As part of my job I often get asked about how to pose or what to do on a photo shoot. Also since being on the other side of the camera in my recent photo shoot, I’ve been thinking about this sort of thing a lot. So here's five tips that can help if you're really not sure how best to approach this sort of thing or if you're camera shy.

1. Trust your Photographer
It is completely normal to be nervous before a photo shoot (be it a wedding day, engagement shoot or anything in between), but just remember why you hired your Photographer in the first place - You love their work. If you trust your Photographer and they’re good at what they do, then you really have nothing to worry about. 

2. Try an engagement shoot first 
It really can be a very effective way of getting rid of those "photo shoot jitters" and you can of course use the photos for so many different things like invites, guest books etc. Think of the shoot as a test run, you get to see how your Photographer works and you know what to expect.

3. Relax and be yourselves 
Here’s something I often tell my clients, “If you are uncomfortable, it will show.” Relax and just enjoy each other’s company and your special day. I genuinely believe that everyone looks better in wedding photos when they are happy, relaxed and enjoying themselves. If you're really struggling or something doesn't look quite right, your Photographer will step in to help and give suggestions on what to do.

4. Focus on your partner
I really found that doing this helped me a lot when my new husband and I were having our photos taken just after we'd got hitched. Talk to each other about your honeymoon plans, how the day has gone so far, or how certain guests are driving you crazy! Doing this will also help you forget you’re having a “photo shoot” and you’ll loosen up more.

5. Tune into your emotions 
When you look back at your wedding photos you want to remember your day and the emotions you were feeling, so don’t hide them and let them shine through. A lot of people love candid photos but it’s honestly much harder to do when people are on their guard and being self-conscious. If you want to give your new Husband or Wife a kiss or a cuddle, go for it! That’s what it’s all about.

A wedding is not the sort of thing you can re-shoot. Your Photographer is just as important to get right as the dress, the location, the cake. Here are five Dos and Don’ts to bear in mind to make sure you avoid disappointment.
 
1. DON’T leave booking your Photographer to the last minute
If you’ve set a date for your wedding, and you’ve found a great Photographer who is perfect for you, please book them! I don’t want to sound bossy, but the longer you leave it the more likely it is the Photographer you really want will already be booked. The amount of people that get in touch with me a few months before their wedding and ask me if I’m free is crazy, and then of course I usually have to turn them away because I typically get booked around twelve months before a wedding. (I’ve already spoken to a couple of people planning their weddings for 2019 and even further on in the future!) ​

​1. Book the venue FIRST
Planning a wedding can often be very daunting and right at the beginning it seems like you’ve got a million and one things to book, sort, decide on and pay for. But honestly, make sure the first thing you book is the venue. Often you can only book other vendors when you have a specific date. Also when you do book your venue, you’ll know what the space is like, what vibe it has and what will work there and what won’t.
 
2. Choose wisely on how you’re going to remember your day
Photography is one of the most important parts of your wedding day. I know that sounds bias coming from me, but it’s true. You won’t believe how quickly the day goes, and memories do fade over time. Wedding photos (and videos) will be the way that you will remember your day in ten years, twenty years, and fifty years time. Don’t leave the photographer as an afterthought and make sure you work it into your budget early. Find a photographer that is right for you; you love their work and working with them is a joy. Trust me if you do, you won’t regret it. 

3. Attend at least one wedding show
I really enjoy going to wedding shows as part of my job, as a bride it was a completely different experience. You can often feel hounded, there’s an awful lot going on and you sometimes feel you have to make on the spot decisions. It’s a great way to see in person what local wedding vendors can offer you though, and talking to suppliers in person allows you to make decisions in a way I don’t think you can on the Internet. So be brave, take a couple of friends along and see what’s on offer.
 
4. How much do you really have to spend?
I always find this a very weird question, but I found myself asking the same thing when planning our wedding. The simple answer is, there is no specific amount of money you have to spend. Sit down with your partner and make a “wedding to do-list” (venue, clothes, food, photographer, music, decorations..) and be honest about what parts of the day are really important to you personally (for me it was my dress and the photographer) and as a couple. This will help you keep things in perspective and hopefully you won’t overspend.

5. Start DIY projects early
Please don’t fall into the trap (like I did) of thinking you’ve got lots of time to make things, even if your wedding is two years away. Two years goes by quicker than you think and before you know it, you have to make all sorts of cool things you found on Pinterest in the space of two weeks. The longer you give yourself to do them, the less stressful it will be.
 
6. Think back to other weddings you’ve attended
Remember that awful wedding you went to a few years back? Remember that amazing one you went to six months ago? What was great, and not so great about them? Think about how you can avoid the bad parts and incorporate the good. Was the photographer really great? Was the cake beautiful and taste delicious? Ask where the Bride and Groom went to for these services, it's a good starting point at least.

​7. Don’t be afraid to ask for and accept help from loved ones
Your friends and family love you, and they want to be a part of your big day. If your friend offers to help you out with making place names - great! Make an evening of it, have a glass of wine and a laugh to pass the time. If another friend offers to be in charge of making sure the reception room is dressed and the tables are set out right – that’s great! If you think they are responsible and can do it, then embrace it. You really don’t have to do everything yourself!
 
8. BE YOURSELF
It’s easy at times to forget that the day is about you and your partner, you’re planning a party after all. But every now and then remind yourselves that it is a celebration of your love and your relationship. If you don’t want a big wedding, don’t have one. If you don’t want the meringue dress and to be caked in make up, don’t be. If you’re both big fans of a tv show, try and incorporate it in somehow. My husband and I made sure we didn’t do anything we didn’t want to, and I can honestly say hand on heart that I wouldn’t have changed a single thing about our day. It’s your day and it’s your money – have fun with it!