Here are gentle, simple ways to help you feel fully at ease.
1. Choose a Photographer Who Matches Your Energy
If two shy people were in the same room together, they would have a hard time communicating with each other because they are so quiet. You’re not necessarily looking for an introverted individual, a calm photographer creates a calm experience. Just enough to listen and nudge you in the direction you’re comfortable with.
2. Start With a Low-Pressure Engagement Session
No audience, no rush. That’s the beauty of an engagement session. You’re not put on the spot light, so really you can be yourself throughout the whole session. Almost like having the house to yourself, but with your favorite person. Just gentle, natural moments that show who you really are when in love.
3. Choose Familiar or Comfortable Locations
Granted Chicago is a hustling and bustling type city, but you can make it all work for you. Coffee shops, quiet parks, bookstores, or your home. It’s your call when it comes to your comfort level.
4. Focus on Each Other, Not the Camera
There is something about being with the one you love that makes you forget everything around you. Look at one another more often than you look at me, it helps and it makes the moment genuine and it helps forget the person in front of you with camera. By then, you’ll get comfortable enough to except me as a friend with a camera.
5. Expect Gentle Direction
You never need to pose yourselves. The only thing you are really responsible for on a session, is showing up. You shouldn’t be on hook for knowing what to do, otherwise you’d be a professional couple. Not too many of those around if you ask me. I’ll guide quietly so that there’s nothing to think about.
6. Allow Yourself to Be Quiet
Stillness photographs is also beautifully. If this whole world was just you two, then nothing would restrain you from being yourselves. My job is not only to help you with the vision of it all, but to step back and document the moment when the magic happens.
7. Trust the Process
You don’t need to think about angles, poses, location or lighting. That’s what I do for you. Even the small things matter, like an awkward position or a stray hair in your face. It’s what I’ve been training all these years for. You’re in good hands.
Just be yourselves.
If you’re camera-shy or introverted, you deserve an experience that feels comfortable and unrushed.
I’m always glad to help if this approach feels right for you.