People. They’re at the heart of my passion-turned-business and the reason I genuinely love what I do every single day.
After working with so many incredible humans over the years, I’ve learned a LOT about how to navigate sessions with all kinds of personalities. And let’s be real, getting people comfortable in front of a camera can take a minute! Breaking the ice, shaking off the nerves, and helping clients feel like themselves used to feel stressful… but now? It’s something I fully embrace (and honestly really enjoy!). I love walking alongside my clients during their session as we find their comfort zone together.
That journey usually involves me doing a little delicate dance between posing and directing. This is where my creativity really comes alive - guiding, encouraging, and helping clients see the vision for their session. It’s also where trust comes into play… and let me tell you, it ALWAYS pays off (like, pinky promise 🤍).
There are benefits to both posing and directing, but the results are very different which is why I always do a mix of both! If a client is feeling a bit unsure or camera-shy at first (totally normal!), starting with posed photos is a great way to build confidence and help them settle in.
Posing offers predictability and a sense of security in those first moments while we’re getting to know each other. It’s also a fun way to play with props, fine-tune details, or capture more polished images depending on the goals of the session. BONUS: these photos make perfect Christmas gifts for the relatives who will absolutely not stop asking for updated photos 😄
There are a few instructions clients will almost always hear me say while posing…
“Foreheads together, place your hand on his beard.”
“Kiss them on the forehead/shoulder/etc.”
“Chin down. Let your eyes drop without closing them.”
Once clients have warmed up (because they always do!), I transition into directing and this is where the real magic happens. Directing allows me to capture candid smiles, gentle touches, and genuine moments that even the best posing instructions just can’t recreate. These are usually the photos clients are MOST excited to see because they have no idea what each click of my camera is catching as they follow the promts.
When clients are simply “doing their thing,” I’m able to capture images that show them the beauty of their everyday life - the laughter, the connection, the love. Those photos? They’re my favorite. Whether it’s a bride laughing with her girlfriends or a husband gazing at his wife of 60 years, those are the moments I want my clients to relive every time they look back at their photos.
Some of my go-to prompts include fun things like:
“Tickle fight!”
“Hold hands and walk toward me like you’re a little tipsy while bumping into each other.”
“Give your sister the biggest hug you can!”
My approach to each session is always evolving, but one thing stays the same: I always pose AND direct so my clients get the best of both worlds. That said, I definitely lean heavy into directing and candids because they’re so much fun and so full of life.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to make EVERY client feel comfortable, confident, and totally “directable” ✨
XO Lindsey
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