How to actually relax in front of the camera

The worry I hear most often is some version of not feeling photogenic enough. Almost everyone says it. And then, about ten minutes in, they forget the camera is there and I get the photos they'll actually keep. Feeling stiff isn't a problem with you. It's just the first ten minutes. Here's how we get past them faster.

Do something, don't pose

Stiffness comes from being told to stand still and smile. So I won't do much of that. I'll have you walk, or pull each other close, or tell me a story while you're tying his tie. Motion and a real thing to do beat a held pose every time, because your hands and your face stop performing and start reacting.

Get the first ten minutes out of the way early

This is the quiet reason engagement sessions are worth it. The awkward part of being photographed happens once, at the start. If we spend it together months before the wedding, your wedding-day photos begin already loose, because you've done this with me before and you know it's painless.

Look at each other, not the lens

The photos you'll love most are almost never eye-contact-with-the-camera. They're the two of you. When you put your attention on each other, the way you do when no one's watching, you stop thinking about how you look and the real expressions come back.

Let it be my job

You don't have to arrive knowing what to do with your hands. That part is mine. I'll guide you gently the whole way, and I won't leave you standing there guessing. Your only job is to show up and be with each other. I'll take care of the rest.