I’ll be honest… I don’t know how photographers regularly shoot weddings or even multiple weddings every weekend. It’s a lot of work physically and mentally. But when I do have the pleasure and honor of documenting a couple’s most special day, I absolutely love it. I’m choosy about the couples who I say yes to, because I want to put forward my best work and I can’t take on dozens of weddings.
I feel like the couples that find me, are meant to be my clients/couples. I gain a near immediate affinity towards them and by the time I deliver their images, I am fully invested in them.
That is definitely true with this beautiful couple. They are warm and fun and easy to be around. I’ve also seen that they are devoted to each other and hard workers. I am convinced they will have a wonderful and successful life together.
There is so much that goes into photographing a wedding. First of all, two photographers is pretty much a must. So you have to find someone you like and who is good at what they do and who can capture your style. And it’s rare for a day of photographing a wedding to last less than eight hours and they can go upwards to twelve hours!
In that time, you photograph everything from getting ready, details, couple portraits, family portraits, the actual ceremony, the reception, sometimes there is a first look, and so much more. It takes a lot of planning and attention to detail because a wedding day only happens once and you can not risk missing something for the couple.
I’ve included a little bit of everything in the photos below. Enjoy the peek into Deanna and Anthony’s very special day. Congratulations, you two.
Hey, I'm Leslie, and in all my years as a photographer, the number one thing that makes or breaks a photoshoot has nothing to do with the camera. It's something most photographers never tell you.
Most people think bad photos happen because of how they look. So they blame their face. They blame their body. They go home feeling worse than when they came. And that is not their fault. Nobody tells them the truth.
The secret is this. The photographer controls the light, the angle, and the pose. A good photographer can make anyone look amazing. If your photos look bad, it is not you. You just need a photographer who knows what they are doing.
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Hey, I'm Leslie, and in all my years as a photographer, the number one thing that makes or breaks a photoshoot has nothing to do with the camera. It's how you pose.
Most people freeze the moment they step in front of a lens. They go stiff, they force a smile, and the photos end up looking nothing like them. And that's not their fault. Nobody teaches you how to pose.
But a few simple shifts in how you stand, where you look, and what you do with your hands can completely change how you show up in photos.
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After 13 years and thousands of shoots, here's what I've learned actually separates photographers who get referrals from photographers who get ghosted:
1. How you make people feel before the shoot
Your job starts the second they walk in, not when you pick up your camera.
2. How well you direct, not just pose
Telling someone where to put their hands is posing.
Getting them to forget their hands exist is direction.
One creates a photo. The other creates a moment.
3. How much trust you build in real time
The photographers clients rave about obsess over experience, not gear.
Because your client doesn't remember your lens.
They remember how you made them feel.
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If we haven’t met yet, hi helloooo I’m Leslie 🤍
I’ve been behind the camera for 13+ years, and I’ve learned this the hard way
I photograph families for a living and this is my number one rule
If it feels stiff, it looks stiff
The best photos don’t come from perfect posing
They come from movement, connection, and letting people be themselves
I guide my clients, but I don’t control them
That’s where the magic actually happens
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POV: I don’t know how to pose my clients…
If we haven’t met yet, hi helloooo, I’m Leslie 🤍
After 13+ years behind the camera, one thing I’ve learned is that most clients aren’t expecting to walk into a session knowing exactly what to do.
And honestly, they shouldn’t have to.
They’re real people who might feel a little nervous, awkward, or unsure of where to put their hands.
That’s where direction comes in.
Posing isn’t about placing someone into a stiff position and hoping it looks natural. It’s about giving simple prompts, creating movement, and helping your clients relax enough for their real personality to come through.
A few things I always keep in mind:
– give clear direction instead of saying “just be natural”
– focus on small adjustments that make a big difference
– use movement to help clients feel less stiff
– make the session feel comfortable before worrying about the perfect pose
Because the best photos happen when your clients stop thinking about the camera and start feeling like themselves.
Posing is more than knowing a few go-to prompts.
It’s knowing how to make someone feel confident in front of your lens.
💬 DM “POSE” if you want the client-directing prompts I use during my sessions.
