I’m Afraid I Won’t Look Good in My Wedding Photos

Let’s talk about the “I’m not photogenic” thing.

Because I hear this from a lot of couples and specifically, brides. Usually what they mean isn’t “I think I’m ugly.” It’s more like: I look in the mirror and I look great. My best friend takes photos of me and I look great. But then someone else takes a photo and suddenly I have three chins and I’m like… that’s not what I look like?

If that sounds familiar, I want you to know: that’s not a you problem. That’s a photographer problem.

The Person Holding the Camera Matters

You already know this from experience. Your best friend takes a photo of you at brunch and you look cute. Your boyfriend takes a photo of you at the same brunch and there’s a mile of floor space, your head is half cut off, and you’re like “delete that immediately.”

Same lighting. Same outfit. Same you. Completely different result.

The difference is that your friend actually looks at you when she takes the photo. She knows your angles. She’ll tell you if something’s off. She takes ten shots and picks the best one. She cares about how you look because she’s your friend and she’s not gonna post an ugly photo of you.

That’s the energy I bring to photographing weddings. Except with professional equipment and years of experience doing this.

Not Every Photographer Thinks About This

Some photographers are thinking about composition, or lighting, or getting through their shot list. They put you somewhere, back up, and take the photo. And if you happen to naturally fall into a flattering position, great. But most people don’t. Most people need a little direction.

If nobody’s paying attention to the angles, or where the light is hitting your face, or what your hands are doing, you end up with photos where something feels off. Maybe you can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, but you look at it and think “that doesn’t look like me.”

It’s usually small things. The angle is slightly wrong for your face. The light is creating shadows in weird places. Your posture is doing something you didn’t realize. Things you wouldn’t think to fix yourself because why would you, you’re not the photographer.

I Actually Pay Attention to This Stuff

Here’s how I work.

When I’m photographing you, I’m not just pointing the camera and hoping for the best. I’m actively looking at how the light falls on your face and moving you if it’s not flattering. I’m paying attention to angles. I’m noticing if something looks off and fixing it before I take the shot.

I’ll tell you where to put your hands. I’ll tell you to drop your shoulders if they’re creeping up. I’ll adjust the angle so it works for your face specifically, not just some generic pose that looks good on a Pinterest board.

Every face is different. Some people look best straight on, some look better at a slight angle. Some people photograph well looking up, others look better with their chin down. I figure out what works for you and I shoot you that way.

You shouldn’t have to think about any of this on your wedding day. But someone should be thinking about it. That’s me!

I’ll Tell You When It’s Working

When something looks good, I say so. “That’s gorgeous, stay right there.” “Okay that angle is perfect on you.” You’re never standing there wondering if you look weird. I tell you.

And when something’s not working, I don’t keep shooting it. I fix it. I adjust the angle or move the light or try something different. You’ll never see the bad shots because I don’t take them in the first place. Or if I do, I’ve already moved on to something better before it matters.

I also keep things moving. We don’t hold stiff poses forever. Movement keeps you looking natural and it lets me find what works best for you instead of locking you into one position and hoping it’s the right one.

“Photogenic” Isn’t Really a Thing

I genuinely believe this. Some people have been photographed well and some people have been photographed badly. That’s it.

If you’ve had a lot of photos taken by people who weren’t really paying attention, of course you’re going to think you’re “not photogenic.” But that’s not about you. That’s about them.

When someone actually knows how to photograph you, and actually pays attention to angles and lighting and all the small stuff that makes a difference, you look like yourself. Which is the goal.

What This Means for Your Wedding

You’re spending a lot of money on a photographer. You want photos that look like you on one of the best days of your life. Not photos where you’re technically in the frame but something feels off.

I think about this constantly. Not just how to document the day, but how to make sure you look good while I’m documenting it. What angles work for your face. Where the light should be. How to pose you in a way that feels natural and looks flattering.

You don’t have to do anything special. You don’t need to practice poses or figure out your angles ahead of time. That’s my job. You just show up and I handle the rest.

That’s the whole point of hiring someone who actually pays attention.

That’s fair. I know reading a blog post isn’t going to undo years of feeling weird about photos. That’s a lot to ask of a blog post.

But what I want you to take from this is that the discomfort you’ve felt before? That came from the situation, not from you. It’s not some permanent thing you’re stuck with. It was a response to being put in front of a camera without any help.

That’s not how I work. I’m there with you the whole time. You always know what to do. You don’t have to be good at this. You don’t need to practice your angles in the mirror or watch YouTube tutorials on posing. You literally just have to show up and I’ll take care of the rest.

That’s what you’re hiring me for and trust plays a huge part in the final result!

So yeah. You’re going to look good in your wedding photos. I really believe that. Not because you’ll be perfect, but because you’ll actually be present and comfortable enough to just be yourself.

And honestly, that’s the whole point.