by Cameron Ingalls After I got finished shooting this epic engagement session the bride said something that really caught my attention. “Let’s do something fun and goofy, that is more us!” I don’t know why she waited until the very end of our session to let the fun rip, but we spent a couple more minutes shooting and got a few more full-of-life shots that were like icing on the engagement cake.

I don’t know what to do to convince each new couple to completely be themselves during the shoot, but sometimes it takes me calling it a day for them to take a bit of creative license. Everyone is different. Some couples are firing off ideas and really presenting their true character right off the bat. Others are shy and tend to let me have full creative photography leadership rights. In this couples case, it took me fully backing off for her to spark up and suggest having a little bit of fun.

Sometimes it takes having fake endings to portrait sessions. I get some of my best pictures after I tell a couple that we are done. They let out a sigh of relief and let down their poses. On our way to the car I spot some crazy light or a sweet backdrop and suggest just another couple of shots. They don’t care because it’s already over and I get the shot of the day! I love this picture of Sam and Grace’s eyes peeking over the couch. It is the Picture of the Day! It pays to be sneaky sometimes. ;)

Cameron Ingalls, Inc. Southern California Real Life Wedding Photographer