photo fear

I am useless at being photographed! Like you, I just look awkward and end up with a really weird facial expression! We have a pre wedding shoot soon, I'm both dreading and looking forward to it. Because of my photo phobia, we have hardly any photos of us together & I don't think we have a single photo of me, h2b & our children...sad really.

Sounds daft, but I have been practising in the mirror & taking pics on my phone...hoping by the time our shoot comes along, I'll have at least perfected a normal looking smile!!

Good luck with your pre wedding shoot! Hopefully it will ease the anxiety a bit, thats what I'm hoping anyway. I might borrow your idea of taking a few photos in the mirror.

A lot of people tell me the same thing. Usually I find the first 20 mins or so people can be a bit self conscious. Usually after that they get on with the day and barely notice I'm there.

If it's any consolation I hate having my own photo taken too but during my own wedding last year we barely noticed our photographer with so much going on. I was actually really worried because I kept saying to my wife the next day that I hadn't seen him take any photos. Yet he delivered nearly 600 so clearly he was!

Hope that helps

Both OH and I hate having our photograph taken, if I try and look relaxed I look like I'm in pain, the only way I get a normal photo is if I don't know it's being taken!! We were supposed to have an engagement shoot but both of us were dreading it, I was just going to go along with it and hope I could relax but OH point blank refused so we didn't have it in the end. I'm going to let the tog know that we want minimal formal shots, just enough to have main family line up and the rest just don't let us know he's there. I'm pretty sure our he will think we're massive weirdos but oh well!

I hate having my photo taken, seriously I do, at the moment been trying to take one for my website about me page and I am so glad we now have digital cameras. Honestly if your photographer is any good he will have you settled in minutes, if you are that worried which you shouldn't be then explain it to him and ask him to use longer lenses so he isn't too close to you but that also depends on his style.

Me too^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

As said before, an experienced tog will assess each couple and come up with a way of photographing them where they are at ease.......its part of what you pay for when booking a decent tog.

Peter

95% of my clients hate having their photo taken (I think I attract camera shy people cos of the style I promote), it's their job to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera, so don't worry about it at all

You are not alone, personally I am not a fan of being in front of the camera.

Often it is mentioned to me how someone is not a fan of being in front of the camera, and that perfectly OK.

It will be up to your photographer to help you relax and feel comfortable. This is why you booked you photographer, you now simply have to let you photographer do what he/she/they do best and let you enjoy your day, and no longer paying attention to the camera.

I don't mind having my picture taken but more often than not I have a double chin on show, or an awkward looking smile. A photographer friend once told me that the best trick is to have a little laugh (even a false one ) to yourself just as it's being taken ..which I tried, and the photos looked more relaxed. Just try not to take it too seriously and feel like you have to pose, I think it comes across in the pictures when people do that.

The best technique for double chins is push your tongue up to the top of your mouth, try it and you will see and feel your chin muscles go up.

I am the most unphotogenic person ever. Think Chandler from Friends when they do the engagement shoot! If I smile at a camera I look like I am grimacing. I can't pose naturally, I look awkward. I am dreading our photos. I have told our photographer this and she is going to try and take as many candid shots as possible to catch me unaware!

I hate having my photo taken and really freeze up in front of the camera and hate all picture of me (I know a lot of people are like this) but we had a pre-wedding shoot and it really put me at ease, hopefully it will do the same for you. I didn't even feel like she was taking any photos and felt quite relaxed. I giggle when I'm nervous and this actually seemed to help as it made my oh laugh which meant we got loads of giggly/laughing shots. Just go on the day and see how it goes. I still hate having my picture taking but I'm confident now that we'll get some nice ones where as before I didn't think that was possible.

I was going to reply to this thread and mention that episode but thought better of it! It's totally me too. Everyone needs a Joey.

I hope the number of other people confessing to hating having their photos done too puts the OP at ease - you are certainly not alone with your fears. What is it they say about getting over fears? Face them head on! It's reasons like this that pre wedding shoots are so useful, it should hopefully put you at ease about the whole business of having a camera pointed in your direction on your wedding day. It really doesn't have to be a chore and I'm sure you'll look amazing in your photos.