How to Feel Comfortable in Front of the Camera on Your Wedding Day

There’s something almost magical about a wedding morning — the scent of fresh flowers, the sound of laughter floating through the air, the hush before the first look. But for many couples, there’s also a quiet undercurrent of nerves. Not about the vows or the forever part — but about the camera.

You’re not alone if the idea of being photographed all day feels a little intimidating. Maybe you’re thinking, “What do I do with my hands?” or “I’m not used to being in front of a camera.” At Two Hearts, we get it. Most of our couples aren’t models — they’re artists, teachers, travelers, dreamers — and they just want to feel like themselves. Our job is to make that easy.

Here’s how to feel completely at ease in front of the camera on your wedding day — and actually enjoy it.

Forget the Camera Exists

The best moments happen when you’re not performing for the lens. Think of us as guests with cameras rather than photographers directing a show. Our approach is quiet and observant — we’ll capture the way your partner looks at you mid-laugh, the small squeeze of a hand, the wild joy when you walk down the aisle. When you stop thinking about “posing,” you start living in the moment, and that’s where the magic happens.

Choose a Photographer You Connect With

The secret to looking comfortable isn’t about angles — it’s about trust. When you feel seen and understood by your photographer, you relax. That’s why we always take time to connect before the wedding day — through an engagement shoot, a coffee in the Pearl District, or a simple Zoom chat. We want to know what makes you laugh, what matters most, and how you want to remember your day.

Embrace Imperfection

A gust of wind, a tear at the corner of your eye, a dress slightly out of place — those are the moments that make your story real. Forget trying to be flawless. We believe beauty lives in movement, emotion, and authenticity. Your wedding isn’t a performance; it’s a celebration of who you are, together, right now.

Move, Don’t Pose

We’ll give you gentle direction — never stiff instructions. Dance a little. Walk through the orchard. Hold hands and talk. We might suggest a turn toward the light, or a pause to breathe in the moment, but our goal is to let things unfold naturally. You’ll forget there’s a camera there at all — and that’s when the photos start to feel alive.

Schedule Breathing Room

The energy of a wedding day moves fast. Build small pauses into your timeline — a moment to walk through the vineyard alone, to watch the sunset together, to breathe. These quiet in-betweens often become our favorite frames of the day. When you give yourself space, you make room for real emotion to surface — and that’s what we love to photograph.

Trust the Process

You’ve spent months planning every detail — now, let go and let the day unfold. We’ll take care of everything else. From our experience shooting both film and digital, to managing lighting, weather, and timelines — you can rest easy knowing we’ve got it covered. When you trust your photographer, you can be fully present — laughing, crying, dancing — and that’s when the most meaningful images are made.

A Final Thought

At the heart of every great photograph is connection — between two people, and between them and the ones telling their story. Our role isn’t just to document your wedding, but to help you see it again — exactly as it felt.

So if you’re planning your wedding in Portland, the Columbia River Gorge, or somewhere beyond, and you want images that feel like you, we’d love to be part of your story.

Let’s make something timeless, together.