“I hate having my photo taken!”
“I don’t know how to pose!”
“I always feel so awkward in front of the camera!”
“I don’t know what to do with my hands!“
Do any of these statements sound familiar? Well, you’re not alone. In fact, pretty much all my clients tell me they feel a bit nervous about their wedding photos when we first meet.
Most people’s only experience of being photographed by a professional photographer is from their school days. And let’s face it, that wasn’t always the most fun experience, so is it any wonder if the thought of having a photographer shadowing your every move on your wedding day feels a bit nerve-racking?
Well, if this is you, please don’t worry! The good news is that it really doesn’t have to be that way. Here are my top tips to help you feel confident and relaxed in your wedding photos.
Choose a wedding photographer you trust
This is super important. Don’t just look for a photographer whose work you love – although that’s crucial, of course – but also someone that you have a good feeling about, and imagine you will have a good rapport with. When you meet/chat with them for the first time, you want to feel like they’re “your kind of person”. This way, you’ll be so much more likely to feel relaxed when they photograph you, and you’ll feel more able to approach them with your own ideas, or that you can speak up if at any point you don’t feel comfortable with a photo they’re trying to take.
>> Check out this blog post for more on how to choose your wedding photographer <<
Have an engagement shoot
Engagement (or pre-wedding) shoots are a great idea to help you feel more camera confident, as they’re designed entirely with your comfort in mind. Usually 1-2 hours long, not only will it give you the chance to build rapport with your photographer, but it’ll give you practice in front of the camera before the big day. If you can time this to coincide with your hair and makeup trial, even better!
>> Click here for more engagement shoot tips. <<
Book your photographer for an extra hour
When you’re planning your wedding day timeline, it’s a good idea to book your photographer for an hour longer than you think you’ll need them. Despite all the best laid plans, timings can change due to unforeseen circumstances. So, with that extra hour, there’ll be no worry or stress if things unexpectedly change at the last minute.
Ignore you photographer
This might sound funny, but when it comes to your wedding day, if you can forget that someone’s following you around with a camera and instead simply enjoy being in the moment, then you’ll definitely feel more relaxed.
Even when it’s time for your couple photos, if you can concentrate on your new husband or wife and enjoy your time alone with them, your photos will look much more natural.
Don’t be afraid to say no
If you’re not into public displays of affection, or if a pose your photographer suggests simply doesn’t feel like “you”, you should always feel you can say no. Any professional photographer should be happy to accommodate, as at the end of the day, all your photographer really wants is to get photos you’ll love and provide you with a fun and positive experience.
And again, this circles back to why it’s so important to choose a photographer you like, trust and feel comfortable with. 🙂
Remember how good you look
It’s your wedding day. For you girls, this means that you’ll most likely have spent ages choosing your dream dress, the right jewellery, the perfect shoes, and have had a morning being pampered and having your hair and makeup done professionally. And chaps, you’ll no doubt be looking extremely smart and dapper too! So rest assured that you’ll look and feel amazing.
So don’t worry about how you’ll look in your photos.
If you feel amazing, you’ll look amazing.
Think positive thoughts
Now this final point might sound a little silly, but in the words of Roald Dahl:
“If you have good thoughts, they’ll shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look happy.”
Be real, be you, be who the person standing opposite you fell in love with, and I assure you that you’ll get the beautiful, natural and relaxed photos you’re dreaming of. Promise.
ARE YOU READY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?
If you want to talk to someone about your wedding day, chat through how many hours of coverage would be right for you, and find out how I can support you then I would love to chat to you. I’m here and happy to help. Lorna x
