Being comfortable in front of the camera.

During couples’ sessions, the number-one comment I receive is “we’re so awkward in front of the camera.” I don’t think anyone is ever truly comfortable in an intimate moment with their significant other while a stranger is in their face with a camera, so there’s no need to apologize! As a professional photographer, it’s my job to help you settle in and have a fun time. I have several tricks to help you feel comfortable throughout our session.

To begin, I prefer to start slow. I won’t say, “Hi, my name is Stacey, now make out with your partner while I photograph you.” We’ll ease into the session to make you as comfortable as possible. I usually start with asking you to show me around your place, then we’ll move onto simple things such as having you hold hands and walk away while I photograph you.

I’m not a fan of stiff, posed photos that look and feel awkward. Instead of posing in a formal manner, I’ll give you suggestions of activities to do to help create cute, funny or intimate-looking images. For Jessica and Luke’s engagement session, I had them dance, try to pull each other over and give a terrible piggyback ride, among other activities, and their sweet, playful energy shone through in their photos.

“What do I do with my hands?” is a question I hear at almost every photo session. I will remind you frequently, but in general the answer is to just give them a job. If you are doing something with your hands, such as rubbing your partner’s arm or playing with their hair, for example, you’ll tend to focus more on that “job” and less on the camera, helping you to relax.

We’ll talk throughout the session so I can constantly gauge what you are comfortable with. Throughout this session, Jessica and Luke mentioned that they wanted photos they felt comfortable sharing with their grandmothers, so I kept that in mind when it came to posing more intimate photos.

As we go along, I’ll show you the photos to give you an idea of what we’re capturing. As well as letting you see how amazing you look, this also allows you to tell me about any insecurities. If there’s something you don’t like, I won’t be offended, and we can find what works for you.

Above all, communication is key. If there’s something you’re uncomfortable with, please tell me. If you have certain body insecurities, for instance, let me know. I want to create photos you will love and cherish, so please tell me what does and doesn’t work for you!