When it comes to your wedding day, there’s one part of the celebration that’s entirely about the two of you: your couple portraits. These aren’t just any photos — they’re the keepsakes that will live on your walls, in your album, and in your hearts forever. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this magical moment.
1. Light is Everything
The location and time of day will dramatically affect the look and feel of your portraits. Do you envision golden hour glow? Dreamy garden light? Dramatic dusk? Flash-lit editorial glamour? Maybe even something ethereal in the rain?
Natural light, especially outdoors, is a gift — both for you and for your photographer. If possible, plan your couple portraits outdoors. Trust me: it’s where the magic happens.
2. Give It Time
Here’s the truth: when the schedule starts to slip (and it often does), it’s usually the couple portraits that get cut short. While experienced photographers can work quickly, 5–10 minutes for the whole day simply isn’t enough to capture the kind of heartfelt, cinematic images most couples dream of.
This time is more than just photography — it’s a rare pocket of calm where you can pause, breathe, and take it all in together. If you’re also working with a videographer and/or content creator, even more time is needed.
I recommend carving out at least 45 minutes exclusively for couple portraits. You’ll never regret having more time — only less. You can spilt this across the day to make it feel less overwhelming too!
3. Just the Two of You
Your bridal party, family, and friends are amazing. But during your couple portraits, it’s important that it’s just you two. The energy shifts completely when there are eyes on you. It’s awkward, when it should be based upon love and connection and the freedom to just be together.
Even if you’re extroverted, this is the one time in the day where privacy matters most. Ask everyone else to step away, and let this time become a moment of presence, connection, and love — just the two of you. It makes all the difference, and the photos will show it.
4. Be Ready On Time
Chasing the sun on your wedding day is as stressful as it sounds. A complex or delayed timeline eats into the creative process and keeps you from being fully present.
The solution? Overestimate how long everything will take. Add buffer time. Plan for the unexpected. A calm, well-paced day leads to not only a better experience — but better photos. The more time and space we have, the more relaxed and artistic your portraits will be.
5. Expectations vs. Reality
Pinterest boards with 50+ shooting styles might seem helpful, but they often lead to unrealistic expectations. Recreating a wide variety of images takes time — more than you’ll usually have on the day.
A better approach? Share a small selection of inspiration images (5 max), ideally from your photographer’s own portfolio. This helps us understand what you love while still allowing space for authenticity, spontaneity, and flow. If you love multiple styles, consider adding an engagement session, pre-wedding shoot, or honeymoon session to capture a wider variety of your couple portraits together.
6. You Get What You Give
Beautiful portraits are a collaboration. As photographers, we bring the expertise — but we also need you. Your energy, your connection, your presence.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, upset about something, or not in the moment — it will show. And while we’ll do our best to guide you gently through, even the best editing can’t photoshop joy into a photo.
So take a deep breath. Be kind to yourself. Let go of what isn’t perfect. This moment is about love, not perfection. Show up as you are, and let us meet you there.
7. Trust Your Photographer
Sometimes, we’ll ask you to do something that feels odd — a slow walk, a dramatic turn, or a tiny tweak in posture. From the outside, it might feel strange. But on our side of the lens? It’s often the shot that you will awe over.
You chose your photographer for a reason — their vision, their editing, their shooting style. Trust them. Let go. And let us create something incredible for you.
In Closing…
I know couple portraits can feel intimidating — especially when light is fading, the day is moving fast, and expectations are high. But the truth is: the more you trust your team, the better the results.
Let yourself be fully in love, fully present, and fully supported. The best photos aren’t created from control — they’re born in joy, trust, and connection.
You’ve got this. And I’ve got you.
