The vast majority of my clients say they feel nervous in front of the camera. Honestly, I think most of us rarely feel comfortable when a camera is pointed at us - myself included! After more than 15 years working as a wedding and family photographer, I have learnt some tips and tricks to help people relax. The key to good photographs is trusting your chosen photographer and feeling relaxed enough to be yourself. I always recommend pre-wedding shoots, especially if a couple is feeling nervous about the photography. Firstly, it provides a great chance for me to hang out with them so that we can all get to know each other and have a trial run before the big day. They get to see how I work and I get to see how they naturally interact with each other which helps a lot. Most often, we go for a walk and explore somewhere together. This can be a beach at sunset, a walk with the dogs or a special place like where they became engaged. I'm happy to recommend locations that I love, or discover a new place that is meaningful to them. This provides a relaxed time where we get to try out different things and see what suits everybody best. I don't believe in stiff, awkward posing, but I do know the best angles and slight adjustments that will help clients look their best. Most of my couples, despite feeling initially nervous, end up enjoying this session as it's just a chance to focus on each other and have some fun. Pre-wedding sessions are some of my favourite jobs because there aren't the time constraints of a wedding day, and I can get more creative. Some of my favourite shots have come from these sessions as I get to try out new techniques or ideas. It's great for wedding couples too because they get beautiful images to use on the wedding day or in the invites and they get to see what kind of shots I might take on the wedding day which builds their confidence