Just not photogenic?
Joshua and Keely’s beautiful wedding - Joshua told me at our first meeting that he didn’t like having his photo taken… you wouldn’t tell it from looking at their images though!
I hate being the centre of attention...
I'm just not photogenic...
My fiancé hates having his photo taken...
Sound familiar? Then read on…
The truth is, many people feel this way.
I personally like to be behind the camera as I hate being in front of it. Sure… when I have to, I know how to stand and angle myself to make for a better image, but inside I’m cringing, wanting a hole to open up and swallow me in, wishing the moment would hurry up and end and the camera would get out of my face!
I am aware that most people feel this way. As much as the idea of having beautiful photos taken in your amazing wedding gear sounds great in theory, when it comes to reality and that camera is up and snapping, most want to run for the hills…
That’s where I come in. It is my job, my responsibility, to make you feel comfortable, to get you relaxing and having fun, to remind you of the reason why you are there on the day (that crazy little thing called love). You don’t have to constantly look at the camera with a fake smile in your face.
In fact, if you are giving me fake smiles, I’ll tell you to go for a walk, grab a drink (alcoholic if needed to calm your nerves), or simply to turn away from me and I’ll take images that way (see the headline image for this blog… that’s what I mean).
I hate fake smiles and I know that you will hate them too in your images. They do have a place - somewhat - when you’re up to your millionth group image to keep everyone happy, Uncle Bob keeps looking away, and you are reciting the line: ‘are we done yet’ in your head... but they are a definite ‘HELL NO’ for me during your couple images.
During one of our pre-wedding meetings, I teach you how to stand in ways that look natural and are aesthetically pleasing for the resulting image. That way on your big day, it will feel more natural and when I say to ‘tilt the top of your head towards me’ or ‘touch your back hips together and stand slightly apart at the front hip’ you know what I mean and it is not confusing and awkward.
Genuine smiles are often achieved more readily when couples look at each other rather than the camera.
On your wedding day, I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve to get real interactions and real emotion out of you - not just smiles, which will come when you get all loved up - but those moments of joy when you embrace, when you just stop to breathe each other in, when you realise that your day is really only about your love for each other and you let everything else slip away, even if just for a moment…
My photography style is largely journalistic or documentary (whatever buzz term you want to apply). Basically, I capture all of the little things that you miss out on seeing on your wedding day because it all happens so quickly. When you look at your images, I want you to feel like you are reliving your wedding day all over again.
On top of the journalistic images, I add in some structured (posed) images. These are the “wow” images that you can print on a large beautiful canvas (yes, I can help with that too) and put in pride of place in your home. For some this a close up image, for others its a beautiful nature scene with the bonus of you being in it.
I know there is a big trend away from posed images right now, but they really do have their place on a wedding day. If taken here and there rather than for hours on end, they can really make your gallery complete.
I give proper instruction and will even mirror you to show you the pose if you can’t quite get it (you can have a turn laughing at me).
I understand that most of my wedding couples have never been models (sure maybe selfie kings and queens but let’s throw duck lips out the window except for maybe in a fun shot with the bridal party…).
I have many couples thank me afterwards for giving them clear direction, for making it much easier than they thought it would be, for capturing amazing images for them that they never thought would be possible as ‘they’re just not photogenic….’
Getting the groomsmen to have fun means I get much greater cooperation when it’s time for the one or two posed bridal party images.