It took me a while to decide on a genre of photography where I felt I fit best, because honestly I’ve always loved it all. Long before I ever thought I could actually do photography for a living, I followed photographers from all over the world to admire their work. From the dark and moody to the bright and airy, from the dramatic lighting and compositions to the candid moments, from the heavy to the light hearted, from the black and white to the colorful; it all speaks to me. But ever since I can remember, I’ve been more drawn to imagery that evokes any sort of emotion from me. As more of a “thinking” and “doing” personality type, I often struggle to allow any real feelings to surface, as I always thought they’d make me weaker somehow. Unlike many photographers, I didn’t grow up an “artist”, and in fact, I still don’t tend to define myself that way. As much as I admire fine art, I’m not here to create it; I’m in this business to document memories. That’s why I chose to share this most recent engagement session. It’s the first gallery I’ve delivered that has only one photo of the couple both looking into the camera and smiling at the same time. Because to me, it’s more important to remember how genuinely happy and in love you are with each other than how perfectly I can pose you.
This isn't always easy to accomplish, and there's a reason I'm on the side of the camera that I am. Being in front of someone else's lens can feel awkward! But here are a few things I've learned along the way that might help:
- Keep moving! Standing still and stiff can ruin an otherwise good photo.
- Try to relax. Sure, this is easier said than done, but a good photographer will help create the atmosphere for you. This is why it's important to meet your photographer ahead of time and opt to have that engagement session, even if it isn't included in your wedding day coverage.
- Focus on each other. The main reason you're getting married is because you love each other. At least I hope so! Let that love you have for each other shine through in your photos. I promise you won't regret it!
And here is the obligatory photo of them both looking into the camera and smiling.
