How To Feel Comfortable In Front Of A Camera

If I had a dollar for every couple who told me they were awkward in photos, I'd probably be retired by now.

It's one of the first things I hear during enquiries.

"We hate having our photo taken."

"We're awkward."

"We don't know what to do."

"We only want candid photos."

The funny thing is that the couples who say those things are often the same couples who end up absolutely loving their photos.

So if you're worried about feeling awkward in front of a camera, I want to let you in on a little secret:

You're completely normal.

Why Most People Feel Awkward

The biggest reason people feel uncomfortable in photos is simple.

Most people have never had a professional photoshoot before.

On top of that, many people feel self-conscious about certain parts of their appearance, don't enjoy being the centre of attention, or simply struggle to imagine what the final image will actually look like.

You're standing in front of a camera wondering:

"What am I supposed to do with my hands?"

"Do I look weird?"

"Am I smiling too much?"

Meanwhile, your photographer is looking at light, composition, backgrounds, emotions and about twenty other things you've probably never thought about.

It's a bit like watching a chef cook a meal and judging it halfway through. You can't see the finished product yet.

The Biggest Misunderstanding About "Candid" Photos

One of the most common things couples tell me is that they only want candid photos.

The reality is that many of the "candid" photos people save on Pinterest or Instagram are actually guided in some way.

I've honestly never had a couple send me inspiration photos that weren't clearly directed, posed or intentionally created.

The difference is that good posing shouldn't feel like posing.

My approach is usually very simple.

I'll find beautiful light and a great location.

I'll gently guide you into the space.

Then I'll give you something to do.

Maybe it's walking together.

Maybe it's talking.

Maybe it's laughing about something ridiculous.

Maybe it's simply taking a quiet moment together.

While all of that is happening, I'm moving around creating photographs.

The goal isn't to force a moment.

The goal is to create an environment where natural moments can happen.

Why Movement Changes Everything

One thing I've learnt after photographing more than 400 weddings is that people almost always feel more comfortable moving than standing still.

Walking.

Talking.

Laughing.

Holding hands.

Interacting.

These things feel natural because they are natural.

Most people become uncomfortable when they're told to freeze and perform.

That's why so much of my approach is built around movement and connection rather than rigid posing.

The Bride I'll Never Forget

Just recently I photographed a bride who was absolutely terrified before her ceremony.

When I checked in with her beforehand, I could immediately sense how anxious she was.

She looked like she was on the verge of a panic attack.

I tried reassuring her by saying:

"You've got the best people in the world down there."

The look she gave me immediately told me I'd misread the situation.

There was clearly something deeper going on.

So I quickly smiled and said:

"Oh, I meant your vendor team. We all love you and we're excited for you."

She laughed.

The tension softened.

Throughout the ceremony I kept quietly checking in from a distance.

A smile here.

A little more confidence there.

After the ceremony she pulled me aside and quietly said:

"Get me out of here."

So we did.

I wrapped up the family photos, grabbed some drinks from the venue and took the couple away for portraits.

But before we took a single photo, I gave them space.

Ten minutes.

No cameras.

No pressure.

Just a chance to breathe.

When we started shooting, everything changed.

She relaxed.

She laughed.

She smiled.

The anxiety melted away.

Thirty minutes later she was excited to head back and enjoy the rest of her wedding.

When she received her gallery she told me she'd never left a Google review for anyone in her life, but felt compelled to write one because she wanted other couples to know how supported she felt throughout the day.

The photos mattered.

But the experience mattered more.

What Actually Makes Great Wedding Photos

People often assume great wedding photos come from technical perfection.

The reality is much simpler.

If a bride is wearing a dress she loves, has hair and makeup that make her feel beautiful, and is marrying the person she loves most in the world...

We're already most of the way there.

My job isn't to manufacture something that doesn't exist.

My job is to create the space for that connection to shine through.

The best photos usually come from the moments in between.

The conversations.

The laughs.

The quiet glances.

The little quirks that make you who you are.

The Secret To Natural Wedding Photos

The secret to natural wedding photos is being yourself.

Not performing.

Not pretending.

Not trying to look like somebody else's Pinterest board.

Just being present with the person you're marrying.

Trust your photographer.

Trust the process.

And most importantly, don't forget to have fun.

One Final Thought

If my daughter told me she felt awkward in photos on her wedding day, I'd tell her exactly this:

Focus on the person you're marrying and trust your photographer's process.

That's it.

Because when you're focused on each other, you stop thinking about the camera.

And that's usually when the magic happens.