Just “Be in Love!” Sound like a crazy thing for someone to tell you on your wedding day? Maybe so, but I cannot tell you how many bride and grooms I tell that to.  Why? Keep reading!

Candid, relaxed, spontaneous looking, sweet and playful photos are in right now. I can promise you that a huge percentage of those photos did not happen because a photographer was standing in front of them, posing them and giving instructions on how to whisper in each other’s ear. The photos found on pinterest that everyone wants to duplicate happened because a man and a woman were so in love and so into each other that those poses and looks came naturally. Now, I’m sure most of you are thinking, “duh, it’s my wedding day, of course I’m going to be in love.”  But think about it, you have been planning this day for months, sometimes years. You have last minutes details dancing in your head, worries of people being where they need to be when they need to be, and hopes that the day runs as smoothly as you have dreamed it would.  Don’t let yourself be distracted for your photos by all those thoughts and worries.  Before your photos begin, take that time during your ‘first look’ of each other, to take a deep breath, forget the craziness of the day, and settle in for an hour or so of just the two of you and a crazy person with a camera.

I tell my couples, “I’m going to set you up, do a couple posed shots and then step back and that is when you do your thing”. Forget about me, stare into each others eyes, whisper secrets, and tickle each other if you want to.  I do this with almost every pose I set a couple up in. Allowing yourself to be in the moment with the person you love makes a world of difference.  That comes across in your photos more than you will ever know.

Now, not everyone is comfortable enough to just settle in and share kisses and be all sweet and intimate with others around, and that is totally fine. You can’t change who you are and please don’t try to do something that you know will make you uncomfortable. Here is a list of things to think about before you get to the wedding day photos.

1. Do an engagement session with your photographer. This makes a huge difference when it comes to the big day.  You have already gone through a session with this person; knowing how they work and what they are going to do helps you feel more relaxed.
2. Talk with each other about your photos. As a bride searching pinterest for ideas, don’t leave your groom out. You may want these sweet candid shots but if you are the only one that knows about it you might find yourself struggling to get what you are looking for.
3. Be yourself!! You fell in love with each other, you know each other, you make each other feel comfortable.  Try to focus on that and not on the photographer or personal attendants that may be around.

The overall thing to remember is to be yourself and let your love for each other shine through!