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I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard some version of this during a consultation:

“We’re awkward.”

“We have no idea what we’re doing.”

“We’ve never had professional photos taken.”

“My fiancé hates having their picture taken.”

And every single time, I laugh a little because honestly? Most of my couples say the exact same thing.

Somewhere along the way, I think people started believing that beautiful photos are reserved for people who are naturally photogenic or somehow magically know what to do in front of a camera.

I promise that’s not true.

I’ve Never Had a Couple Show Up Already Knowing What to Do

Seriously.

Not once.

Nobody arrives at their engagement session and suddenly transforms into a professional model.

Most couples show up a little nervous. They’re wondering where to put their hands. They’re worried they’re going to look awkward. They think they’re going to spend an hour smiling at a camera and hoping for the best.

And honestly? That’s exactly why I’m there.

My job isn’t just taking photos.

My job is helping people feel comfortable enough to be themselves.

The Best Photos Usually Happen Between the Poses

One of my favorite things about photographing couples is watching what happens after they stop worrying about the camera.

Usually it starts with a bad joke.

Or someone accidentally bumping into the other person.

Or one of them saying something that makes the other laugh.

Suddenly they’re not thinking about photos anymore.

They’re just spending time together.

And that’s when the magic starts happening.

The photos people end up loving the most usually aren’t the perfectly posed ones.

They’re the in-between moments.

The laugh that wasn’t planned.

The forehead kiss that happened naturally.

The way someone looks at the person they love when they think nobody is paying attention.

Your Wedding Day Isn’t a Photoshoot

This is something I tell couples all the time.

Your wedding day is not a photoshoot.

It’s a wedding day.

You’re there to get married, celebrate with your favorite people, eat good food, dance a little too much, cry during speeches, and make memories you’ll talk about for years.

The photos are important because they help you remember all of that.

But the goal isn’t to spend your entire wedding day posing.

The goal is to actually enjoy it.

Some of My Favorite Couples Thought They’d Be Awkward

I wish I could show every newly engaged couple the emails I get after engagement sessions.

The ones that say:

“That was actually fun.”

Or:

“We were so nervous for nothing.”

Or my personal favorite:

“I can’t believe that’s us.”

Because almost every couple starts out feeling uncertain.

And almost every couple leaves realizing they didn’t need to be perfect.

They just needed to show up and be themselves.

The Secret to Great Wedding Photos

Want to know the secret?

It’s not knowing what to do with your hands.

It’s not practicing poses in a mirror.

It’s not being naturally photogenic.

The secret is trusting the process and focusing on each other instead of the camera.

That’s it.

The more you’re paying attention to the person standing next to you, the less you’ll be thinking about whether you’re doing everything “right.”

And that’s usually when the most genuine photos happen.

Looking for a Wisconsin Wedding Photographer?

If you’re worried about being awkward in photos, I promise you’re not alone.

The couples you see throughout my website felt the same way at one point too.

Whether we’re wandering through Downtown Eau Claire, exploring Big Falls, walking through an orchard at sunset, or celebrating your wedding day surrounded by your favorite people, my goal is simple: help you feel comfortable, have fun, and create photos that actually feel like you.