The playlist is queued up and the boutonnieres and corsages are purchased. It’s officially prom night (!) and it’s almost time to dance the night away. But honestly, one of the best parts of prom night takes place before you even arrive at the venue, when you and your besties all meet at someone’s house to take pictures together. Prom pictures are part of the reason you spent all of your babysitting money on your dress and spent hours picking out the perfect pair of shoes — and the pre-prom pics are the first time you can show off your complete look, and see your date and friends all dressed up.
Ofc, you want to have tons of pics to post on Insta later. You want these to be memorable, especially since so many of them will be framed and pinned to corkboards in your dorm room next year. Your parents are going to insist on taking *at least* a million pics, so you probably want to mix up the traditional poses with fun group shots and selfies. With so many details to capture — from your ’fit to your date to your friends — you may want to have a list of poses ahead of time for your photographer (ahem, parents, siblings) to check off. Here, 20 cute prom poses for you and your friends.
1. Blow a Kiss
Show off your lipstick and pose for a simple, but always cute, photo with all of your besties.
2. Show Off Your Corsage
Corsages are such a big prom tradition, so why not take a pic that captures it up close?
3. Over-The-Shoulder Look
Show off the back of your beautiful dresses with this cheeky pose.
4. Give a Twirl
You don’t have to save your moves for the dance floor. Give your date a twirl for a fun and dynamic pic.
5. Classic Prom Pose
OK, it’s a classic for a reason — it perfectly shows off your dress and corsage, and gives you a good excuse to get close and comfortable with your date. When in doubt, rock this signature prom pose.
6. Show Off All of Your Dress
Your dress is so gorgeous, every single detail needs to be captured. Really fluff it out and get some pics of the entire look.
7. Head to a Fun Location
Who says your prom pics need to be taken with a picturesque background, or in a friend’s backyard? Have some fun with your location. Head to your favorite fast food restaurant, the beach, or wherever you and your besties love to hang on the weekends.
8. Go For a Stroll
Let your ’fit flow in the breeze as you take a walk with your date for the cameras.
9. Lounge on the Steps
Embrace your inner Gossip Girl (xoxo) and show off your best smize while the group poses on some steps.
10. Show Off Your Ride
Are you riding up to prom in style? Then show off your wheels in your prom pics, too, whether it be your beloved car, or the limo you rented with the group for the night.
11. Take a Dip
There’s a reason why everyone loves this pose — it’s romantic and simply adorable. Plus, it’ll capture all the feels between you and your date. 🥹
12. Hip Bump
This is super cute if you are flying solo to prom with your bestie, or you and your date are feeling cheeky.
13. Be Each Other’s Dates
It’s cute, casual, and an absolutely frame-worthy pose for you and your BFF. And the foot pop displays your shoes in a fun way.
14. Picture Perfect
Have some fun and bring props to the big photo op, like an oversized photo frame. It will make taking pictures that much more interesting, and you’ll end up with a variety of different photos.
15. Play With Glitter
The sparkly stuff might get a little messy, but it will make for some dazzling and prom-perfect pics. (Pro tip: make sure you’re outside for these shots.)
16. Bring Some Balloons
Speaking of props, what’s more fun and festive than a bouquet of balloons in your pics? If you’re really feeling adventurous, set up an Insta-famous balloon arch for your and your group to pose under.
17. Selfie Shot
Don’t forget to take one epic group selfie shot before the big dance. You might need a selfie stick to help you out (or someone with super long arms), but it’s a cute and casual photo that the whole group will want to frame for their dorm rooms next year.
18. Jump!
1...2...3... jump! OK, be mindful of dress trains and nice shoes when taking this one. But hold hands and jump up in the air for the ultimate group shot.
19. Capture a Group Pic from Behind
If your group’s dresses have really cool detailing on the back, you absolutely need to make sure it’s all documented. You’ll fall in love with your prom dress all over again, and it’ll show off the uniqueness between you and your friends’ styles and personalities.
20. Smile at Each Other
Instead of smiling straight at the camera, laugh with and smile at each other. It’ll look so much more candid, and who doesn’t love a candid shot? This is perfect for a big group shot.
Tamara Fuentes is the current Entertainment Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers TV, movies, books, celebrities, and more. She can often be found in front of a screen fangirling about something new. Before joining Cosmopolitan, she was the entertainment editor over at Seventeen. She is also a member of the Television Critics Association and the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Leah Campano is an Associate Editor at Seventeen, where she covers pop culture, entertainment news, health, and politics. On the weekends, you can probably find her watching marathons of vintage Real Housewives episodes or searching for New York City’s best almond croissants.