"We're not really comfortable in front of the camera. Is there anything you'd recommend for couples like us?"

Sound familiar?

That question landed in my inbox recently, and it's one I hear all the time. If you've typed something similar into a search bar, or decided you're just not photogenic, this is for you.

The good news is you don’t need to be naturally confident in front of a camera. Most people aren’t. You just need to feel comfortable enough to stop thinking about it quite so much.

For most of your wedding day, you’ll be so caught up in what’s actually happening that you probably won’t be thinking too much about the camera. The bit you’re more likely to be wondering about is couple portraits, when it’s just you two and me - so that’s what we’ll talk about here.

The thing most couples worry about… and don't need to

There's a common fear that wedding photos will look stiff, over-posed, or (even worse) fake. You'll be holding a supposedly-romantic pose and thinking about what to do with your hands, or smiling so hard your face aches.

That's what happens when the focus is on performing rather than connecting.

I never want you to stand still and gaze at each other or grin at the camera. Most of the time, I’ll gently direct you back into what you’re already doing together, just adjusted to make the most of the light and the scenery and to tell the best possible story of your day.

Tips for feeling like yourself in front of the camera

1. Give your attention to each other, not the lens

This is probably the most useful thing I can tell you.

You don’t need to look at the camera all the time. In fact, most of the time, I’d rather you didn’t. When your attention is on each other you stop thinking quite so much about how you look. That’s usually when the photos start to feel more natural.

Most of the photos from your session won't be head-on portraits. They'll look like relaxed, candid moments of you enjoying your time together. (We will do a few camera-facing shots - for the grandparents' mantlepiece - but those are the exception, not the rule.)

2. Keep moving

Standing still and waiting to be photographed is something else that leads to awkwardness - so I keep you moving. Walking, talking, a bit of a frolic - it all helps you settle into yourselves instead of freezing up.

I give lots of gentle direction throughout, so you're never left standing there wondering what to do next or where to put that extra hand.

Pro tip: For photos full of connection and love, stay physically connected through touch throughout the session.

3. Don’t worry if you feel awkward at first

It’s completely normal to feel a bit self-conscious at the start of your portraits. You might need a little time to warm up. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

If you’re worried about the unfamiliarity of being in front of a camera, an engagement session can help a lot. It gives you a chance to get the weird bit out of the way beforehand and get used to how I work. Lots of couples have told me it helped them feel a lot more relaxed for their wedding day.

But even if we don’t work together before your wedding day, you’re not starting from scratch. By the time we get to portraits you’ve just got married and you’re riding that ‘we just did it!’ high. Sometimes that’s enough for you to forget to be nervous of the camera.

4. Let yourself be guided

There’s a bit of a myth that if photos are going to look natural, there should be no direction at all, things should be totally unposed. I don’t think that’s true. In fact, I’d suggest that lack of direction is the most common cause of awkwardness.

Most people need some amount of guidance before things start to feel easy. That doesn’t mean holding unnatural poses or being arranged in a way that doesn’t feel like you - it just means I’ll steer you when needed, so you’re not left wondering what happens next.

5. Remember that perfect isn’t the point

The photos you end up loving are rarely the ones where everything was immaculate. They’re the ones that conjure up how the moment actually felt.

Usually, it’s the in-between moments: The laugh that sneaks out, the look you give each other when something ridiculous happens... Basically it’s when you’re not trying to get everything right.

My goal is always to make photos that feel like memories rather than poses.

The real purpose of wedding photography

Wedding photos aren’t just about pretty pictures. Over time, they become part of your history. And for that to happen in a way that feels meaningful, the experience of being photographed matters too.

The couples I work with who love how their photos turn out aren’t necessarily naturally confident in front of the camera - but they feel safe, supported and able to be themselves. That’s what I want for you.

If this sounds like you

If you're a camera-shy couple looking for a wedding photographer who will help you actually feel relaxed - not just tell you to ‘be natural’ and hope for the best - I'd love to hear from you.

Let's book an e-cuppa to chat through your plans!

Get in touch