For the Couples Who Feel Awkward in Photos (You’re Not Alone!)
Feeling Awkward Doesn’t Mean You Won’t Have Beautiful Photos!
If the idea of being photographed makes your shoulders tense up, your smile feels forced, or your mind go completely blank, you’re definitely not alone. Almost every couple I work with tells me some version of this before we ever step in front of the camera: “We’re really awkward in photos.” Whenever I hear this, I smile because here’s the honest truth: most people feel the exact same way.
Being photogenic isn’t a personality trait. It’s not something you either have or don’t have. What people often call “awkward” is usually just means:
Not knowing what to do with your hands
Feeling watched or self-conscious
Worrying about looking stiff or unnatural
None of that means you won’t have photos that feel real, emotional, and beautiful. It simply means you’re human. My job is to provide guidance and an experience that naturally puts you at ease and realize that a photo session isn’t as intimidating as you may think.
Why do so many couples feel this way?
Most of us aren’t used to being photographed, especially not in emotionally significant moments.
On a wedding day or during an engagement session, there’s often extra pressure:
You want the photos to feel meaningful
You want to look like yourselves
You don’t want to feel staged or overly posed
It’s completely natural to feel a bit self-conscious or nervous in these moments but those nerves aren’t a roadblock, they’re an opportunity. They show that you care, that this moment matters, and that you want it captured authentically. I am a photographer who understands this and can guide you, make you feel comfortable, and help you relax into your natural expressions and movements.
When you work with someone who truly gets it, the result isn’t just a set of photos, it’s a collection of moments that genuinely reflect your love, your personalities, and the joy of this chapter in your life. And the best part? Most couples leave their session amazed at how natural and effortless it felt once they had the right guidance.
My Approach is Calm, Guided, and Naturally You
You don’t need to arrive feeling confident or perfectly relaxed. It’s part of our session that I help ease you into starting to take photos and then all of a sudden, we’re rolling and the experience will fly by! I approach sessions with the intention of making you feel supported, guided and present.
That usually looks like:
Offering gentle direction instead of rigid poses
Giving you something to do so you’re never left wondering what’s next
Creating space for movement, conversation, laughter, and quiet moments
Stepping in when you need guidance and stepping back when something natural is unfolding
Some of the most tender, emotional, and beautiful galleries I’ve ever delivered have come from couples who were convinced they were “terrible at photos.”
Now you might ask, what actually makes photos feel natural?
The photos that couples love most aren’t always the perfectly posed ones, they’re the in-between moments:
The quiet exhale when you finally relax
The way you naturally lean into each other
The laughter that comes when you stop thinking about the camera
These are the glimpses of real connection, the little details that tell your story without words. When you’re comfortable, present, and allowed to be yourselves, those moments unfold naturally with some of them being unexpectedly or quietly, but always authentically.
Your Session Can Become an Amazing Experience Together!
If you’re looking for wedding, elopement, or portrait photography that feels calm, natural, and pressure-free, I’d love to hear more about you and what you’re planning. You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to feel confident in front of the camera. You just need to show up just as you are and I’ll take care of the rest.
