Picture this: you’ve spent months planning every detail. The flowers are perfect, and your dress fits like a dream. Then I raise my camera… and you freeze. Suddenly, you’re questioning everything: Where do my hands go? Teeth or no teeth? Do we look natural?
After 200+ weddings, one rule keeps winning: connection over angles. Be with your favorite person. Presence > perfection. Take a breath, find each other, and let the moment do the heavy lifting.
Here’s how.
1. Take a Moment to Just Be Together
Weddings feel like controlled chaos, but before we start shooting, I always give couples a quiet moment to reconnect. Whether it’s stealing 30 seconds away from the crowd or simply pausing to look at each other without any agenda, this brief reset helps you shift from “wedding mode” to “us mode.”
2. Focus on Each Other, Not the Camera
The instant you start worrying about “doing it right,” you lose your natural chemistry. Instead, I’ll give you simple prompts: share what you’re most excited about for your honeymoon, remind each other of your first date disaster, or just whisper something that makes you both laugh. When you’re genuinely engaged with each other, the camera slowly becomes invisible.
3. Trust the Creative Process
Yes, I might direct you to “walk toward me like you’re sharing the world’s best secret” or ask you to dance to silence. These prompts aren’t arbitrary; they’re designed to evoke genuine emotions and natural movement. My job is to see the shots before they happen and guide you there authentically.
4. Find Your Natural Rhythm
Every couple has their own energy and pace. Some are playful and spontaneous, others are quiet and tender. Instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all approach, I take time to observe how you naturally interact. Are you the type to burst into laughter at random moments? Do you communicate through gentle touches? I adapt my direction to match your authentic dynamic, not the other way around.
5. Celebrate the Perfectly Imperfect Moments
Wine spills, wind-blown veils, unexpected rain, these aren’t photo disasters; they’re story gold. Some of my most treasured shots capture couples laughing through the chaos, helping each other through wardrobe malfunctions, or sharing quiet moments during unexpected delays.
The truth is, being “natural” in front of a camera is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with the right guidance and practice. When you work with a photographer who understands how to create genuine comfort and connection, being yourself becomes effortless.
Ready to see what your authentic love story looks like? Let’s chat about capturing your day exactly as it unfolds, beautifully unscripted and entirely you.
A favorite wedding here | Arizona wedding venues to inspire your journey here