Almost everyone feels awkward in front of a camera for the first ten minutes. The trick is to spend those minutes on something other than posing.
In short
- Feeling awkward is normal, and it shows in the photos far less than you think.
- Look at each other, not at the lens.
- Give your hands something to do: hold hands, walk, fix a collar.
- If you're really nervous, tell me: a video call before the wedding helps, and so does having me at your welcome dinner.
How to feel comfortable in front of the camera
"We're not photogenic" is the sentence I hear most often on first calls. It usually comes from people who have mostly seen themselves in selfies and group photos, where everyone looks at the lens and waits. A wedding day works differently, and knowing how it works is most of what makes you comfortable in front of the camera.
For most of the day I'm not asking anything of you. During the ceremony, the aperitivo and the dinner I photograph what happens. The only moments where I give real guidance are a few during getting ready and the couple session, which usually lasts 20 to 40 minutes.
Before the wedding
Meet me first
A video call or a coffee in the studio does more than any posing tutorial. By the wedding day I'm someone you've already talked to, not a stranger with a camera.
Use the welcome dinner as a warm-up
If I photograph your welcome dinner the evening before, it works as a rehearsal without pressure. You see how I work and how little I ask, and the first photos of the wedding day aren't the first photos we take together.
Skip the Pinterest poses
Saving poses to copy tends to make couples stiffer, because you're trying to match a picture instead of being with each other. Save pictures for the light, the colours and the places you like. I'll take care of the rest.
On the day
- Look at each other. The camera rarely needs your eyes.
- Keep moving. Walking slowly together looks more natural than standing still.
- Give your hands a job: hold hands, fix a jacket, keep the bouquet low.
- Talk. Tell each other something, even something silly. Laughing is easier than smiling on cue.
- Breathe out. The first few minutes of nerves never make it into the final gallery.
Most couples tell me afterwards they didn't notice when the portraits had started.
If you're shy or introverted
Shy couples often end up with the most intimate portraits. They naturally turn towards each other and away from the lens, which is exactly what I'm looking for. I keep the couple session short and away from the guests, so you never have to perform for an audience.
If you want to know exactly how much of the day is guided, I've written about it in do we have to pose for editorial wedding photography.
Nervous about the photos?
Tell me about your day and what worries you. We can talk it through on a call before you decide anything. I reply personally within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What if we're camera-shy?
That's the most common thing couples tell me. It usually fades within the first few minutes, because most of the day doesn't involve posing at all.
What if we hate having our photo taken?
You don't need to enjoy it. The couple session is short, and for the rest of the day you'll mostly forget I'm there.
Can we get used to the camera before the wedding?
Yes. A video call helps, and if you choose Welcome & Wedding, the welcome dinner the evening before is the easiest way to get used to the camera and to me.
Will you tell us what to do?
Only when it helps: where to stand for the light, where to walk, what to do with your hands.
How long are the couple portraits?
Usually 20 to 40 minutes, planned around the best light of the day.
