A little direction helps
A photographer might move you into softer light, suggest a walk or show you where to put a hand. If the two of you are talking, that laugh halfway through the walk is yours.
Johnny’s approach is a little direction when it helps, with room to talk, move and enjoy each other. You can see that mix in the wedding photographs, then ask to see a complete gallery to understand how portraits sit alongside the rest of a day.
Say what you need
It helps to be specific. You might say, “We can relax if you tell us where to stand,” or “We’d prefer to skip lifts and kisses in front of everyone.” Your photographer can plan around that.
Tell your photographer about access needs, sensory preferences or parts of the day where you would rather have more space. If you have a few photographs of yourselves that you love, share them and say what feels right about them. That is more helpful than trying to copy a long list of other couples’ poses.
Make a little space
Choose one quiet, nearby place and leave enough time to settle in. If an audience makes you self-conscious, ask the wedding party to rejoin you afterwards.
Build that breathing room into your wedding timeline. Arriving late and worrying about dinner makes it harder to relax than having a simple plan with a little time to spare.
Meet before the wedding
A conversation with your photographer can tell you a lot about whether you will feel comfortable together. Ask how they help couples who dislike photographs, how much direction they give and how they handle family groups.
If you want a practice run, ask about an engagement session. Try a walk or something you enjoy together, and use the pictures to show your photographer which moments felt comfortable.
If meeting in private on the day appeals to you, the first-look guide shows where that time can go.
Look beyond the portraits
Look through a complete wedding gallery together. Notice the hands squeezing during a speech, hugs after the vows and friends on the dance floor. Which of those pictures would you want to come home with?
If you are planning a wedding in New Plymouth, elsewhere in Taranaki or across Aotearoa, tell Johnny a little about yourselves. Feeling unsure about the camera is a perfectly good place to start the conversation.