Just Go Play; Unscripted Moments in Your Wedding Photos
As an alternative boudoir and wedding photographer, I live for the in-between moments—the raw, unfiltered, beautifully imperfect flashes of connection that make your wedding day uniquely yours. Forget stiff poses and forced smiles; I believe the most powerful images are born from authenticity. If you’re wondering how to relax and fully immerse yourself in the magic of your wedding day while ensuring stunning, heartfelt photos, here’s my take.
Trust the process. When you book a photographer that leans heavily into a more documentary-style, you’re not just hiring someone to take pictures—you’re inviting a storyteller to capture the raw essence of your day. My approach is to observe, anticipate, and gently guide when necessary for any portrait shots you may want, but mostly to let you be you. The best thing you can do is trust that I see the beauty in your moments as they unfold naturally.
Your wedding day isn’t a photoshoot; it’s about celebrating your love with your favorite people. The more you lose yourself in the joy, the laughter, and the happy tears, the more your photos will reflect that. Dance like the drinks are free, laugh like a hyena during the bridal party speeches, ugly cry during your vows—these are the moments that make for the most breathtaking images.Some of the most magical images happen when things don’t go according to plan. Wind catching your veil, a flower girl running off mid-ceremony, an impromptu hug from grandma—these unscripted moments are pure gold. Instead of stressing about perfection, embrace the beauty of what is.
Lots of people claim to want documentary style photos until they realize that means that those soft, practiced smiles don’t appear in the bulk of the delivered gallery. Yes, we will get some calmer portrait shots during the day, don’t worry. But one of my favorite things about wedding photography is capturing the little ways you interact with your person. A squeeze of the hand, a knowing smirk, a shared laugh; these make for the best photos. Take moments throughout the day to check in with each other, breathe, and soak in the experience together. Your connection will shine through in the photos.
Worried about how you look in photos? Here’s the secret: when you’re truly present and feeling all the emotions, you glow. Beauty isn’t about posed perfection; it’s about authenticity. Let go of the pressure to look a certain way, and just be you. At the end of the day, the best wedding photos come from the moments you didn’t even realize were being captured. So let go of the idea of performing for the camera. Laugh loudly, cry freely, love deeply—and I’ll be there to document it all in a way that feels real.
Your wedding photos should feel like a window back to your day, not just a series of pretty images but a collection of real, emotional, and deeply personal memories. When you look back at your photos, do you want to see nothing but perfect, posed soft smiles and not really be able to pinpoint what parts of the day it was? Or be able to see a photo of you laughing with your nose all scrunched up and be able to recall exactly what happened to cause it? So breathe, be present, and trust that the magic is already happening—I’ll take care of the rest.