You Don’t Have to Be “Good at Posing” to Have Beautiful Wedding Photos
Some honest thoughts by a local San Diego (and beyond) wedding photographer
One of the most common things couples tell me before their wedding day is:
“We’re not very good at posing.”
If that thought has crossed your mind, you’re not alone—and more importantly, it’s not something you need to worry about. You don’t have to know what to do with your hands, how to stand, or how to smile on cue to have beautiful wedding photos.
Don’t worry, I will lend you some direction when it is needed and welcome. But I don’t want your day to feel like a long session of staged pictures and stiff smiles. Especially here in Southern California where the light, scenery, and atmosphere do so much of the work for us.
As a full time wedding photographer of 10+ years experience, I believe the best photos don’t come from perfect poses—they come from real moments.
Real Moments almost Always Look Better Than Poses
Wedding aren’t about performing for the camera or capturing ‘content’. They’re about connection. The way you reach for each other without thinking. The quiet breath before walking down the aisle. The laughter that happens when something doesn’t go exactly as planned.
When couples are focused on being “good” at posing, they often end up feeling stiff or self-conscious. When they forget about the camera and focus on each other, the photos naturally feel more honest, emotional, and timeless.
That’s where a documentary-style, candid approach makes all the difference. It is where I truly do my best work.
My Job Is to Guide You—Not Make You Perform
You don’t need modeling experience or practiced poses. My role as your photographer is to create space for moments to unfold while offering gentle guidance when needed. Think prompts instead of poses. Movement instead of stiffness. Natural interaction instead of instruction.
Working with the right photographer realllly matters on your wedding day!
The day is already full of emotion. When you don’t feel pressured to “look right” for photos, you’re able to stay present. That presence shows up in your images—in the softness, the movement, the joy.
The couples who tell me “We’re awkward in photos” are almost always the ones who end up with the most meaningful galleries. Not because they changed, but because they were allowed to be themselves.
San Diego’s natural light, open spaces, and relaxed energy make it the perfect place for photos that feel effortless and real.
Wedding aren’t about performing for the camera or capturing ‘content’. They’re about connection
Why This Matters For Your Wedding
Choosing a wedding photographer who truly matches your style matters because your photos are one of the only things that last long after the day is over. Every photographer has a different approach—how they use light, what moments they prioritize, how much they guide versus observe. That perspective shapes how your story is told and it changes the lived experience of your wedding day. When your photographer’s approach aligns with who you are and how you want your day to feel, you can relax, be present, and trust that the images will reflect your relationship honestly. The result isn’t just beautiful photos, but a collection that feels like you, not a version of someone else’s wedding.
Some of the Venues featured in this post include:
Flora in San Diego offers a stylish, modern atmosphere filled with lush greenery and thoughtful design in the heart of downtown, while San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas provides a serene, nature-filled backdrop with winding paths, vibrant florals, and garden spaces from around the world. For couples dreaming of a relaxed island feel, Paradise Point in San Diego blends tropical landscapes with waterfront views, creating an effortless sense of escape. If you’re drawn to sweeping views and rustic elegance, Cielo Farms in Malibu delivers dramatic mountain scenery and golden California light, while The Thursday Club in San Diego offers timeless coastal charm with panoramic ocean views perched above the water.
Each of these venues brings its own personality—and choosing the one that feels most like you helps your wedding day (and photos) feel authentic from start to finish.
Film + Digital Packages in California and Beyond.
While California is our home base, our hearts (and cameras) are always ready to travel beyond the coast to capture celebrations in other destinations. There’s something special about photographing a celebration that brings together so many friends and family. Whether you’re exchanging vows on a mountaintop, at a historic estate, or by the sea in another state (or country), we’re honored to follow your story and preserve it on digital and film — tangible, authentic, and forever timeless.