Let me tell you something I hear from almost every couple I meet. “We’re not really photogenic.” Or: “We hate having our photo taken.” And every single time, I have to stop myself from thinking that those same people are usually the ones pulling each other onto the dancefloor and completely forgetting I’m there.
That’s the magic of natural wedding photography. It’s not about being posed and perfect. It’s about being yourselves and trusting someone to capture the real moments as they happen.
After ten years photographing weddings across Nottingham, the Peak District, the Cotswolds and beyond, I’ve picked up a few things that genuinely help couples feel comfortable in front of the camera. So if the thought of wedding photos fills you with dread, this one’s for you.
Why Feeling Awkward in Photos is Completely Normal
First things first: if you feel a bit stiff or self-conscious in front of a camera, you are absolutely not alone. Most people do. It’s not a personality flaw or a photogenic gene you’re missing – it’s just that being asked to “look natural” while someone points a lens at you is inherently a bit of a strange situation.
The good news is that a great wedding photographer – especially one who leans towards a documentary, candid style – is not relying on you to know how to pose. My job is to create an environment where you forget about the camera altogether, and to be ready when those genuine moments unfold.
Some of my favourite images from weddings are ones the couple didn’t even know were being taken. A look between them during the speeches. A laugh with a grandparent. The groom sneaks a deep breath before the ceremony begins. Those are the moments that become the photographs you actually want in your gallery.
Practical Tips to Help You Relax in Front of the Camera
Book an engagement shoot first
This is probably the single most effective thing you can do. An engagement session – even just an hour wandering around somewhere you both love – gives you a chance to get used to being photographed together before the big day. By the time your wedding comes around, you’ve already done this once. You know what to expect, you’ve seen results you love, and you feel comfortable around your photographer.
I always recommend an engagement shoot to any couple I work with, and the difference it makes on the wedding day is really noticeable. The nerves are so much lower when you’ve already had that experience.
Give yourself enough time
One of the biggest culprits of tense, rushed-looking photos is a tight timeline. When you’re worrying about getting back to your guests or the caterers signalling from across the field, it shows. When we’ve built a realistic portrait window into your day – usually around 30 minutes during the reception drinks and 15 min at golden hour – and you know you don’t have to rush, everything feels different.
Talk to each other, not the camera
Whenever I’m doing couple portraits, I’m not asking you to stare into the lens and smile on command. I’m much more likely to give you something to do or talk about. Tell each other what you’re looking forward to most about being married. Walk somewhere together. Point out something in the distance, hug, look at each other. These little prompts give you something to react to, and reactions are infinitely more interesting – and natural-looking – than poses.
Couples who feel a bit awkward at the start of portraits almost always relax the moment they stop thinking about how they look and start thinking about each other.
Wear something you feel great in
This sounds obvious but it genuinely matters. If you’re uncomfortable in your outfit – if you’re tugging at something or worrying about it all day – that discomfort shows in photographs. Wear things you feel like yourself in. The same applies to shoes (your feet will thank you for the comfortable option when we’re walking through a field at golden hour), hair, and make-up.
The brides and couples I photograph who look most relaxed and radiant are usually the ones who have made choices based on what suits them, not what they thought they ‘should’ look like on a wedding day.
Trust your photographer
This is a big one, and it starts long before the wedding day. Book someone whose work genuinely resonates with you, whose personality you click with, and whose style matches the kind of images you want. If you book a photographer because they were available and affordable but their portfolio doesn’t actually excite you, it’s going to be a harder day for everyone.
When you trust your photographer, you can hand that part of the day over. You don’t have to think about the photos – you can just be present in your wedding. That’s when the best images happen.
What to Expect on the Day Itself
My approach on the day is to blend in as much as possible. I’m not going to be calling people over for group shots every five minutes or directing everyone into formation. The majority of what I do is documentary – I’m moving quietly through the day, watching for moments and being ready when they happen.
During getting ready, I love just being present in the room while everyone is chatting and having their hair done. No one is performing for the camera. The morning nerves and excitement are completely real, and they make for some great images to start storytelling of your wedding.
The couple portraits section – usually during the drinks reception and late afternoon when the light is at its most beautiful – is actually the part most people worry about most and enjoy the most once we’re in it. We’ll find a lovely spot, I’ll give you a little direction, and then we’ll just have a wander. Fifteen minutes in, you’ve usually forgotten entirely that I’m there. I also like this time because it’s the only time you’ll have a bit of time for each other ( as wedding days are usually quite demanding on your attencion).
FAQ: Your Questions About Looking Natural in Wedding Photos
What if I genuinely hate having my photo taken?
Honestly, this is very common and I work with it all the time. The key is finding a photographer whose style means they’re not constantly in your face asking you to pose. With a documentary approach, you’ll spend most of the day not really noticing the camera that much.
Do we need an engagement shoot?
You don’t need one, but I genuinely recommend it. It makes a real difference to how comfortable you feel on your wedding day, and you also get some lovely photos out of it.
How much time do we need for couple portraits?
I usually suggest building in 15 minutes during drinks reception and 15 min during golden hour, which falls roughly an hour or two before sunset. This gives us beautiful natural light without taking you away from your guests for too long.
What if we don’t know how to pose?
Then we’re a perfect match, because I don’t really do posed photography. I’ll give you gentle prompts and direction where needed, but mostly I’m looking for real moments rather than constructed ones.
If natural, relaxed, documentary-style wedding photography is what you’re looking for, I’d love to hear about your plans. I’m based in Nottingham but photograph weddings all over the UK – from the Peak District to the Cotswolds, Scottish castles to Lake District fells.
You can take a look at my wedding photography packages here, or drop me a message at hello@magdak.co.uk and we can arrange a chat over Zoom.
