"i'm awkward in front of the camera, can you help me?"



This statement is so common among couples, they know they are going to have to take pictures but their main concern is that they will hate them because of how they may look in them. They hope to rely on their photographer to pose them and guide them in a way that the images come out in a way that they will love. If you are planning a wedding in North Carolina, you are not alone. In this post, I am going to give you helpful information on how you can feel the most comfortable in front of the camera on your wedding day. The great thing about it is, you do not even have to be a model to get those beautiful wedding pictures you have been dreaming of.




comfort starts with the right photographer



No matter your budget, no matter the style you like, no matter how much you invest in your entire wedding day, the reality is that you will not be comfortable on your wedding day if you are not comfortable with who you choose to be your photographer. I work with couples across North Carolina, specifically Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, and just about everyone says the same thing. Comfort comes from trust, communication, and a photographer who knows how to guide couples in a way that is unique to the couple that feels natural and unforced.




tips to feel natural on your wedding day



Have an engagement session. This allows you to spend quality time with your photographer to get to know them better, understand how they work, and lets you know a little about how they will treat your wedding day. There is a specific reason I include an engagement session with all my packages because I do not want the first time we meet and work together to be on your most important day.

Focus on each other, not the camera. The camera can be intimidating. Staring down the barrel of that big lens and the photographer telling you to smile. Keep your focus on your spouse, no matter what, you will feel the most comfortable looking into their eyes rather than anywhere else (at least I hope lol). Have fun with each other, smile with each other, dance and laugh with each other, this is how you get those beautiful, candid images.

Hire a planner. Don't try and handle everything yourself. Give yourself one job on your wedding day, enjoy it. Your planner can take care of everything else, I mean after all that is their job.

Build breathing room into your timeline. I have not been to many weddings that were perfectly on time for the entire day. If you think an event is going to take 20 minutes, great, plan for 30. That way if it runs over, you planned for it. A great way to be stressed on your wedding day is someone telling you to hurry because you are behind on the timeline.

Keep the bridal suite tidy. The best way to get the best images is to continue to do the things that naturally happen on a wedding day. Once your photographer says, "Hey, can we move a few things so we can get a clean shot" you automatically go into pose mode, whether it be consciously or unconsciously. If you keep the bridal suite tidy, you don't have to worry about making things "picture ready" when your photographer gets there, they will be able to walk in, introduce themselves, and start capturing the candid moments between bride and bridesmaids, and groom and groomsmen.



These seem like little things, but they make a big difference to you feeling comfortable on your wedding day.




final encouragement



Your wedding day shouldn't feel like a performance, but it will be an experience. Be sure to choose a photographer that understands and values the real moments, who makes you feel heard and understood, who knows how to create a calm and supportive environment, and someone who you feel natural around. These help make the best images, the best experiences, and makes your wedding day feel like a dream come true.




ready to take the next step?



If you are planning a wedding in North Carolina, and want a natural and stress free wedding day that is true to you and makes you feel like your natural self, then let's talk. Inquire below to check availability for your date and let me help you have the wedding of your dreams.