So you feel awkward in front of the camera.
Now what?
This is something expressed to me quite often before a session. Which makes me think, what are photographers doing with their clients? Is it just a free-for-all? Are they not telling them how to pose? Why is this such a common huge concern?
However I feel the need to start out by telling you this: Smiling and staring straight into the camera is the most unnatural thing you could possibly do! I don't know why this is 1) what everyone assumes they have to do during a photo session and 2) why they think that this is the only pose that they're allowed to do. Honestly, this is my least favorite pose of all. I'll make sure that we get a couple like this because, yes, it's nice to have at least a few and there's always family members that have deemed this the quintessential "nice" photo that they all want to have, but good golly this will absolutely not be the only pose we do 🙅♀️
They way I've crafted my sessions is to create an experience for you within the time we have together. So we're not just "taking photos" to check this off of our to-do list, we're creating memories together. Having fun. I'm capturing true, genuine smiles, not the forced ones that make you look like you need to use the bathroom. (To read more, check out my Prompts, NOT Poses blog post I did featuring a family session).
I'm sure growing up, we've all done the department store photo sessions that posed us in the absolute worst, most awkward, and cheesy poses. The ones with your chin resting on your hand, you leaning on a pillar, or having your family all sit super close together and being told, "Now sit up straight!" 😬 (Child of the 90s here). FYI our session will be nothing like that.
You're in luck because I have some good news for you: I got your back! I will 100% guide you on how to pose every step of the way. I'll tell you how to stand. How to walk. What to do with your face and your eyes. How to smile for different poses. What to do with your legs. What to do with your hands. I got you!
Most people feel awkward in front of the camera for one reason or another. It could be because of past experiences (like the department store thing) or sometimes it's because it's not something they're not used to...and none of us like doing things we don't feel exceptionally "good" at.
By special request, I'm putting together a list of my favorite poses + directions to help calm the nerves of my friends as they're preparing to jump in front of the lens.
Scroll through the photos below from my most recent Engagement Session and read the directions + prompts given. Just as a little disclaimer, these two mentioned multiple times before and during their session that they were awkward and kept apologizing for being "so difficult." Alright, so you look through these photos and tell me, do you think they look awkward?!
DIRECTION: Arms out like airplanes, hold hands, now flyyy!
DIRECTION: Face each other. Jake, smell her hair. Ashley, lean your head gently on his chest & give me a nice, soft smile.
DIRECTION: Hold hands and dance around in circles like you're the only ones on this beach. Kiss her hand like she's your queen.
DIRECTION: Stand with your back to him. Jake, wrap your arms gently around her shoulders. Ashley, hold onto his hands, making sure to show off your ring.
DIRECTION: Bump hips while you walk along the light path. AKA the "drunk walk."
DIRECTION: Throw your back arm around his neck and place your other hand on his chin. Be sure to show off that ring! Now pull him in close for a kiss, but don't kiss yet. I want you to "kiss with your teeth" which means no puckering. Ok I guess you guys can kiss now...
DIRECTION: I said bump hips! Not try and knock each other over!
DIRECTION: Stand back to back so we can pop this bubbly!
DIRECTION: Shake! Shake! Shake! Look at me. Look at each other. Spray the bubbly towards the camera.
DIRECTION: Now hit the bottle
DIRECTION: Stand side-by-side, hold hands, and look opposite directions.
DIRECTION: Now let's heat things up! Face each other. Jake, hold her leg up and kiss each other passioantely.
DIRECTION: Hold her hand and let me admire that ring.
DIRECTION: Hold hands and run along the beach.
DIRECTION: Keep running!
DIRECTION: Pick her up and swing her around. Ashley kick your feet out. Splash as much as you can!
DIRECTION: We're about to get some dramatic, romantic shots with this moody lighting! Sit next to each other, Ashely with your back to his shoulder. Get as close as possible and touch each other when you can. Stare straight into my camera and give me a smolder.
DIRECTION: Jake put your arms around Ashley without flattening her hair. Ashley, show me that ring again and look at the camera. Jake, gently kiss her neck.
DIRECTION: Ashley smell your right shoulder. Jake look down towards her. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in...and out... Just be in the moment in your love's arms
DIRECTION: Ashley, smell your right shoulder and close your eyes. Jake, look directly into my lens.
DIRECTION: Stand with your arms around her shoulders. Look over your left shoulder off into the distance.
DIRECTION: Now it's time to get in the water. Straddle him on the ground and hold his head in your hands.
DIRECTION: Now give his a kiss and try not to think about the cold water in your buttcrack
DIRECTION: Comfort him because you feel his pain
DIRECTION: Look lovingly into his eyes and try not to laugh at how cold his butt is.
DIRECTION: Touch foreheads.
DIRECTION: Hold his chin and look into each other's eyes.
DIRECTION: Give me a little booty grab. Make it count.
DIRECTION: Show some leg! Get in close and look passionately and lovingly into each other's eyes.
DIRECTION: Come in for an "almost" kiss.
RINGS
DON'T NEED
DIRECTIONS
DIRECTION: Ok, we're done. Just give each other one last kiss.
So no matter how awkward you feel...
All you need to do is put your trust in me and have faith that I will take great care of you, guiding you every step of the way. I use Style & Select Online Personal Styler to style your session. This is based completely on YOU and your own personal style. It will provide photo-approved outfits that will translate well in-camera. Just because something looks good in person doesn't mean it will look good in camera!
I use Unscripted to create a profile specific to you with multiple pose/prompt ideas for your session. I like to go-with-the-flow of what's natural to you and base my directions and prompts off of the those interactions. I use the app to help keep us on track and remind me of specific poses I wanted to do!
And I supply the bubbly for my Engagement Sessions (for those who are 21+ and partake).
P.S. The more willing you are to lean into my ideas, get your toes in the sand, splash around in the water, and be adventurous, the more amazing your photos will turn out.
Now I guess my big question to you is, "Do you trust me?"
Outfit Details
White Dress & Jeans: Vici Dolls
Red Dress: Windsor
Wine: Winc
Ring: Diamond is from Argentina, Jewel designer is Juan Da Silva from Fourtané in Carmel By-The-Sea, CA