Maine & NH Wedding Photographer | What Makes Photos Feel Emotional Instead of Posed

If you’ve ever said, “We’re awkward in photos,” congrats, you’re normal. The goal isn’t to turn you into a model. It’s to make the camera feel like background noise while you focus on each other.

That’s where the good stuff lives.

Be as Unaware of the Camera as Humanly Possible

Yes, I know I’m there. I know the camera is there.
But the more you forget about it, the more emotional your photos become.

The second you stop thinking “what do I look like?” and start thinking “this is my person” , everything changes. Your body softens. Your expressions stop being curated. Your reactions become real.

That’s the sweet spot.

Just Give In (I Promise It’s Easier)

At some point, you just have to accept that I’m not going anywhere and lean into your partner instead.

Talk to them. Touch them. Laugh. Whisper something stupid.
Play it up a little.

You don’t need to perform, you just need to engage. When your attention is on each other instead of the camera, the emotions happen naturally without forcing anything.

You Gotta Warm Up

Nobody steps in front of a camera and immediately delivers cinematic-level emotion. That’s not how humans work.

The first few minutes are just shaking off nerves.
After that? Muscle memory kicks in. You forget about your hands. You stop overthinking your face. You start reacting instead of posing.

Once we’re rolling, it’s photography gold.

A Few Extra Things That Make a Huge Difference

Because yes, there’s more to it:

Movement > Standing Still
Walking, swaying, leaning, adjusting, movement creates natural interactions and keeps you from locking up.

Touch Is Everything
You will hear me say “Always touching” about a thousand times during your shoot. Hands on faces, hands on backs, foreheads touching, get super mega close. Touch creates connection, and connection reads on camera every time.

Real Prompts Beat “Say Cheese”
I’m not going to ask you to smile at me, except for 1 or two. I’ll give you prompts that make you react to each other, because reactions are always better than forced expressions.

Trust the Process
The couples who get the most emotional photos aren’t the most confident. They’re the ones who let go and trust that I’ve got them.

The Big Takeaway

Emotional photos aren’t about doing more.
They’re about thinking less.

Forget the camera. Focus on your partner. Warm up. Let things unfold.
I’ll handle the rest.

And if you feel awkward at first? Perfect. That means you’re doing it right.