Couples photography is such a big part of a wedding day, but it’s not always easy for the bride and groom to relax. We asked photographer Kiyah Crittendon to share her best tips for getting natural smiles and real emotion. Here’s how she gets couples to loosen up and forget about the camera.
1. Practice your first dance.
This is so fun for engagement sessions, wedding days, or anniversary sessions. I love getting my couples to practice their first dance! They get in nice and close and tend to just sway and smile, as if I’m not even around. It’s so precious!
Bonus: Ask the couple in advance to share their first dance song and have it ready to play on your phone or portable speakers.
2. Write a love letter.
Before an engagement session, I ask my couples to write a love letter to each other. At a quiet spot during the session, they’ll take turns reading their letters. Some couples write a lot, some include inside jokes, some cry, but all of them end up embracing each other and being genuinely happy. This helps the couple forget I’m there as they linger in their own special moment.
3. Eyes closed, deep breath.
Being in front the camera is nerve-wracking for anyone who isn’t an experienced supermodel. One of my favorite ways to get my clients to relax is by simply getting them in a pose or a position then telling them to close their eyes and take a deep breath. This will instantly put them at ease, and a few deep breaths will make their whole body relax and regain composure. I usually do this at least three times throughout the session!
4. The body game.
A fun game kind of like “Simon Says.” I’ll do this after the couple is a little warmed up, and I want to capture genuine laughter and goofiness. I’ll turn them back to back but not touching, then I’ll call out a body part and they have to touch those parts together. It could be hip to hip, nose to nose, cheek to cheek, or whatever! They have no idea what I’m going to call, and it’s fun to capture them scrambling, giggling, and being super silly.
Click’s romantic songs playlist
Music to set the mood for your couples’ sessions. Warning: These songs are so romantic, you immediately will fall in love with anyone in the room, possibly the stapler.
1. “My Lover,” Birdtalker
2. “All That I Want,” The Weepies
3. “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You,” The Hunts
4. “April Come She Will,” Simon & Garfunkel
5. “Lucky,” Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
6. “The Way I Am,” Ingrid Michaelson
7. “Banana Pancakes,” Jack Johnson
8. “The Wind,” Cat Stevens
9. “By Your Side,” Sade/Neptunes remix
10. “Harvest Moon,” Neil Young
11. “Lovesong,” Adele
12. “You & I,” John Legend
13. “Magic” (Piano version), Colbie Cailla
Photos by Kiyah Crittendon
This article first appeared in the September/October 2017 issue of Click magazine. Subscribe now and never miss an issue.
