Photo: Sarah Falugo

Not everyone is social media-trained and knows their lighting and best angles–and that’s okay . . . Until you become engaged. Suddenly, your life is at its most documented, and there are photo ops at every new milestone from the carefully planned proposal and surprise photographer waiting somewhere nearby to the farewell brunch the day after the wedding. You now have all too many opportunities to smile at a camera.

So, how do you begin to become more photogenic? And also, what do you do with your hands? The questions are endless and elusive, and the answers aren't obvious. We turned to Over The Moon's Directory photographers and videographers for their best tips on being in front of the camera so your wedding album is something you will be glad to have and to hold for the rest of your life.

How Do You Get Comfortable with Your Photographer or Videographer?

“I always suggest that couples take time to speak with their photographer before the wedding day,” David Bastianoni of David Bastianoni Studio shares. “A conversation, a call, or an engagement session helps build trust and removes any uncertainty.”

Laurent Rostanig of Laurent Rostanig Films asks couples for their story, how they met, what they’re most excited about for the wedding, and more. “It helps shift the focus away from the camera and back onto them,” he offers. “I also tend to keep things light with a few small jokes—it usually helps break the ice pretty quickly.”

Trent Bailey of by Trent Bailey proposes that you should really just hire someone you’d actually want at your dinner table. "If your initial conversation feels like catching up with an old friend, that’s a good sign," he says. "Hire people whose work you love and whose company you enjoy. Those two things are not separate."

Finally, here is OTM's pro tip: Try your engagement photo shoot with a photographer you’re seriously considering.

How Do You Get Comfortable on Camera?

"You could meditate, have a drink, or turn on your favorite music beforehand—anything to calm your nerves and get you into your authentic self," Skylar Stetten of Stetten Wilson shares.

Luigi De Gregorio recommends just forgetting the camera is there and moving as you normally would. “Talk, laugh, walk together, hold hands. Think of it as a small moment away from the day where you can just enjoy being together,” he suggests.

Trent Bailey puts it perfectly, saying, "You don’t need to be comfortable on camera. You need to be comfortable with each other. We handle the rest. Look at each other more than you look at the camera. That’s the simplest advice we give and it works every time."

How Do Photographers and Videographers Create a Safe Space?

Rebecca Yale quotes Edward Steichen, saying, “A portrait is not made in the camera, but on either side of it.” She knows it’s her job as a wedding photographer to put her clients at ease and make them feel like the best versions of themselves. Hopefully that takes the pressure off when you know you can trust them.

David Bastianoni ensures that he puts the couples at ease first. “When the experience matters more than the photograph, the images will always feel authentic and timeless,” he assures. Similarly, Sarah Falugo usually begins her photoshoot away from crowds and onlookers, helping the couple ease into their photos in private.

What Is "Acting Natural?"

Rebecca Yale distills the art form of “acting natural” to a lesson she learned while interning in fashion photographer Richard Avedon's archive and digitizing the negatives from his shoots that wound up in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. “It taught me the difference in a micro movement could be the difference between a million dollar shot and a ‘meh’ one,” she says. “It's often less about what you're doing and more about how your photographer is making you feel and how your photographer is capturing the moment.”

Luigi de Gregorio adds, “Acting natural means not acting at all.” Just be yourself, no big gesticulations necessary. Photographer Marco Caputo of Caputo Films says, “It’s allowing small real moments to happen—a glance, a laugh, the way you naturally hold each other. Those tiny gestures tell the story much better than any perfect pose.”

Ultimately, “acting natural” is overrated. Photographer Mariana Pierce adds, “My job is to direct and for them to forget and enjoy.” If you enlist a true professional for your photo shoot, your job won’t be acting natural–it’ll only be trusting your vendor.

Any Tips for Being Camera-Ready?

While confidence and stage presence aren’t necessarily things you can purchase online for same-day shipping, there are other things you can do and implement to feel like your best self in front of the lens. Skylar Stetten lists the ways: “Good sleep, a fresh blow out, natural make up application that feels like you, and a preplanned wardrobe can make anyone feel ready for the spotlight."

Shauna Cooney of Shauna and Jordon enumerates further, “Choosing outfits that complement your body type and highlight features you love can make a big difference. Many of our clients also choose to have their hair and makeup professionally done for their session, which can help them feel more confident going into the experience.”

Likewise, Devin Wilson of Stetten Wilson encourages you to “treat yourself well” before a photo shoot to “remove stress from your getting ready process.” This involves not only knowing what you’re wearing well ahead of time but also having your outfit already picked out, steamed, ironed, and prepped.

Lastly, Mili Ghosh suggests couples make vision boards before the wedding with films, magazines, and more. She says, “When the couple knows the emotional world they want to inhabit on their wedding day, the photographer can build that world around it or help create it."

So, just take a deep breath. As Marco Caputo notes, “The best clips are never about perfection—they’re about connection. And when that’s real, the camera just follows.”