i know you're awkward
One of the biggest reasons people hold back from pulling the trigger when it comes to booking a session with a photographer (professional or not) is that they're worried about how terribly, uncontrollably, chronically awkward they are in photos. "I just hate pictures of myself" or "I only look good in selfies... with a filter." Here I am to put these anxieties to rest.
I will pose you. I will give you direction. I will notice the little details, like if you have a hairband on your wrist. If your hair is out of place, or if your phone is in your back pocket. If your hands look awkward, I'll help make you more comfortable. Posing is difficult from the opposite side of the camera, especially when you aren't comfortable yet and you aren't relaxed. I believe that to get the best photos, we need to have a comfortable relationship with each other. (If that means FaceTiming first, grabbing coffee, or even just meeting up a little earlier at our location: we will do that!) But here's a secret....
"being awkward" leads to some of the best poses and will turn into your favorite shots from the session. Why? Because it leads to real laughter. I will never pose you away from anything that inspires genuine laughter.
I have read a lot about "The Art of Posing." I have taken thousands of photos, countless sessions, and I've worked with hundreds of amazing individuals. Here is the consensus: over-posing is much worse than your most-authetically-awkward-self. The photos are stiff, the smiles don't reach your eyes, and you will receive a smaller amount of photos delivered because everything starts to look the same. If I merely guide you in the right direction ("hold hands and walk towards me like you're drunk" or "kiss her all over her face as fast as you can") it isn't necessarily the activity I'm posing you for that I want to capture as much as it is the giggles and teasing that come directly afterwards.
Relax. Strike a pose. Be silly. I'll do the rest.
