You Don’t Have to Be “Photogenic” to Love Your Photos

There’s a certain kind of couple I especially love photographing: the ones who tell me they’re awkward in pictures.

The couples who say, “We’re just not photogenic.” The couples who aren't quite sure what to do with their hands, where to stand, or how they're supposed to look natural when there’s a camera pointed at them.

That was exactly where this couple started during their August 29 couples session at Leeds Memorial Park.

They were nervous. They told me they weren't particularly photogenic, and they weren't quite sure what to expect from their session.

But by the end, they were laughing, relaxing, and looking completely at home in front of my camera.

And that’s exactly why I believe you don't have to be “photogenic” to have photographs you love.

You Don't Have to Know How to Pose

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear from couples is that they need to naturally know how to pose.

You don't.

In fact, when you're already nervous about having your picture taken, being told to “just be natural” can make things feel even more awkward.

That's where I come in.

I guide my couples through their entire session. I'll give you prompts, tell you where to look, suggest how to move, and help you figure out what to do with your hands.

And sometimes, I literally move you myself.

It might sound a little overbearing, but for couples who aren't comfortable posing, confident direction can actually be incredibly reassuring. Instead of wondering whether you're standing correctly or trying to figure out what you're supposed to do next, you can simply trust me to take care of it.

This couple really appreciated that kind of direction.

Once they knew they didn't have to figure everything out themselves, they were able to relax and actually enjoy being together.

From Nervous to Completely Themselves

As the session went on, their nerves started to disappear.

They laughed more. They interacted with each other instead of thinking about the camera. The poses became more natural, and eventually, they weren't really thinking about posing at all.

That is one of my favorite parts of a couples session.

It's not just getting a beautiful photograph. It's watching a couple go from “We're going to be terrible at this” to realizing that they actually look — and feel — completely natural together.

Most of the time, the problem was never that they weren't photogenic.

They simply needed someone to give them a little direction and enough time to get comfortable.

My goal is for you to leave your session feeling like you got to be yourselves — just a little more confidently.

A Fall Couples Session at Leeds Memorial Park

Leeds Memorial Park was a beautiful setting for this late-August session, and it has me even more excited for fall sessions in the Birmingham and Leeds area.

Fall is one of my favorite times of year for couples photography. The cooler weather, changing colors, and slower feeling of the season make it such a natural time to document your relationship.

And for couples who want updated photos for holiday cards, fall sessions are especially perfect.

You don't need a big occasion or a complicated reason to have photographs taken. Sometimes you simply want to remember what this season of your relationship looked like.

Fall Holiday Portrait Sessions

If you've been thinking about updating your photos for holiday cards, giving photographs as gifts, or simply documenting this season together, I'm offering a limited number of Fall Holiday Portrait Sessions this year.

These sessions are intentionally relaxed and guided, making them a great fit even if you aren't used to having your photograph taken.

So if you've been putting off booking a session because you don't consider yourself “photogenic,” take this as your sign.

You don't need to know how to pose.

You don't need to know what to do with your hands.

And you definitely don't need to know how to look natural in front of a camera.

I'll guide you through all of it.

All you have to do is show up, be yourselves, and enjoy being together.

I'll take care of the rest.