How to look natural in wedding photos
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
As a celebrant, I’ve watched a lot of couples head off for photos after the ceremony. I’ve noticed that some couples look relaxed and, well, themselves, whilst others go a bit rigid, suddenly hyperaware of their hands, their face, where to look. It’s completely normal — most of us aren’t used to being in front of a camera for hours (me included, the most awkward human ever as soon as the lens points my way), and the pressure of wanting your photos to look “good” can make you feel anything but natural.
The good news? Looking natural in your wedding photos has very little to do with how photogenic you think you are, and almost everything to do with how you feel in the moment. We asked some of the incredible photographers from our directory to share what actually works — and the advice is refreshingly simple.
Table of contents
Move. Just move.
This came up from almost every photographer we spoke to, and it’s the single most effective thing you can do. Standing still in front of a lens amplifies self-consciousness. Walking together immediately diffuses it.
The team at Mad for You Creative put it perfectly: rather than standing still and feeling like all the attention is on you, move. Go for a walk together. They’ll often put on music their couples love, which shifts the energy and helps everyone forget the camera is there. Sometimes they’ll ask couples to practise their first dance, or simply walk and chat about their day. When you’re focused on each other rather than the photographer, the photos naturally feel more relaxed and full of life.
This is one of those tips that sounds too simple to work — but ask any photographer and they’ll tell you it’s the difference between photos that look posed and photos that look like you.
Give your hands something to do.
If you’ve ever stood for a photo and suddenly had no idea what to do with your arms, you’re not alone. Photographer Chloe May’s advice is practical and brilliant: use props. Grab your champagne glass, hold your bouquet, play with your partner’s hair, fix a bowtie, fiddle with cufflinks.
It’s not about the prop itself, but about breaking the static, “I’m being photographed” feeling. When your hands are busy, your body naturally relaxes. And when your body relaxes, your face follows.
Choose a photographer whose energy matches yours.
This one might be the most important tip of all, and photographer Phoebe Dunn nailed it: choose a photographer whose vibe feels right for you, because you’ll spend a significant portion of your wedding day with them.
When you genuinely like and trust the person behind the camera, you stop performing and start being yourself. That comfort shows in every frame. If you feel awkward or stiff around your photographer at a trial shoot or initial meeting, that’s worth paying attention to, because it’s unlikely to feel different on the day.
Stop thinking about posing.
Phoebe’s other key piece of advice: don’t think about how to hold yourself. The best photos happen when you’re simply present with each other. Laugh, chat, soak in the day. When couples stop trying to look a certain way and just exist together, the photos effortlessly reflect who they actually are.
This is something I see echoed at every wedding I work. The couples who get the best photos aren’t necessarily the most photogenic ones, they’re the ones who are most comfortable being themselves in front of their photographer.
Let music do the heavy lifting.
Mad for You Creative mentioned this almost as an afterthought, but it deserves its own section. Putting on a song you love during your portrait session immediately changes the energy. You start swaying, singing, laughing, and suddenly you’re not “doing photos,” you’re having a moment together that happens to be photographed.
Ask your photographer if they’re open to playing music during your couples’ session, if they haven’t already offered. Many will do this as a default (they’re professionals, after all!)
A few more quick tips from our experts.
Build breathing room into your timeline. This ties back to something photographer Georgia Verrells shared in our recent feature on wedding trends to retire: overpacked timelines are the enemy of natural photos.
When you’re being rushed from one thing to the next, there’s no space to settle into the moment, and that tension shows in your images. Work with your photographer (and your celebrant, planner, or videographer) to build a timeline that allows for pauses, slow walks, and the kind of unhurried moments that produce the best frames.
The photos that couples treasure often come from the transitions in between the scheduled moments.
Avoid looking directly down the lens unless your photographer asks you to. Eye contact with each other almost always produces a more genuine image than eye contact with the camera.
If you’re feeling stiff, take a breath. Literally. A deep breath and a laugh — even a forced one — resets your face and body. Photographers know this trick and will often make a joke at exactly the right moment for this reason.
And finally: trust the person you hired. You chose them because you love their work, and their personality and approach is a part of what creates this stunning work. Let them guide you, and you’ll almost certainly love the result.
Every photographer featured in this article is part of the Ivory Tribe directory — trusted professionals who know how to make you feel comfortable and capture your day as it actually felt. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer whose energy matches yours, start your search here.
Movement is the single most effective technique — walking together rather than standing still immediately reduces self-consciousness. Give your hands something to hold or interact with, and focus on being present with your partner rather than thinking about how to pose. The best wedding photos come from genuine moments, not rehearsed positions.
Choose a photographer whose personality and energy feel right for you — you’ll spend a large portion of your day with them, and that comfort directly affects how natural your photos look. Playing music during your portrait session can also shift the energy instantly. Most importantly, trust the person you hired and let them guide you.
Build breathing room into your timeline rather than cramming photos into a tight block. Rushed timelines create tension that shows in your images. Work with your photographer to allow for pauses, slow walks, and unhurried moments — these transitions between scheduled moments often produce the photos couples treasure most.
Yes — putting on a favourite song during your portrait session immediately changes the energy. Couples start swaying, singing, or laughing, and the photos shift from feeling like a photo session to capturing a genuine moment. Many photographers already do this as part of their approach, so ask yours if they’re open to it.
There’s nothing wrong with knowing your angles! But there’s a difference between feeling confident in front of a camera and arriving with a rigid set of poses to replicate. The best wedding photos happen when you bring that self-awareness but stay open to your photographer’s direction. Trust their eye, stay present with your partner, and let the planned poses go once the day begins.
