How to Be Photogenic (and Truly Relax in Front of the Camera on Your Wedding Day)| Discovery Photography
If you’re anything like most couples I meet, the words “We’re not very photogenic” probably sound familiar.
You might cringe a little at the thought of being the centre of attention or worry that you’ll look awkward in your photos.
But here’s the truth I’ve learned after photographing hundreds of weddings across Yorkshire and beyond:
It’s never about being “photogenic.” It’s about being present.
It starts with connection, not posing
The best photographs don’t come from perfect poses — they come from real emotion.
When you’re caught up in the joy, the nerves, the laughter, and that quiet moment when you finally exhale after saying your vows — that’s when the magic happens.
When I arrive on the morning of your wedding, I don’t immediately pull out the camera.
I take time to chat, to blend in, to make friends with your bridal party and the family dog.
Because once you stop feeling like you’re being watched, you start to live your day — and that’s when your true expressions shine through.
Let go of the idea of perfection
Every couple worries about how they’ll look in photos.
Maybe you’ve practised your smile in the mirror or googled “how to pose naturally.”
But the photos you’ll treasure most aren’t the ones where your posture is perfect — they’re the ones that capture you exactly as you are in that fleeting moment.
The way your hands shake slightly while holding each other.
The tear you didn’t expect to fall during your vows.
The belly laugh you share with your best man just before walking down the aisle.
Those are the moments that make you look beautiful — because they’re honest.
Trust the process (and me as your photographer)
If you’ve chosen a photographer whose work makes you feel something — someone whose images you can imagine yourselves in — then you’ve already done the hard part.
When I photograph your day, I’m not asking you to perform.
I’m gently guiding, watching for the light, and noticing the small, quiet details that often go unseen.
Sometimes I’ll suggest a pose, but most of the time, I’ll just encourage you to breathe, to hold each other, and to forget the camera is even there.
Because when you trust me to tell your story, you don’t have to do anything.
You just have to feel it.
North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer
A moment from a recent wedding
I remember photographing a couple — let’s call them Emma and Jack — who both swore they were “terrible” in photos.
During their first look, Jack turned around, saw Emma, and simply froze.
No posing, no direction — just a tear, a smile, and a whispered “Wow.”
That one second told their whole story.
When they later saw the photo, Emma said, “I didn’t even realise I looked like that.”
And I smiled, because that’s the moment every photographer lives for — when someone finally sees themselves the way their partner does.
So how do you become ‘photogenic’?
You don’t need to know how to pose.
You don’t need to worry about angles or lighting.
Just remember this:
Be in the moment.
Let go of self-consciousness.
Focus on the person in front of you, not the camera behind you.
And I’ll take care of the rest.
Because the most photogenic thing in the world isn’t a perfect smile —
It’s a genuine one.
Final thoughts
Your wedding day isn’t a photoshoot — it’s a story.
A once-in-a-lifetime blur of emotion, laughter, nerves, and love.
My job is simply to help you remember it — not as you posed, but as you felt.
So when you look back at your photos years from now, you’ll see two people deeply in love — not two people trying to look good for the camera.
And that, I promise, will always be enough.
