“We’re So Awkward in Front of the Camera…” — What I Wish Every Couple Knew
“We’re going to be terrible at this.”
I hear that sentence almost every single time a couple enquires with me.
Usually followed by nervous laughing, a little panic, and:
“We genuinely don’t know what to do in photos.”
And honestly?
That’s exactly why I love documentary wedding photography so much.
Because the truth is… the couples who think they’ll be “awkward” are almost always the ones who end up with the most beautiful, emotional photographs.
Not because they suddenly become models overnight.
But because they stop trying to perform and simply focus on each other.
And that’s where the real magic lives.
You Don’t Need to Know How to Pose
I think social media has made so many couples feel like they need to somehow become professional models for their wedding day.
Like you need to know:
- where to put your hands
- how to stand
- how to smile perfectly
- how to “look natural”
But your wedding day is not a photoshoot.
It’s one of the biggest, most emotional days of your life.
You’ll be hugging people you love.
Laughing without meaning to.
Trying not to cry during your vows.
Squeezing each other’s hands during the ceremony.
Getting completely lost in the moment without even realising it.
Those are the photographs that matter.
Not the perfectly posed ones where you’re worrying if your chin looks okay.
The Best Moments Happen In Between
Some of my favourite wedding photographs have happened completely unexpectedly.
The deep breath before walking down the aisle.
A groom wiping tears away while nobody notices.
The uncontrollable laughter during speeches.
The way couples look at each other when everyone else disappears for a second.
Those moments cannot be forced.
They happen naturally when you feel comfortable enough to simply be yourselves.
That’s why my approach is always relaxed and unobtrusive. I never want your day to feel like hours of standing and posing awkwardly in front of a camera.
I want you to actually enjoy your wedding.
Honestly? Almost Every Couple Feels Nervous
Even the couples who look incredibly confident in photographs usually tell me beforehand that they’re awkward.
It’s so normal.
Most people are not used to being photographed professionally. Especially not for an entire day with emotions running high.
But something beautiful happens during weddings.
After a little while, couples stop thinking about the camera.
They become caught up in:
- the excitement
- the nerves
- the happiness
- the people they love
- each other
And suddenly, the photos stop feeling forced.
They start feeling real.
You Don’t Have To Be Perfect To Be Beautiful
This is probably the biggest thing I wish couples truly believed.
Your wedding photographs are not about perfection.
They are about connection.
The slightly messy hair from wind at the beach.
The tears ruining your makeup during speeches.
The blurry dance floor moments.
The huge uncontrollable laugh during couple portraits.
Those things are not flaws.
They are memories.
Years from now, those are often the images that mean the most because they take you straight back to how it all felt.
I’ll Help You More Than You Realise
You are never going to be left standing there wondering what to do.
Most of the time, I gently guide rather than heavily pose.
I might ask you to:
- walk together
- hold each other close
- talk about your morning
- steal a quiet moment away from guests
- just breathe for a second together
And within minutes, couples usually relax because it stops feeling like a performance.
It starts feeling like them.
Your Wedding Day Should Feel Like Your Wedding Day
Not a 10-hour photoshoot.
I never want couples to spend their entire day worrying about cameras, posing, or trying to create “perfect” moments.
The most meaningful photographs happen when you are fully present.
When you’re laughing with your best friends.
When your dad sees you in your dress for the first time.
When you grab each other’s hand during the chaos of the day and quietly say:
“We actually did it.”
Those are the moments worth remembering.
For The Couples Who Feel Nervous…
Please know this:
You do not need to be confident in front of the camera to have beautiful wedding photographs.
You do not need to practise posing.
You do not need to become someone else for your wedding day.
You simply need to show up, be present, and love each other the way you already do.
The rest will follow naturally.
Relaxed Documentary Wedding Photography in East Sussex
If you’re planning your wedding in East Sussex and you’re looking for natural, emotional photography that feels real — not stiff or overly posed — I’d absolutely love to hear from you.
Whether you’re getting married in Hastings, Bexhill or beyond, my approach will always be the same:
capturing your day honestly, gently, and exactly as it felt.
