5 Tips to Feel More Comfortable in Front of the Camera
When I take photos of couples some are more comfortable then others. Regardless, I always try and make it as natural as possible, that way the photos really do come across as sincere. With that being said there are things you can do to further ensure the photos don’t look too posed. In this short post I will list 5 simple ways to do so.
When I take photos of couples some are more comfortable then others. Regardless, I always try and make it as natural as possible, that way the photos really do come across as sincere. With that being said there are things you can do to further ensure the photos don’t look too posed. In this short post I will list 5 simple ways to do so.
Simply having Chellsea look back at Ryan created a dynamic and emotional photo.
1. Don’t look directly at the camera
It’s often really easy to just stare at the camera and smile. Now, there is nothing wrong with looking directly at the camera, but the problem with doing this all the time is that all the photos tend to look the same. Plus, if you are always smiling as the camera is pointed towards you, the photos will tend to feel unnatural. So, look away for some, perhaps look down or even change the angle sometimes where you are looking up at the camera. Anything to just add a bit of intrigue to the photo.
This was a fun photo done right at the end of the wedding. The picture frame tied in to the scattered frames hanging down from the trees.
2. Use a prop
To be honest, I don’t often bring props to a portrait shoot or wedding but they can be very useful. The sessions I have had couples use props have actually turned out quite well. This can be just about anything. Depending on the theme of the shoot or the emotion you are trying to emote, be sure the prop actually makes sense. One wedding I had the couple brought some bright coloured umbrella’s. It wasn’t raining, in fact it was bright and sunny, but it really matched the overall theme of the shoot and made for some very interesting photos. Another engagement session I had, we used bright coloured balloons. Unfortunately the session was cut short by a storm but in the 15 minutes we had, we got some fantastic photos. It could also be something as simple as your wardrobe. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something that helps you feel comfortable behind the camera.
This engagement session was done at the Brickyard where Curtis originally proposed to Katie.
3. Pick a location that is familiar to you
Whether it’s an engagement shoot or even a wedding, sometimes it can be very helpful to stage it at a location that holds meaning to you. I did an engagement shoot with a couple where they originally got engaged at. It’s almost impossible not to relive those initial feelings and they often really come through in the photos. By having it a location you are familiar with, not only will you know the lay of the land, but things will just feel that much more natural. Not to say, you can’t do this with a venue you’ve never visited before, but a place you know could make a big difference.
4. Meet your photographer beforehand
Most photographers are great at creating a quick relationship with their client the day of but some are better then others. In the end if you don’t feel comfortable with your photographer, then it will show in the photos. It’s not always possible to meet with your photographer before a portrait shoot but at least with weddings I highly recommend it. Even just meeting over coffee a week in advance can make a real difference once the big day comes. Not only will you get to know the photographer a bit better, you can also get a sense of their shooting style, what they are thinking regarding location or anything else that will help the day of go smoother.
5. Look at other photographs
Be careful with this one. Don’t go out and memorize poses necessarily but by looking at other photos you can get a ton of ideas which may lead to ideas of your own. As I mentioned earlier, you might see some props that you like, or maybe even a location you never would have thought of. In previous posts I mentioned some sites for inspiration in general so feel free to check that out. Another obvious place to look is your photographers portfolio. If you haven’t already see what their style of shooting is, what other clients of their’s have done or anything else that might help.
In the end, just relax and have fun with it. If you don’t feel comfortable take a short break and try something new.
5 Ways To Get Inspired For Your Wedding
It can sometimes be daunting planning a wedding. Coming up with the right dress, the perfect caterer or even deciding on the colour palette for the wedding party. Luckily there are a lot of great resources out there. In this article I will outline 5 of them. Some may be obvious while perhaps one or two you may not have thought of. Read on to find out what they are.
It can sometimes be daunting planning a wedding. Coming up with the right dress, the perfect caterer or even deciding on the colour palette for the wedding party. Luckily there are a lot of great resources out there. In this article I will outline 5 of them. Some may be obvious while perhaps one or two you may not have thought of. Read on to find out what they are.
If you aren’t already on Pinterest, you should do so now. For brides to be it has a ton of ideas for everything ranging from wedding dresses to invitations. It’s really easy to create your own wall and basically pin any posts you like to it. That way you can go back and revisit it at anytime. Plus, you can integrate it with other social media sites such as Facebook which means it is easy to share posts with friends and family.
You are more then likely already on Facebook but this is another great site that has a lot to offer in the way of inspiration. The best way is to become fans of companies you like. Whether it is a decorator, a photographer or even a wedding planner. The advantage of Facebook is that you can also focus on local talent, that way if you something you like, you can actually deal with them directly.
Wedding Blogs
This one is pretty obvious but I figured I would mention it anyways. There are a lot of great sites out there that offer ideas and tips as well as real life weddings. What better way to get inspired then to look through actual weddings and see what other couples have done. Perhaps you are thinking of location ideas, a certain type of photography you want used, or even dress ideas. Some of my favourite blogs to check out are the following.
http://www.100layercake.com/blog/
http://junebugweddings.com/wedding-blog/what-junebug-loves/
There are many more out there so if none of these pique your interest to a google search and I’m sure you will find something that suits your needs. Of course, as always, feel free to check out my blog for tips and wedding write ups for past weddings that I have photographed.
Wedding Magazines
Usually at least once a week I will go to chapters and look through some of the wedding magazines on display. I love seeing what other photographers are doing out there and also, what some of the styles and trends are these days. It’s easy to just get in the habit of staring at a screen so it’s a welcome change to actually hold a magazine in your hands. Even go a step a further and buy a few of them. That way you can rip out some pages or bookmark certain things and create a scrapbook of what you like. Also, don’t forget that a lot of these magazines allow you to send in your wedding and they could feature it in an upcoming issue. Please be sure to check with your photographer before doing so as some of them don’t allow this. This will actually be the first year I will be sending in some weddings I shoot to be showcased. I think it’s a great idea personally.
Here are some suggestions for some of my favourite magazines out there.
Having been on Google Plus for the past year I have realized that it is a fantastic resource for just about everyone, especially couples getting married. Just like Facebook, there are groups you can join specific to your cause. For this, I think Google Plus excels because it seems to have a lot more photos as well as many more articles too. It also something called Circles, which you can essentially join to talk about what ever is on your mind.
There you have it! If you are struggling to find ideas for your upcoming wedding be sure to check out some of these options. I guarantee you will come away with a lot of great information.