“We're not comfortable in front of the camera”: what a session is like when you hate having your picture taken
You don't need to know how to pose. It's my job to guide you just enough that you forget the camera. Here's exactly how I do it.
Couple- Almost everyone feels awkward for the first ten minutes: that's normal, and it's built in.
- I don't ask for poses: I give simple actions (walk, talk to each other, move closer).
- Having worked as a model for years, I know how it feels on the other side of the lens.
It's probably the sentence I hear the most. It's often said with a bit of embarrassment, like an apology. So let me be clear: you don't need to be comfortable in front of the camera. You need someone who knows how to guide you. And that's my job.
Why we feel so awkward
Because nobody ever teaches us how to be photographed. We don't know what to do with our hands, we worry about a double chin, we think about our smile and it turns weird. I was a model for several years: I know that feeling on the other side of the camera very well. That's exactly what helps me put you at ease.
How I work, in practice
- I don't ask you to pose, I give you actions: walk toward each other, tell each other about your first date, whisper something ridiculous in the other's ear.
- I fix the little details for you: the angle of your shoulders, where a hand goes, where to look. You don't have to think about it.
- I talk a lot. It keeps your mind busy, and it stops you from watching yourself “being photographed.”
- I show you a few pictures on the screen early in the session, to reassure you.
Your partner agreed to the session “to make you happy” and shows up a little reluctantly.
It happens all the time, and they're often the one who leaves happiest. I talk to them a lot at the start, give them easy actions, and never insist on looking-at-the-camera shots. Once they see nobody is asking them to do anything embarrassing, they relax.
That's what the first ten minutes are for
I don't expect beautiful pictures right away. The beginning of the session is for getting to know each other, walking, laughing a little. Then, almost every time, there's a moment when the couple forgets I'm there. That's when the photos really change.
Picture a very reserved couple. I ask them to walk hand in hand along a path, then, on my signal, one tells the other about the worst gift they've ever received. Thirty seconds later, they're laughing out loud. They're no longer thinking about their hands or their smile. Those are the pictures they end up framing.
What you can do before the session
At the start of the session, tell me what you don't like about yourself in photos. I won't make a big deal of it, but I'll adjust my angles and my light. It's the kind of detail that changes everything, and you won't have to handle it.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to know how to pose for a couple photo session?
No. The photographer guides you with simple actions (walk, talk to each other, move closer) and fixes the details for you.
How can I look natural in front of the camera?
By having something to do. Actions and conversation keep your mind busy, and your expressions become natural within a few minutes.
My partner doesn't like photos. Is that a problem?
Not at all, it's very common. The session starts gently, with no forced looking-at-the-camera shots, so they can relax.
Want to talk about your session?
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