If you’re the one who nervously says, “I’m so awkward in photos” or “I don’t know what to do with my hands,” I want you to know:
You’re not awkward, you just haven’t been guided correctly.
As a wedding photographer, I often hear couples say that they feel “awkward” and “never know what to do” during engagement sessions.
And, trust me, I get it! If you aren’t used to being in front of a camera, it does feel awkward.
Couples don’t stand like magazine models in their everyday lives, so why would I ask you to during your engagement session? Nobody feels natural when they’re hyper-aware of being observed. And when the focus is on getting “the shot” rather than creating genuine moments, you end up in your head instead of in the moment with your partner.
Poor direction during your engagement session causes that awkward feeling, not your inability to be photographed.
It’s my job to guide you and photograph you in a way that feels like you!
Emmie & Pat’s Beacon Train Station Engagement Session: How I Guide My Clients
Before Emmie and Pat’s engagement session, I sent them my engagement session guide, which I sent to all my clients. It’s a complete walkthrough of what to expect, how the session flows, and what my approach looks like.
When I learned that they met at the Beacon train station, I knew we had to incorporate that into their engagement photos. All became part of their story, told through documentary-style imagery.
Here’s how I captured their story through documentary-style imagery:
I give direction, I don’t tell you a pose. Instead of “put your hand here,” I told them, “walk toward me like you’re heading to your favorite spot,” or “tell him about the best part of your week.” These prompts got them moving, talking, and interacting, so they were focused on each other, not my camera.
We keep things flowing. We didn’t stay in one spot. We were walking, laughing, and moving through different positions and locations. When your body is in motion, your mind stops obsessing over “am I doing this right?”
I created moments instead of forcing them. My goal wasn’t to manufacture perfect photos; it was to create space for their love to be seen. Her quirky laugh when he makes a terrible joke? The way the two naturally lean into each other? That’s what I’m taking photos of.
Take a look at Emmie and Pat’s engagement photos, and tell me if their personalities came through!
You’re Investing In A Photographer’s Ability
Any photographer can show up with a camera, but it takes a wedding photographer with skill to document images that reflect your dynamic.
When you work with a wedding photographer or engagement photographer who knows how to guide without controlling, the difference shows in every photo.
Years from now, you’ll remember what it felt like to be engaged, to be wildly in love, to be on the verge of this huge life moment.
The composition is intentional, the light is beautiful, but the emotion is all you!
This is what you’re investing in when you choose your wedding and engagement photographer.
For more of my thoughts on how I guide my clients, check out this post!
Looking for an engagement or wedding photographer in the Hudson Valley? Let’s talk about your vision and how the right guidance can make your photos reflect you.
