How to not feel awkward in front of the camera on your wedding day

Wedding DayWedding Day Advice

10 Mar

Written By Colin Maxwell

So, you're engaged and you have set a date. It’s all incredibly exciting and then bam – the planning stage hits you!

Bride and Groom having a laugh on their wedding day while getting their photos taken

1 - Relax and be You

Having a camera follow you around all day taking your picture is not an everyday experience (unless you a celebrity). So it can be a bit awkward or feel a bit daunting. But it doesn't have to be. The biggest advice I give to every couple is just to be yourself on your wedding day. You are the best person to be you. When you are relaxed it helps you not just smile more but helps you enjoy your wedding and having your picture taken doesn’t feel so scary.

2 - Laughter

Laughter is the key to the soul. When we laugh, we show our true us. So, have fun on your wedding day, laugh and laugh a lot. When I have a couple of people in front of the camera, I like to joke and have a laugh with them. This helps us all to feel relaxed and get the best pictures. When we laugh we let out guard down and are muscles relax and that helps us get to get the best pictures of you.

3 - Engagement / Warm-up session

A great way to get used to have your pictures taken and to feel more relaxed in front of the camera is to have an engagement/warm-up session. Taking 45min with your photographer to build a bit of a personal connection and to get used to having your picture taken is a great way to help you feel more at ease on your wedding day. A bonus of this is you get a collection of fantastic pictures of you and your future partner.

Wedding Couple engagement photo in the lead up to their wedding day

4 - Plan a realistic timeline

On your wedding day, there is so much to think about and do. Your day is filled from getting ready, making it down the aisle on time, and so much more. Having a realistic timeline of your day and planning time to enjoy each part is essential. You want to have time set for each part of your day, including having family pictures and couple pictures taken without trying to rush and in the back of your head thinking, "we are 40min behind schedule". For my brides, I like to help with planning a realistic timeline. Family photos can take form 15min right up to an hour, if they are not planed. For couples pictures, I always suggest allowing 30min on the wedding day where we can nip out just the three of us, slow down and get some fantastic images. I don't like to have a couple away from their family and guests any longer than 30min as its a day to celebrate with them. Not to be missing for 2 hours getting your picture taken.

5 - The most important point

HAVE FUN AND ENJOY YOUR WEDDING. You guys have spent so long in planing your perfect day so enjoy it. Don’t stress about are other people ok or enjoying the day its your day. So chill, have a drink and laugh a lot.