Elopement photos when you feel awkward in front of a camera

You do not need to practise being someone else for your elopement photographs. Choose a photographer whose way of working feels comfortable, tell them what makes you nervous, and leave enough time to settle in.

Maybe you do not like being watched. Maybe one of you loves photographs and the other would skip them. Both are worth saying before you book.

What to tell your photographer

Be specific. “I’m not photogenic” gives a photographer nothing to work with. “I hate being asked to laugh” does. So does “kissing in front of other people feels uncomfortable”, or “I never know what to do with my hands”. None of it needs an apology.

Then listen to the answer. A good one tells you how the time would work. “You’ll be fine” tells you nothing.

How to choose someone you’re comfortable with

Look at whole galleries, not highlights, and ask how the photographs were made. How much direction do they give? What happens when someone freezes up? You are choosing a person who will share a private part of your day.

My answer: I don’t pose, but I direct. I’ll tell you where to stand and where the light is, then step back and let the two of you be together.

Do you need to learn poses?

No. It helps more to find photographs you like and say why. The space around the couple. A quiet expression. A sense of movement. That tells me the feeling you want without asking you to copy someone else.

What makes portraits easier

Something to do. Walking together, sitting for a moment, stopping to talk. These are easier than holding a position, and you can always say no to any of them.

You do not have to run, be lifted, or make a grand gesture because you saw it in someone else’s photographs. A still, quiet portrait is fine.

Does the place matter?

Yes. If being watched bothers you, a quieter spot or a quieter time of day helps more than a famous backdrop. Think about the walk, shelter, and whether you can stop without feeling in the way.

How much time to allow

Enough that the portraits do not feel squeezed between other plans. If one of you wants fewer portraits, agree the important photographs together beforehand, so it does not turn into a negotiation on the day. The guide to photography hours helps with the maths.

Quick answers

Can we say no to a pose? Yes. Tell me, and we try something else.

Do we have to kiss in the photographs? No. There are other ways to show two people who love each other.

Should we book a practice session first? Some couples like one. It is not required.

If you are nervous about the photographs, put that in your enquiry, along with your date and where you are thinking. Start here.

The photograph on this page is from Michelle and Dilan’s elopement at Cains Bay.