The first thing couples say to us when they arrive to their engagement session is “We are so nervous, we have no idea how to do this.” The truth is that no one is a pro at getting their engagement photos taken, or at least they shouldn’t be. Leading up to the engagement session couples are often scouring pinterest and blogs for ideas on how to pose and not seem to awkward or contrived in photos. Its a challenge, we know first hand because we have been photographed by great photographers and felt both awkward and confident with the experience. We get asked a lot of questions about how to look candid and casual in photos, and requests to stay away from posed photos. So I have a few tips for the awkward couples in all of us.
1. Don’t be afraid to show us who you are, and we won’t be afraid to capture that. Its hard to do it on your own, so its a good thing you are bringing along someone to be photographed beside. The easiest way to show your true self in photographs, we believe, is to help bring out the best in your partner. Make them smile, make them laugh, pull them close and in turn that will do the same to you and the photographs will become effortless. Someone once told me the best way to conquer your fear, is to help someone conquer theirs.
2. The key to a natural smile. Laughing is always the easiest way to start, and a joke can go a long way. A good photographer captures you in the seconds after your crazy, hysterical laugh is over and our natural smile is all thats left.
3. The trick to better posture. If you are like me, and you are used to sitting at a desk all day, then slumping shoulders is a real issue for you. Bad, slouchy posture is very noticeable in photos, so imagine you are squeezing a lemon between your shoulder blades,  and you will instantly improve the slouch.
4. The curse of the double chin. We are pretty lucky, our clients are not cursed with this 🙂 But if you are a little worried that the curse could return just move your chin a little forward and down. Create more definition in your jaw by pretending there is a string pulling your nose up ever so slightly.
5. Have fun! Act like kids, laugh and play, be funny, and charming. Use the environment around you, don’t worry about if something looks cheesy or foolish. Its true, maybe you and your partner wouldn’t run through a field holding hands, or cuddle on a park bench, but perhaps the image we see, is a close-up of your expressions as you run towards the camera and the field is blurred out, or the crystal clear reflection in a pond. Just go with the flow and I think you will be surprised by which photos you love the most.
Amber & Mic have been our clients for a few years. We photograph their family each spring and even sometimes around the holidays. When they told us they were getting married we were thrilled! We love watching families grow over the years and this one is very special to us. For their Barrie, Ontario engagement session they chose a foggy autumn morning at Springwater Park, followed by visit to the Barrie Antique Centre. Their wedding is coming up this September at MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie.
Thank you again Amber & Mic for choosing us to capture yet another chapter in your lives and love story. Thank you to the awesome staff at the Barrie Antique Centre  for being so gracious, and allowing us to run around and play for a few hours in their shop of kitsch and curiosities.
Cheers
& Ryan
