Getting comfortable in front of a camera isn’t easy for most people. Consequently, hopping in front of the lens to capture photos for an engagement or your wedding doesn’t feel natural at the beginning. If you find the right photographer, though, you won’t need to spend the night before your shoot googling “engagement photo poses.” One of our favorite photographers, Taylor of TMinpsired, has some tips for everyone who feels that twinge of discomfort when thinking about getting their photos taken.

— Kelleen, Content Manager of Tapestry Event Co.

POSING FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS.

My name is Taylor and I am an elopement and wedding photographer through my business TMinspired Photography. I’ve been documenting previous memories for couples and families for over a decade now, and I realized that I hear a few key phrases ALL THE TIME from the couples and families that I work with.

The main one being, “I apologize in advanced – we are SO awkward in front of the camera!” My response is always a slight chuckle with the reassurance that not one person in my portfolio is a professional model.

TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER.

As a photographer it is part of my job to help you feel comfortable in front of the camera. It is my job to pose and guide and help create a memorable experience. Trust me when I say I don’t expect you to be comfortable right away. It’s not a “normal” thing for a camera to suddenly be in your face, so I approach each session and wedding with that knowledge and mindset.

For an engagement session I remind the couples I work with that they will probably feel nervous the first 20ish minutes or so. I remind them that it’s NORMAL to feel that way. That’s why I always start out nice and easy. We get the standard smiling at the camera photos, I break the ice a little bit with a random, silly pose.

I focus on creating movement and GUIDE my couples into a pose rather than a very strict setup. I have my couples walk, play, make each other laugh, give each other lots of hugs and hand holding and snuggles. Taking a moment to pause together and breathe each other in or to watch the sunset.

THINK OF THE PHOTO SESSION AS AN EXPERIENCE.

Engagement sessions should feel like a date night, you know? It’s all a part of the experience. I’m here to guide that experience and take pretty photos throughout the process. My ultimate goal is for those I work with to look at their gallery and think, “Oh my gosh, this is so US.” I love to do a mix of all the things, in the hopes to bring out moments that are genuinely YOU.

Having the same photographer for your wedding day will instantly make you feel more comfortable and model-like because you’ve shared a similar experience already through your engagement session.

BONUS TIP!

A bonus tip I’d love to share is that it’s all about trust. If you trust your photographer to bring out the best in you, you’ll instantly feel more comfortable working with them and trusting their process.

A great way to find a trustworthy photographer is to look at multiple FULL galleries from engagement sessions, family sessions, or wedding days (whatever it is you’re looking for yourself!) Instagram and blog posts are just the highlight reel. You can take it one step further and hop on a phone call, Zoom meeting or grab some coffee for a true consultation to see if your vibes connect prior to booking their services.

If you are seeking a photographer for your next milestone I would love to connect with you! You can see more of my work and reach out via my website or connect with me personally via Instagram.

— Taylor Ochoa, Owner of TMinspired