How to Make Your Wedding Photos Feel Like YOU
Featuring Anna + Steve’s Pennsylvania Wedding
Here’s something I’ve learned after 24 years of photographing weddings: the prettiest photographs aren’t always the ones that mean the most. Don’t get me wrong. I love a gorgeous wedding portrait. Give me beautiful light, a dramatic wedding dress, and a couple who trusts me to get a little creative, and I’m in my element. But you know what I love even more? Photographs that actually feel like the people in them. The kind where you can almost hear someone’s laugh. Where you recognize that little look two people give each other. Where the people, the relationships, and all those wonderfully imperfect moments are what make the photographs beautiful. As a wedding photographer based in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, I’ve spent more than two decades photographing couples throughout Indiana County and Western Pennsylvania. And one thing has become increasingly important to me:
Your wedding photographs should look like your relationship. Not somebody else’s Pinterest board.
Anna and Steve’s wedding story is a perfect example of why.
It Starts With Who You Are, Not What You’re Wearing
Before I photograph a wedding, I like to get to know my couples. Not just what colors they’re using or how many bridesmaids they have. I want to know the good stuff. How did you meet? What makes you laugh? What are the little things you love about each other? What does an ordinary Tuesday look like in your world? Because those details tell me more about how to photograph you than any inspiration board ever could.
Anna and Steve met through mutual friends when they were just 19 years old. Steve would come over for bonfires at Anna’s parents’ house, and somewhere along the way, something clicked. Anna remembers noticing how tall Steve was, his amazing smile, and how genuinely sweet and kind he seemed. Steve remembers Anna wearing a beanie, thinking she was adorable, and being so nervous talking to her that he had trouble maintaining eye contact. I mean, come on. That’s adorable.
Their first date was golfing, which eventually became one of their favorite things to do together. And here’s my favorite little detail. Later that same day, they were at a summer yard party at a small-town bar, where Steve’s sister Michelle was apparently working overtime trying to play matchmaker. She had no idea they’d already gone on their first date. Sometimes the best love stories don’t need much help. Although I’m sure Michelle would still like to take a little credit. 😂
Your Relationship Has a Personality. Your Wedding Photos Should, Too.
Anna describes Steve as hardworking, patient, loving, and caring. He’s the calm, grounded one. Steve describes Anna as joyful, friendly, and loving. And according to Anna, she’s the one who gets him to live a little more on the wild side. They love golfing, camping, spending time with family, working on the farm, and lying outside watching the stars on summer nights. They’re building a life together, sharing hobbies, making plans, and finding reasons to laugh even when life gets chaotic. And THAT is the stuff I want to know. Because a couple who spends their evenings watching the stars on the farm might not need the same direction as a couple who loves getting dressed up and spending weekends in the city. Neither is better. They’re just different. Some couples are naturally affectionate. Others show their love by teasing each other relentlessly. Some are quiet and sentimental. Others can’t keep a straight face for more than five seconds. My job isn’t to make every couple behave the same way in front of my camera.
My job is to recognize who you already are and photograph that beautifully.
Yes, You Can Have Gorgeous Wedding Portraits AND Real Moments
Somewhere along the way, wedding photography started feeling like it had to be one thing or the other. Either perfectly posed, editorial-looking portraits or completely candid documentary photographs. But why can’t you have both? I believe you absolutely should.
Anna and Steve planned an elegant, sentimental, joyful wedding with a traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Nicktown, Pennsylvania, followed by a celebration at the Carrolltown Fire Engine Company Social Hall. They chose navy suits, mismatched dusty blue bridesmaid dresses, and white flowers. Anna wore a beautiful strapless satin gown with a detachable train, and she specifically wanted dramatic portraits on the staircase at Schwab Estate in Loretto. And listen, I’m never going to turn down an opportunity for a dramatic staircase portrait. 😂
Those photographs deserve their place in your wedding gallery. But so do the in-between moments. The nervous excitement before walking down the aisle. The expressions during the ceremony. The way your friends react when they see you. The hugs that last a little longer than expected. The moments that aren’t necessarily planned, but end up becoming some of your favorites. That’s why my approach combines beautiful, intentional portraits with documentary-style photography.
Sometimes I’ll give you direction because good lighting, flattering angles, and thoughtful composition matter. Other times, I’ll step back and let things happen. Knowing when to do each is something that comes with experience.
The Best Wedding Photographs Often Have Nothing to Do With the Wedding Decorations
Anna and Steve both come from families that are incredibly important to them. They planned a wedding with approximately 280 guests and a wedding party of 20 people. That’s a whole lot of people who have played a role in their lives. And while the flowers, dresses, and reception details are absolutely worth documenting, I always remind couples that the people are what make those details meaningful. Twenty years from now, you might not remember exactly how your centerpieces were arranged. But you’ll probably remember the way your dad looked at you before walking you down the aisle. You’ll remember your best friend laughing so hard she couldn’t finish her sentence. You’ll remember the people who traveled to celebrate with you, the hugs, the happy tears, and the completely ridiculous things your wedding party did. And as the years pass, those photographs often become more valuable. They’re not perfectly composed because they hold pieces of your life that you can’t get back. That’s why I pay attention to what’s happening around me, not just what’s happening directly in front of my camera.
How to Make Your Wedding Photos Feel More Natural
If you’re planning a wedding and you’re worried about looking awkward in photographs, here’s what I want you to know. You don’t have to be good at having your picture taken. Seriously. You don’t need to practice poses, memorize TikTok trends, or figure out what to do with your hands. That’s my department. But there are a few things that can make your photographs feel more like you.
1. Tell Your Photographer About Your Actual Relationship
Don’t just tell me what colors you’re wearing. Tell me about the first date. The inside jokes. The people who mean the most to you. Tell me if you’re naturally affectionate or if public displays of affection make you want to crawl into a hole. I can work with either. Promise.
2. Don’t Build Your Entire Wedding Day Around Photographs
I know that might sound strange coming from a wedding photographer. But hear me out. Your wedding isn’t supposed to be an eight-hour photo shoot. It’s supposed to be a celebration of your relationship. A thoughtful photography timeline gives us enough time to create beautiful portraits without making you feel like you’re constantly being pulled away from your own wedding. For Anna and Steve, that meant planning around a traditional church ceremony, family photographs afterward, and portraits at a separate location. Those logistics matter. Especially when you’re working with a large wedding party and multiple locations. The more thoughtfully we plan, the more freedom you have to actually enjoy the day.
3. Leave Room for the Unplanned
Some of my favorite wedding photographs have happened when absolutely nobody was paying attention to me. A spontaneous hug. A ridiculous dance move. Someone wiping away a tear when they think nobody notices. You can’t schedule every meaningful moment. And you shouldn’t try.
4. Choose a Photographer Whose Work Makes You Feel Something
When I asked Anna and Steve what attracted them to my photography, their answer stuck with me. They loved that my photographs tell stories and that each image feels unique and beautiful. That means a lot to me because that’s exactly what I’m trying to create. Not a collection of photographs that could belong to absolutely anybody. A collection that could only belong to you.
Your Wedding Photos Are Eventually Going to Become Your Family History
One of the things Anna and Steve mentioned was how excited they were to display their wedding photographs throughout their home and have an album in their living room. And I love that. Because while we’re photographing a wedding today, we’re also creating something that will outlive the wedding itself. Someday, those photographs might be sitting on a coffee table while their children flip through the pages. They’ll see how young their parents looked. They’ll recognize family members. They’ll laugh at the hairstyles, the dresses, and whatever trends we all thought were a good idea in 2026. And hopefully, they’ll see something else. The beginning of the life Anna and Steve were building together. A life that started with bonfires, a first date on the golf course, and a sunset proposal on an island green surrounded by water. A life filled with family, laughter, dogs named Winston and Willow, and summer nights under the stars. Those are the things that make their story theirs. And that’s what I hope their photographs will always remind them of.
Your Story Deserves to Look Like Your Story
After 24 years of photographing weddings, I can tell you that trends will come and go. Editing styles will change. Dress styles will change. The poses everyone is obsessed with this year will eventually look a little dated. But genuine emotion? That never goes out of style. So yes, let’s create the beautiful portraits. Let’s find the good light, make that dress look incredible, and give you photographs you’re excited to hang on your walls. But let’s also make room for the laughter, the nerves, the happy tears, the ridiculous inside jokes, and all those little moments that make your relationship different from everyone else’s. Someday, when you look back at your wedding photographs, I don’t just want you to remember what your wedding looked like. I want you to remember what it felt like.
If you’re planning a wedding in Indiana County, Cambria County, Blairsville, or anywhere throughout Western Pennsylvania and want photographs that feel beautiful, personal, and genuinely you, I’d love to hear your story.
Let’s Talk About Your Wedding Photography
Frequently Asked Questions About Natural Wedding Photography
How do we get candid wedding photos if we’re awkward in front of the camera?
You don’t need to know how to pose. An experienced photographer can give you simple direction, create opportunities for natural interaction, and recognize when to step back. The goal isn’t to pretend the camera doesn’t exist every second. It’s to help you feel comfortable enough that your real personalities come through.
Should we make a Pinterest board for our wedding photographer?
Absolutely, if it helps communicate what you love. Pinterest can be useful for showing lighting preferences, overall style, or specific photographs that matter to you. Just remember that your wedding will have different people, locations, lighting, and moments. Use inspiration as a starting point, not a checklist that your entire wedding day has to recreate.
Can we have both posed and candid wedding photographs?
Yes, and I recommend it. Traditional family portraits, beautiful couple photographs, and thoughtfully composed wedding party images are important. So are the unscripted moments throughout the day. A well-rounded wedding gallery should include both.
How much time should we allow for wedding portraits?
It depends on your wedding party size, family photo list, locations, and whether you’re doing a first look. If you’re traveling between a church, portrait location, and reception venue, that travel time needs to be included. I help my couples build photography timelines that allow for beautiful portraits without sacrificing the celebration.
Do we need a first look to get natural wedding photographs?
Not at all. A first look can make the timeline easier and provide a private moment together, but it isn’t required. If you prefer to see each other for the first time during the ceremony, we can plan your portraits afterward. The important thing is creating a realistic schedule.
