Natural posing – what to expect from your couple portraits

Is ‘Natural Posing' even a thing? I have put together a few tips in this short blog post how to get the best out of your couple portrait session and engagement shoots and to put your mind at ease. 

A lot of couples bring this topic up at our first initial meeting: “We don’t like our photo taken” …Well, most people, including me don’t like having their photo taken. So I worked on my approach to make the couple portrait session as comfortable and fun as possible. “Posing” doesn’t need to be cheesy or unnatural. First of all, my top tips for couple photos and feeling like a natural in front of the camera: 

• Trust me/your photographer and let them direct you 

• It’s a chance to have some alone time on your wedding day (apart from me following you around!) – embrace it 

• It’s okay to be nervous, but I will tell you what to do and will be with you all the way. Plus you don’t need to look at the camera most of the time 

• Always be touching or giving each other attention! This is soooooo important – you need to connect with each other. Without connection there is no magic in the photos! 

• Keep moving, dance, paddle in the shore or just be be silly – it makes for beautiful natural images if you’re moving around 

• Don’t look at the camera (unless told!). We will take a full length portrait with you looking at me towards the end of the session. So we can see your outfits and makeup etc.

• Try and keep hands occupied – ideally touching and connecting with your partner. Believe me, hands are so important in an image 

• Get close, and be in the moment, you have just got married and it is fine to hug, kiss and get close 

• Schedule in your couple shots after dinner when you have had a few drinks or a second session

• Try to forget you are being photographed  

• Book an engagement shoot before your big day to learn how it feels to be in front of the camera and work with your photographer

• Have a laugh! 
  

It feels like a lot to take in right now, but believe me it will be easy. Here are a few of my ‘go to shots’ to give you an idea:

Walking towards me / Walking away

Heads together

Dance and Swirl, Pick Up

Sitting

Close Up of Details

Standing together looking away

Getting Close

Generally being silly - one of my favourites!

The landscape - aka tiny people

Classic Standing Together

Candid Shots during the day- definitely my favourite!

If you want to practise ‘natural posing’ please contact me for availability of a portrait session or engagement / pre wedding shoot. Let’s go and have some fun!

Engagement Session Crantock Cornwall // Gemma & Adam

A few from Gemma and Adam’s engagement session at Crantock a few weeks back. Gamma and Adam are getting married in July at Knightor Winery. They wanted a little practise before their big day, so we arranged an engagement shoot to ease their nerves of getting photographed. I love meeting couples this way, it really helps to get to know each other a bit and how we work together before the wedding day.

Here is a little taster from the session…

Cornwall Engagement Photography - Holywell Bay // Dan & Imogen

It was a pleasure to meet Dan and Imogen for their engagement photos a few weeks back. We went to one of my favourite local beaches, Holywell Bay. This beautiful Cornish gem is one of my top go to locations for photoshoots. Dan and Imogen don’t like their photos taken and wanted a bit of practice before their wedding in May. We had a great time and I’m quite sure they realised that it’s pretty easy to create some unposed, natural portraits… I can’t wait to shoot their wedding soon…

So great to meet you guys! Roll n May…

Why do I need Engagement Photos

Are you still wondering why you need engagement photos or if you should add an engagement shoot to your package? As a documentary /reportage style wedding photographer a pre wedding photoshoot creates a conflict as it obviously doesn’t fall in the ‘documentary/reportage photography’ category. It is more a planned photoshoot. Well, the couple portrait session and your family photos are the only part of the day which don’t fall under the documentary category. And I guess the couple portrait session is the most ‘feared’ part by people who don’t like their photos taken. However, I approach this shoot slightly different and you will soon see it’s nothing to be afraid of but rather to enjoy.

Most of my couples never had their photos taken by a professional photographer or hate their photos taken by anyone. Don’t worry, we keep the photos as natural as possible and you can get to see how to create beautiful portraits without posing. A great way to ease your nerves before the big day! It will be a fun and relaxing experience. One of the most important things to create stunning natural portraits is to be able to relax and be yourself. After all, engagement photos are meant to capture who you are as a couple, not just what you look like. During the shoot you will get more comfortable and relaxed at getting your photos taken. And the more relaxed you feel on the big day, the better your wedding photos will be!

You will also get to know your photographer and I get a chance to get to know you. In some cases there will be bit of guidance by me such as “hey guys, having a hug over there would be great” or “ run down the dunes holding hands’ or some general guidance on how or where best to stand for a good photo. Or some nonsense which usually comes out of me and hopefully makes you laugh! You will see the way I work ‘posing’ will be fun.

Because we can be flexible on a date, we can choose the right weather and location. You can add some beach photos to your woodland wedding and vice versa or we can get some sunset photos which might not happen on your wedding day as you can’t plan the weather ahead. I don’t know how many times I get asked about including sunset photos for beach weddings and I’m always worried for the couple that the sunset might not be as great as imagined or non existing on their wedding day. Maybe you want to visit the place you got engaged, even better, I love it if the location has a special meaning for you. You can also bring your dog(s) along, or are you more of a cat person, they are welcome too. I haven’t photographed a horse during an engagement shoot yet, if I could, this would make my day! Or bring your children along and make it into a mini family session. So many options, just give me a shout and we can discuss ideas.

With a relaxed, enjoyable engagement shoot you can create a series of gorgeous images to last a lifetime.

They also make great invitation cards or you might want to integrate them in your wedding decoration.

I believe so strongly in the benefits of engagement photoshoots that I include them as standard in my top full day wedding package.

And for any other full day packages you get a massive discount!

Oh and you can of course book a pre wedding shoot with me if you haven’t booked a wedding package. Maybe you’re visiting Cornwall and want some awesome photos of the two of you but your wedding is already booked elsewhere with another photographer. Not a problem, you can still book with me for some pre pre wedding photos. There are some stunning locations here in Cornwall, beautiful beaches, little rocky coves, cliff tops, ancient woodland and old mine buildings…the list goes on, I have a list of stunning locations for you to choose from.

Please contact me for availability and pricing

Engagement Photography Crantock Cornwall // Jess & Conor

A couple of weeks back I met Jess and Conor late afternoon at Crantock beach for their engagement photos. I decided to do a late afternoon photoshoot as I love the winter light this time of year. We got lucky to find a half decent dry day amongst the recent storms we had! They brought their two adorable dachshunds along with them. They had the best time ever running around like maniacs and digging holes. In fact, they moved so fast that I thought I struggled a bit to get a decent photo of them, but to be honest I’m quite pleased with the results. What do you think?

If you like what you see and thinking about getting some practice in before your big day, you recently got engaged or just want some nice photos of you, please contact me for further information and availability for an engagement/ portrait session. I lived in Cornwall over 20 years and can take you to some great spots.

Engagement Photo Session Perran Sands Cornwall // Neva & John

I had the pleasure to meet the lovely Neva and John for their engagement photo session back in September. They were on holidays here in Cornwall and stayed near Perranporth. They wanted to organise a photoshoot whilst in the county and had chosen the Perranporth area for it. We decided to head to Perran Sands as the beach there is usually a little quieter and it’s one of my favourite locals. I’m super pleased we were blessed with a beautiful golden evening light too. Here is a little teaser!

Engagement Photo Session at Holywell Bay // Phoebe & Chris

I had the pleasure of finally meeting Phoebe and Chris. It’s been a while since they booked their wedding with me in July at The Green in Cornwall. They have brought their cute little dachshund miniature poodle cross ‘Whitley’ along for their engagement shoot at Holywell Bay. They booked a pre wed shoot with me as they are both not very confident in front of the camera and wanted some practise before their big day. I hope I could ease their nerves as my shoots are not about posing but rather having fun and going for a relaxed walk on the beach whilst I’m snapping along. Well, I might point you in the right direction sometimes if I see a nice composition, but most importantly it’s creating an atmosphere to put you at ease and relax.

So here you go, a few of my favourites of the gorgeous three!

Micro Wedding Photography Cornwall // Best of 2020

Here is my yearly round up. I wasn’t sure if I was going to write one from 2020, a year a lot of you had so high expectations for and yet it turned out so different, we could have never imagined!

This year’s wedding bookings were reduced by 90%, festivals, social gatherings and parties were canceled. A lot of time was spent in isolation or with limited groups of friends under tight restrictions. Life was put on hold, wedding were postponed and we are still waiting for a sense of normality to return. 2020 was a huge shock for all of us and we had to learn to live with uncertainty.

I know it’s been a tough time for a lot of couples who had to change their wedding plans last minute. It was touch and go for some weddings if they go ahead up to a couple of days before the date. Some of you managed to get married last minute before new restrictions came in place, a real rollercoaster! Thanks again for confiding in me, it was an honour to capture the utter joy of finally being wed after such a journey!

The few weddings and elopements I photographed in 2020 were especially moving. A lot of couples had to reduce their guest numbers and opt for a micro wedding or elopement instead of their originally planned big wedding. I loved every moment I witnessed as a micro wedding/ elopemnet photographer: small moments of intimacy and togetherness in the midst of isolation, family gatherings cherished like none before and somehow more special than many weddings I have photographed before.

A year of downs and ups, a year of devastation and change.

Yet I managed to travel to Germany a couple of times to see my mum the very last time. I appreciate the little time I had left with her. She sadly passed away in September after a 3 year battle with cancer.

But not all was negative, I have some positive changes and memories to look back on. Despite social distancing guidelines and masks we found a way to be together in small groups or online.In the first lock down I have enrolled in an online tutorial with the amazing Erika and Lanny Mann from ‘Two Mann Studios’ helping me to continue finding new creative solutions for my photography journey. I have spent a lot of time in nature appreciating where I live, I have learned stillness, which is a challenge for me as I feel I have to always be productive and ‘do something’. I also adopted a dog from Spain which I love words can’t describe.

Let’s look forward with a sense of optimism and hope. Some things will have changed for the better. In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the stillness and opportunities it presents to you.

If you are worried about your wedding this year, please tell me, together we can work this through. I’m always there for you to assist you. Please don’t just change dates without asking for my availability. If you are planning a wedding or elopement this year, I have just a few ‘fill in’ spaces left, so get in touch!

Happy New Year everyone! Sending you lots of love and positivity x

Engagement Photography Crantock Beach Cornwall // Kirsty + Colin

Kirsty & Colin

Engagement Photos Crantock Beach, Cornwall

It was a pleasure to meet Kirsty and Colin last week for their engagement photos on Crantock Beach. We made the most of the late afternoon winter light although the northwesterly wind was blowing and it was pretty cold! Cornwall is just great for any engagement or portrait photoshoot. There are so many beautiful spots to choose from…

This lovely pair is one of my December couples getting married at the Alverton in Truro inspite of what’s going on in this world. Good on ya guys, love conquers all!

Here are just 10 of my favourite images…

If you are looking for a portrait photographer in Cornwall or want to book your engagement session, please don’t hesitate to contact me for a quote

Engagement Photoshoot at Godrevy Beach Cornwall // Karinne + Tony

I was supposed to photograph Karinne and Tony’s wedding at Tredudwell Manor in Cornwall this August but due to COVID 19 restrictions they decided to postpone till later on this year.

So we met at Godrevy, their favourite beach in Cornwall for an engagement photoshoot instead.

Here is a mini preview

If you’re planning to add an engagement session to your wedding or if you want to swap your pre wedding photoshoot to a family photography session, please contact me for further details