too. If anyone in your group chose to wear tennis shoes to prom, it adds a little humor to this pose as well.
For Couple Photos
Prom poses for couples tend to give you the most creative license. It’s much easier to coordinate two people than a massive group. You can really get artistic here, especially if your date is also your significant other.
1. The Twirl
This prom pose is perfect for showing off the movement of your dress. If you have a large ballgown or something with flowing layers, a twirl will help them move and let the camera capture a beautiful shot. Have your date spin you, and use a continuous shutter on the camera to catch the whole thing. One or more shots in the middle should give you a gorgeous photo. If you want something a little more dynamic, you can also take a boomerang of it for your Instagram.
2. Picture-In-Picture
If your date is also your boyfriend, you may have the prep work done already. Bring an existing photo of the two of you — for extra charm, make it a polaroid — to your photo session and hold it out in front of you. Bonus points if you kiss and hold the picture slightly below your face. You can play with focus options too, like having a sharp photo and blurring yourselves out in the background. This pose is an excellent way to bring your relationship to the foreground.
3. Classic Romance
With your date facing the camera, have him turn slightly to the side. You’ll face him and put your corsage hand on his chest, your other arm around his waist. He puts his hands on your waist and voila — you’ve got a classically cute prom pose.
4. Adding Flare
If your dress is one that cooperates with this style, stand facing your date. Lean back just a little and use the hand closest to the camera to pull your dress out behind you. This classy shot looks great framed as a candid, with you looking at your dress or your date instead of the camera. It also makes a great way to show off a unique, trendy dress.
5. On the Move
For this one, simply join hands with your date and walk forward toward the camera. Get some candids of you looking at each other and laughing for a natural, organic feel.
6. The Piggyback Ride
For a more lighthearted picture, hop up on his back — or vice versa — for a cute piggyback ride. This pose is a good way to help you get some candids too since you’ll probably be laughing the whole time.
7. Take the Stairs
Create your own scene out of a fairy tale and have your date take your hand at the bottom of a stairway as you descend. You’ll get extra cute results if the stairs are older and your dress trails behind you.
8. The Clark Kent
If he’s your superman, have him wear the classic logo on a T-shirt underneath his suit. You can open it up to reveal his secret identity with a “shocked” look on your face for a cute couple’s prom pose. You can also do this with a large group, having each guy wear a different superhero’s emblem.
9. Point-Of-View
You may have seen this trend in travel photos, but it makes for a cute prom picture idea for couples too. Have the boy hold the camera or phone and link hands with him. Have him take a photo with your hands at the edge of the frame and you leading him off toward your next destination. You can look back and smile or let your hairstyle shine and look straight ahead. This whimsical shot is perfectly Instagram-worthy.
Show Off the Perfect Dress in Your Prom Photos
There you have it — plenty of cute prom picture ideas for couples, best friends and more to save the special day for years to come. And to show off on Instagram, of course. Whether you’ve picked an elegant evening gown, a sassy and short dress or a big sparkly number, your prom poses can help you highlight it.
As for finding the perfect dress, Alexandra’s too can help! With a wide variety of styles, including plus sizes, we can help you find your dream prom dress to show off in your pictures. We carry lines from Sherri Hill, Jovani, Ellie Wilde, Jasz Couture and much more. Shop online or in-store at Alexandra’s too for the full experience.