Good Posing Doesn't Look Posed
One of the biggest misconceptions about wedding photography is that candid means no direction.
It absolutely doesn't!
The best candid photos usually come from subtle guidance, little prompts
Not in a stiff, "stand here, chin up, smile at me" kind of way. More like creating a moment where you completely forget I'm holding a camera.
Because nobody—not you, not your partner, not even me—naturally knows what to do when a camera suddenly appears.
A bit of direction helps take away the guesswork
YOU ARE NOT AWKWARD!
(Shout it from the rooftops)
You're just hyper aware of yourself.
There's a huge difference.
The second someone points a camera at us, we start thinking:
Where do my hands go?
Am I smiling weird?
Is my posture ok?
Suddenly you're watching yourself instead of just existing.
That's why simply telling couples to "act natural" is probably the worst advice in wedding photography.
Let me cook.
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Movement beats standing still
Want to know what looks natural?
Doing something, ANYTHING…. Having something to do gives your movement purpose—and that's what looks natural.
Doing a little happy dance.
Piggybacks are always encouraged.
Spinning until someone gets dizzy.
Running away from me for absolutely no reason.
Holding hands like you're sixteen again.
Booping each other's noses.
Pulling your partner in for a cuddle.
Fixing a bit of clothing.
These are technically poses. They just don't feel like poses. The second your brain has something else to focus on, you stop performing and start interacting with each other instead.
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Trust the Process
I might ask you to do something that sounds completely ridiculous.
Climb that tree.
Run away from me.
Spin.
Stand in weird light.
Make out in a car park.
I promise there is usually a method to the madness.
Some of my favourite images started with my couples giving me a very confused look before saying,
"Okay... we'll trust you."
The weirder it sounds, the better the photo usually is.
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This is a Safe Space
I'll always guide you.
But I also want you to tell me if something doesn't feel like you.
If you hate a pose...
Tell me.
If you've got an idea...
Let's try it.
If you want to climb the rocks, jump in the ocean or stop because you spotted the world's cutest dog.
I'm probably already thinking the same thing.
This is your permission to play. Be silly, embrace your inner child, and don't overthink it.
My photography is a place to play.
Don't worry about whether it looks good- I'll make it look good!
Give yourselves ten minutes.
This might be the least photography-related advice in this article, but it might have the biggest impact. If you feel stressed and overwhelmed, you will look it.
Build 10 or 15 minutes into your wedding timeline where it is just the two of you.
No guests.
No bridal party.
No expectations.
This is the key to feeling relaxed and calm for the rest of the day. It’s ok to give yourself space; it's a big day.
