For couples planning their big day, your wedding photos stand as everlasting mementos of a defining chapter in your love story. Consequently, you want them to authentically reflect your personalities, capturing the genuine joy and intimacy of the occasion. Far too often, however, couples worry about looking stiff, posed, or unnatural. Here at Levi Weddings Wedding Photography and Videography, we understand this concern completely. Ultimately, the secret to natural, relaxed wedding photos lies not just in the photographer’s skill, but in how you prepare and approach the day. Therefore, embrace these strategies to ensure your Wedding Photography is as beautiful and effortless as your relationship.
Prioritize Connection with Your Photographer
The cornerstone of looking relaxed is feeling completely comfortable with the person behind the lens. Hence, choosing the right professional is the first, and arguably most important, step.
- Build Trust Early Before the wedding, invest time in getting to know your photographer. Discuss your vision, share personal anecdotes, and listen to their creative input. This mutual understanding will dissolve initial awkwardness.
- Schedule an Engagement Shoot An engagement session is essentially a dress rehearsal for your big day’s photography. It allows you to practice posing, understand your photographer’s cues, and become accustomed to the camera’s presence. Furthermore, it gives your photographer an invaluable insight into your unique dynamics as a couple—how you naturally hold hands, laugh together, and look at one another.
Master the Art of Letting Go
Your wedding day is an emotionally charged event, and genuine emotions translate beautifully into photographs. Nonetheless, trying too hard to be photogenic often backfires, resulting in forced smiles.
- Focus on Each Other During portraits, ignore the camera altogether. Instead, focus entirely on your partner. Whisper a sweet secret, reflect on your favorite memory, or simply hold their gaze. This genuine connection immediately melts away tension.
- Embrace Imperfection Sometimes, the most stunning photos are the unexpected, slightly imperfect ones—a wind-blown veil, a shared giggle during a misstep, or a tear of joy. Accepting these moments as part of your unique story naturally fosters relaxation. Remember, your Levi Weddings Wedding Photography and Videography team aims to document reality, not fabricate a fantasy.
Strategic Posing for Natural Movement
While the goal is to look natural, that does not mean abandoning all direction. Good photographers provide ‘soft posing’—guidance that leads to organic movement rather than rigid positions.
- Maintain Dynamic Contact Instead of standing side-by-side like statues, ensure you are constantly interacting. Hold hands, wrap an arm around a waist, or lean heads together. This physical connection grounds the pose and looks inherently more intimate.
- Incorporate Gentle Movement Instead of standing still, your photographer might ask you to take a slow walk, sway gently, or simply shift your weight from one foot to the other. Movement prevents stiffness and brings life into the images. Consequently, walking shots often look more relaxed than static portraits.
- Avoid the ‘Say Cheese’ Smile Instead of forced smiling on command, think of things that genuinely make you happy—your partner’s quirkiness, the support of your loved ones, or the excitement of your future. A genuine smile, even a slight smirk or a soft gaze, always outshines a mandated grin.
Prepare for Effortless Logistics
A calm couple is a relaxed couple, and a relaxed couple produces incredible photographs. Stress often manifests physically, making you look tense in pictures.
- Build in Extra Time On your timeline, allocate more time than you think you need for portraits, travel, and transitions. Rushing is the enemy of relaxation. Your photographer, knowing the value of unhurried moments, will appreciate this padding.
- Delegate Responsibilities Ensure key people—the Maid of Honor, Best Man, or a trusted coordinator—handle logistics, corralling family members for group shots, and managing vendors. Therefore, you can remain present and focused only on enjoying your day.
- Mind Your Breathing and Posture When you feel overwhelmed, take a deep, slow breath. Consciously drop your shoulders and stand tall. Good posture not only looks better but also helps regulate your nervous system, promoting an internal sense of calm that translates externally.
Leveraging the Environment and Light
Your environment plays a massive role in setting the scene for natural imagery. Great Wedding Photography utilizes light and location to enhance the moment.
- Choose Meaningful Locations If possible, choose locations for your portraits that feel personal or are naturally stunning. When you feel connected to your surroundings, you inherently feel more at ease.
- Trust the Golden Hour The light shortly after sunrise and just before sunset, known as the golden hour, is universally flattering. It casts a soft, warm glow that naturally enhances the mood, requiring less effort from you to look picture-perfect. Trust your photographer to schedule portraits during this magical window. You can view examples.
FAQ
How do I stop feeling awkward in front of the camera
Recognize that everyone feels awkward initially; that is completely normal. Instead of trying to look perfect, focus on interacting with your partner. Your photographer’s job involves guiding you into activities and moments, not just taking pictures of you standing there. Just talk, laugh, and move; the photographer captures the resulting genuine expressions.
Should we hire a second photographer
A second photographer greatly enhances coverage, especially for capturing authentic, candid moments. One photographer can focus on the posed portraits, while the other can capture spontaneous interactions and reactions from a distance. This dual coverage maximizes the opportunity for unscripted, natural-looking images.
What is the most important element for looking natural
The most important element is your comfort level with your photographer. If you trust them and feel relaxed in their presence, your guard drops, and your true personality shines through. Book an engagement session as a trial run to ensure this rapport exists before the wedding day.
What should we wear for an engagement session
Choose outfits that make you feel confident and comfortable. Avoid matching exactly; instead, choose colors and styles that complement each other. Most importantly, ensure you can easily move around in your clothing, as movement is key to relaxed, natural images.
How can we ensure natural-looking family photos
Inform the family members beforehand that the goal is not rigid formality. Ask the photographer to mix traditional group shots with more candid interactions, like grandparents watching the couple or siblings sharing a hug. Keep the list of necessary formal groupings short and delegate a family member to assist the photographer in organizing the groups quickly to minimize stress.
How do we book Levi Weddings Wedding Photography and Videography
We welcome you to discuss your unique wedding vision with us. You can start the conversation and inquire about our availability and packages by visiting our contact page. We look forward to capturing your natural, relaxed wedding story.
What is ‘soft posing’
Soft posing refers to subtle, comfortable direction provided by the photographer that encourages interaction and movement rather than demanding a static, difficult position. It is designed to look and feel relaxed, like a gentle suggestion rather than a rigid instruction. This technique results in images that appear effortless and natural.
Would you like me to elaborate on the benefits of an engagement shoot for achieving relaxed wedding photos?
