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!

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…

Saunassa Nordic SPA Photoshoot

I recently worked on something a little different, a branding / business photoshoot for Saunas Nordic Spa in Newquay to create images for their new website launch and social media. The Nordic Spa is located in the heart of Newquay, a unique place where you can relax, unwind and promote health and wellness. With a wood-fired sauna, 2 hot tubs, chilled bath, cold plunges. A true feel good heaven!

Here are a few images from the recent shoot

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.

Cornwall Family Photography // St Ives

It was a pleasure to meet these guys again for some family photos in St Ives. I photographed their wedding back in 2015 and they now have a little family with another one on the way. Where has time gone? I can’t believe it’s 7 years ago! Sara wanted their photos at the same place we shot their wedding a few years back on Porthminster beach. St Ives is also is a very special place for them. It was a baltic day with the north winds blowing into the beach and soon got a little cold to build sand castles, so we decided to head to the Arcades for some shelter…

I love meeting couples again after a few years, it is so nice to stay in touch and I can’t wait to meet their newest member of the family soon, hopefully it will be sunny and a little warmer next time!

Cornwall Family Photography // Watergate Bay

It was a pleasure to meet the ‘Flints’ earlier this week for a family photography session at Watergate Bay. Winter is a great time here in Cornwall for a portrait photography session on the beach. It is less busy, so you can get almost a whole beach by yourself to play with plus late afternoons and early mornings have a beautiful magic winter light on a sunny day.

Rory wasn’t in the best of moods that afternoon, but I managed to capture the little smiles in between. And he loves the beach! I aim to let you just do what you always do when you venture to the beach, just observing ‘you being you’ on a fun day out. Like this I can create more natural memories of your loved ones. Here is a little taster of a mini session with the ‘Flints’

If you would like to book me for a natural family photography session here in Cornwall, please contact me for availability and prices. For more information on my family photography packages please visit my family and portrait page

Family Photography Cornwall // Watergate Bay

I recently met the Stokes for a family photo session at Watergate Bay. They broke da mini break at the Watergate Bay hotel and Helen approached me a while back that she wanted to surprise her husband with a family photography session for his 40th birthday. We got so lucky with a warm sunny evening and some stunning light. I had so much fun with this session, it was all about play, run, spotting dolphins (well trying to) and splashing in the sea, a family day on the beach captured in a documentary style to produce natural portraits. So here you go, just a small selection of my favourites…

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!

Photography for the Clancy Family on Crantock Beach in Cornwall

I photographed Daniele and Connor’s wedding a few years back at the Eden Project. A lot happened since then. They now have a beautiful little family and I was so excited to meet them again to take some natural family portraits during their stay here in Cornwall. We went to Crantock beach and were blessed with beautiful evening light even though we had to deal with a pretty cold strong wind swirling up sand in our faces and on my camera gear! Tricky conditions but I love the results. Family photoshoots are best on the beach or in a familiar surrounding in your family home or holiday rental, where we can work with natural light where possible and you can just ‘be yourselves’ with no posing needed, just portraying a day out of your family life to capture beautiful memories…

If you want some candid family photos taken here in Cornwall, please email me for availability and more details

Here are a few of my favourites…

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