It’s no secret that being in front of the camera can be hella awkward. I’ve been there. I get it. But it doesn’t have to be stressful at all.
Here are some tricks that I’ve discovered that have helped my couples, as well as my guy and me, shake off the “awkwardness” blanket and allowed us all to let out our inner goofballs and snuggle bears.
1) Plan your outfits ahead of time
I’m a planner. I like knowing that my outfits look good and that I have shoes that look good with it. I’m also a bit of a control freak so I like to see what my guy plans to wear for our photos and approve or give a suggestion if it doesn’t go with what I plan to wear.
If you’ve downloaded my outfit inspiration guide you’re all set. If you haven’t downloaded that guide yet, download it now to see examples of what kinds of outfits and colors work best for engagement photos.
My biggest bit of advice here is to wear something you feel comfortable in. And if the colors happen to coordinate, that’s gravy!
2) Take note of how you instinctively act together
If you’re like me, the moment my guy sits on the couch next to me, my legs, hands, or sometimes my whole body instantly becomes intertwined with his.
Being aware of how you and your fiancé naturally act and snuggle up when no one is around will help you out when you’re asked to snuggle up when the camera is on you.
Do you instinctively nuzzle your heads together? Do you randomly jump on his back often (I’m raising my hand)? Do you have a habit of scratching his beard with your hands?
Those natural, lovey-dovey moments make the most romantic, intimate photos that you’ll want to hang in your living room. And if you act like there isn’t a camera in your face and do what you naturally do at home, you can guarantee that your photos will be 100% unique and unlike any other couple’s photos.
3) Eat something!
Do you get hangry? Does your guy? Make sure something is in your belly before you head out the door. And maybe bring a bottle of water just in case you get parched during your session.
4) Liquid courage
And if the jitters are really bad, a little liquid courage never hurt. I love to grab a drink with my couples before their engagement session. This is mostly for the guys since they’re usually less amped for having their photos taken than their lady-loves, but it’s also a chance for us to let loose before the camera comes out.
Now let’s be clear. This isn’t an excuse to get sloppy! Just one beer or glass of wine is all it takes to let those final stress-goblins go. By the time we get to our location, you’ll be giggling, excited, and ready to cuddle up like you do at home!
And that, my friends, is how we ditch the stress and take beautiful, visceral, romantic engagement photos that you’ll rave about forever!
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How do we even start to say thank you for all the work and effort you put into our wedding day?
- Josie and Scott
Lauren played such a meaningful role in our wedding, capturing the day in photos that we'll look back on for the rest of our lives. She kept Scott and me calm and sane - Lauren is a miracle worker! She put in 100% effort and gave us her very best, and that means so much to me. Seeing our photographs makes me so excited and so happy that Lauren was with us on this journey.
Lauren made the process so easy and made us feel so comfortable!
- Amy and Luke
We just wanted to say thank you again so much for your amazing work. You were seriously incredible to work with and we loved the locations you suggested for both our engagement shoot and the spots in Stillwater. We were very worried about getting professional photos done since we had never done it before, but you made the process so easy and made us feel so comfortable. Thank you!
Working with Lauren was easy breezy and FUN! She gave us our most treasured photos ever!
- GRACE AND NICK
There was a chunk of time in our wedding planning when we thought we'd go without a professional photographer to save on cost (terrible idea!) but once we met with Lauren, we knew we'd be in good hands. She checked in often and asked questions that got us thinking about other parts of the wedding that we probably would've missed. Lauren captured exactly who we are as a couple!
Lauren's enthusiasm and passion make the photo-taking process so fun – she made me feel like a star!
- Alisa AND Adam
Lauren and her team are so much fun to work with! She made us feel so comfortable on the day of our wedding, providing both silly and helpful cues to help us relax and be ourselves in our photos. Lauren’s background in dance is super helpful in recognizing simple posture changes that make a big difference, too. Oh, and the photos we got are just stunning!
Lauren was pivotal in making our wedding day perfect!
- Emma AND Erik
My husband and I looked FOR MONTHS to find the perfect photographer and after meeting Lauren we knew was the best fit for us. She made our day so much fun and easy. She found little opportunities to make the perfect photo all with a calm ease that comes from someone who has an artistic eye along with experience in understanding the flow of a wedding.
Not only is Lauren an amazing human being, but she is an awesome photographer!
- Haley AND Erick
I've been in several weddings and have worked with a multitude of photographers and I never felt as confident as I did with Lauren. I love how professional she is. She helped with the timeline way in advance and we stuck to that timeline the day of. She was also able to professionally and firmly keep unruly family members settled and focused and navigated family drama beautifully!
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