Being Comfortable in Front of the Camera: For Couples Sessions

So you’ve finally booked your couples session to capture a sweet milestone—or maybe you’re thinking about booking but hesitating. Instead of feeling excited, you’re feeling nervous. You don’t feel confident or comfortable in front of the camera. You’re worried about looking awkward, or that your photos won’t turn out the way you’re hoping because you’re so nervous.

Trust me when I say this—you are not alone. Almost every couple I work with tells me the exact same thing before their session. Camera shy. Awkward. Nervous. Unsure of what to do with their hands. Wondering how anyone ever looks “natural” in photos.

But today, I want to help put your mind at ease and remind you of something important: your photos are going to be amazing—because you are amazing together.

As a wedding and lifestyle photographer, I’ve photographed all kinds of couples at all stages of their love stories. And more often than not, couples show up excited and nervous. But by the time our session is over, they’re laughing, relaxed, and genuinely excited to see their photos—because once we get started, they realize it’s really not as scary as it felt in their head.

I want you to feel that same confidence from the very beginning of your couples session.

A few tips to help if you’re feeling nervous or camera shy:

1. Comfort starts before the camera even comes out.

If what you’re wearing is physically uncomfortable, it’s going to be hard to feel relaxed during your session. Choose outfits you can move in, sit in, and cuddle in—while still feeling like you. Neutral tones and mixed textures photograph beautifully, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you feel comfortable and confident. Comfort always photographs best.

2. Practice a little at home.

It can actually be helpful to practice a few poses together in the mirror before your session. I’ll guide and pose you during our time together, of course—but knowing which angles or sides you personally like can be really empowering. Sometimes poses feel “cringey” in the moment, but when you see them in the mirror you realize, oh wait… that actually looks really good. That confidence carries into your session and makes it easier to trust the process.

3. Think of your session as a date night—not a photoshoot.

Even as a photographer, when I’m in front of the camera instead of behind it, I still get a little nervous. A lot of that comes from being hyper-focused on the camera itself. What helps? Reframing the experience.

Think of your couples session as a date night. You get to spend intentional, intimate time with the person you love—laughing, walking, holding hands, being close. I’m just there as a friendly third wheel capturing those moments. Think of me less as “the photographer” and more as a friend who happens to have a camera and a few ideas to help things flow naturally.

And if that mindset helps even more—imagine you’re the main characters in a movie. The camera is there, sure, but the love story is real. The moments are genuine. And that’s what matters most.

4. Eat and hydrate beforehand

This one is so important and often overlooked. Showing up hungry or dehydrated can really affect how you feel—and how the session flows. Being hangry makes it hard to relax and connect. If you can’t fit in a full meal beforehand, bring a small snack. Your mood (and photos) will thank you.

5. Trust the process—and trust me.

I’ve been doing this for a while, and you can feel confident knowing you’re in good hands. I’ll guide you, pose you, and help you every step of the way. And if we try something that doesn’t quite work? No worries at all. When I curate your final gallery, I carefully select the images where you both look your best—weeding out anything awkward and delivering photos that feel natural, flattering, and so you.

A final thought

You don’t need to be “good at photos” to have beautiful couples images. You just need to show up as yourselves. The nervousness fades, the connection takes over, and what’s left is the love you already share.

So take a deep breath. Hold your partner’s hand. And trust that your story—exactly as it is—deserves to be captured. 💛

If you’re ready to create something meaningful together, I’d love to hear from you. You can learn more about couples sessions and inquire through my website morganwallacephoto.com—and we’ll start planning a session that feels true to you.

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