How to Get Natural, Candid Photos on Your Engagement, Proposal, or Wedding Day
If you’re planning an engagement session, a proposal, or your wedding day in Nova Scotia, chances are you’re hoping for photos that feel real.
Not stiff.
Not overly posed.
Not “what do I do with my hands?” energy.
You want photos that feel like you — the laughter, the quiet moments, the way you naturally connect when you forget someone’s holding a camera.
While posed photos absolutely have their place, it’s often the candid, in-between moments that end up meaning the most. The shared glances. The way you reach for each other without thinking. The reactions you didn’t even realize were happening.
Here’s how we create photos like that — together.
Start by Letting Yourself Be Human
This might sound obvious, but it’s the biggest piece.
You don’t need to perform for the camera. You don’t need to “do it right.” You don’t need to smile the whole time.
The best photos happen when you let yourself exist in the moment — nerves, laughter, tenderness and all. Engagements, proposals, and weddings are emotional days. That’s a good thing. Let it show.
Your only job is to be present with each other. Mine is to take care of the rest.
Give Your Hands (and Hearts) Something to Do
Natural photos come from movement and interaction — not standing still and wondering what’s next.
During engagement sessions and wedding portraits, I’ll often guide you into moments instead of poses. Things like:
Walking together along the shore or a quiet trail
Pulling each other in close and sharing something only you can hear
Dancing, swaying, or leaning into one another
Holding hands and letting the moment stretch
These aren’t tricks. They’re ways to help you relax into each other. When you’re doing something, your body softens, your expressions shift, and the photos start to feel effortless.
Forget the Camera Is There (Really)
At first, it’s normal to be aware of the camera. Everyone is.
But once you start talking, laughing, moving, and connecting, that awareness fades — and that’s when the magic happens. Some of the most meaningful images are taken mid-conversation or mid-laugh, when you’ve completely forgotten I’m nearby.
If you ever feel awkward or unsure, I’ll gently guide you. You’re never left hanging.
Movement Is Your Best Friend
Stillness can feel intimidating. Movement feels natural.
Walking, spinning, adjusting your dress, pulling your partner closer — all of that brings life into photos. It also gives your body something to focus on besides “am I standing weird?”
On wedding days especially, movement helps portraits feel relaxed instead of forced. Even small motions — a hand squeeze, a forehead touch, a quiet kiss — make a huge difference.
Choose a Location That Feels Like You
Nova Scotia gives us so many beautiful options, but the best location is always one where you feel comfortable.
That could be:
By the ocean
In the forest
In your backyard
At the spot where you got engaged
Or even your favourite restaurant
Meaning matters more than drama. When a place feels familiar or special to you, it shows in how you move through it — and that’s what makes photos feel real.
Wear Something You Can Actually Move In
What you wear affects how you feel more than you think.
Choose outfits that feel like you — pieces you can walk in, sit in, hug in. Flow-y fabrics photograph beautifully in the wind and add natural movement, especially during engagement sessions and wedding portraits.
Comfort = confidence.
Confidence = relaxed photos.
Let Go of “Perfect”
Some of the most meaningful photos come from moments that weren’t planned.
The wind picks up. Someone laughs mid-kiss. A reaction is bigger than expected. Those moments are real — and they’re often the ones couples come back to years later.
You don’t need everything to go exactly as planned for your photos to be beautiful. Sometimes the unexpected is the story.
Build in Breathing Room
Rushed days feel rushed in photos.
Whether it’s your engagement session or your wedding day, giving yourself a little extra time changes everything. When you’re not watching the clock, your body relaxes, your expressions soften, and those quiet in-between moments have space to unfold.
This is especially true on wedding days — a calm timeline makes a noticeable difference in how photos feel.
Trust the Process (and Your Photographer)
You don’t need to know how to pose.
You don’t need to worry about how you look.
You don’t need to manage the moments.
That’s my job.
I know when to step back and let things unfold, and when to gently guide you into moments that feel natural instead of staged. I’ll always meet you where you’re at — nerves included.
Final Thoughts
The best engagement, proposal, and wedding photos aren’t forced.
They come from connection. From movement. From letting yourselves be exactly where you are — together.
If you’re planning an engagement, proposal, or wedding day in Nova Scotia and want photos that feel honest, emotional, and true to you, I’d love to be there for it.
When you’re ready, let’s talk 🤍
