Capturing individual portraits on the wedding day highlights the bride and groom’s personalities separately. Groom portraits should showcase his sense of style and emotions on the wedding day. This week, we asked five photographers to share advice on capturing groom portraits. Find inspiration in this week’s Photos of the Week by Ionut Lucian Ianos, Xiaoqi Li, Matthew Sowa, Samantha Turner, and Katarina Tati.

Ionut Lucian Ianos, Lens Stories

During the wedding day preparations, this groom asked photographer Ionut Lucian Ianos of Lens Stories if he could get a picture with a cigar from a special box bought just for the occasion. As the preparations were finishing up and everyone was preparing to leave for the ceremony, Ianos spotted the patterned light coming through the curtains and immediately knew that was the spot for the groom’s requested cigar portrait. Ianos took the shot with the Nikon Z6 II and 58mm f1.4 lens.

“…just like any other portrait, be aware of the light and the surroundings,” Ianos said.

Xiaoqi Li, Xiaoqi Li Photography

For this groom portrait, Xiaoqi Li of Xiaoqi Li Photography was inspired both by the groom’s sense of style and the beauty of Positano. She noted that the groom took pride in how he dressed and wanted to lean into a “cool” vibe. She took the shot with the Canon EOS R5 and an RF 50mm f1.2 lens.

“Hype up grooms just as much as brides,” Li said. “Positive feedback makes all the difference in making them feel confident, and that will show in their portraits.” 

Matthew Sowa, Matthew Sowa Photography

Photographer Matthew Sowa of Matthew Sowa Photography wanted to use the open barn to create a simple backdrop to frame both grooms during this wedding. The composition also created dramatic yet different light across both grooms, while the dog was an unexpected but welcome element in the photograph. Sowa captured the shot with the Nikon Z6 and a 24-70mm f2.8 lens.

“Unlike the bride, when I photograph the groom I often utilize dramatic lighting and shadows to enhance the scene,” Sowa said. “This approach is essential for conveying the confidence of the men, as the moody lighting plays a significant role in the [image] overall.”

Samantha Turner, Samantha Turner Photography

To take a break from urban photography and polish her skills, Samantha Turner of Samantha Turner Photography attended a workshop at Euridge Manor in the UK, organized by Elira Workshops. The change in settings inspired her to capture this portrait with model Taurean and attire by Andréa Kọsta. She captured the shot with her Nikon and a 50mm f1.8 S lens.

“I recommend solo shooting time away from all the chaos,” she said. “Try to engage in relaxed conversation, maybe take the conversation off topic to try and break any nerves.” 

Katarina Tati, Katarina Tati Weddings

For this portrait, Katarina Tati of Katarina Tati Weddings was inspired by the groom himself. To create more dramatic lighting, she closed the room’s curtains a bit for more depth. She took the shot with the Canon R6 and Sigma Art 35mm lens.

“Take your time to get to know the groom, create a relaxed atmosphere and take photos that match groom’s character and his style,” she said.

Dig into our Photos of the Day Archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching portraits and wedding photos. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to five images at a time) to: [email protected].