Photographer: Anne Almasy
Many brides and grooms express anxiety about how they will look in their wedding photographs, and this lovely couple was no exception. They repeatedly told Anne Almasy that they were nervous to be photographed and worried that they would look terrible in all their photos. “And, of course, the exact opposite of that was true,” laughs Anne. “I couldn’t take a single bad picture of either of them—I couldn’t understand what they were talking about!”
Typically, this kind of apprehension has nothing to do with concern about the photographer’s skills; rather, they worry that, as subjects, they will feel awkward or not know what to do in front of the camera. And why should they? As Anne tells nervous brides and grooms, “Of course that’s how you feel. You’re not a model or an actor. It’s my job to make you look amazing.” Telling clients simply to relax and let her do her job takes the pressure off them to perform; they just need to be themselves and enjoy their day.
Verbal Feedback
Knowing that positive reinforcement goes a long way in building confidence and helping couples feel at ease, Anne offers lots of verbal praise throughout the day, both when shooting documentary coverage and when doing the couple’s posed images. “I think it’s important to tell people constantly how great they look and how well they’re doing,” Anne says. “I talk to people constantly—probably too much!”
Shooting back as the couple crossed the street hand-in-hand, Anne captured a relaxed, happy moment.
Showing the Images
Anne doesn’t let clients preview images during the event. “I don’t ever want to show them the wrong image and maybe all they can see is that they think their eyes look funny. When they’re looking at the back of the camera, they’re not seeing what you’re seeing. It’s an unedited photo, and it’s really tiny, and maybe it’s not the one they would have picked—even if you think it’s great.”
While there is plenty of action to communicate context, the focus remains on the couple’s interaction.
