Think you’re ‘too awkward’ for an Engagement Photoshoot? Think again!

When Gemma first told me she and Mitch didn’t really have any “proper” photos together - just the odd selfie here and there - I knew they were exactly the kind of couple who think they’ll feel awkward in front of the camera.

They booked their engagement session because they wanted some cool photos, yes. But more than that, they wanted to feel prepared for their wedding day. To shake off the nerves. To prove to themselves they could actually enjoy being photographed.

Their love story started, quite iconically, with a single “:)” message online. No words. Just vibes. Somehow that tiny emoji led to their first date at the Spring & Fern in Berhampore, Wellington on May 18th, 2023 and the rest fell into place from there. Fast forward to moving in together with Alex the Labrador (professional treat detector), Charlie the chomp-happy cat, and Guinness (Mitch’s undisputed favourite child). Add in competitive Halo vs Mortal Kombat battles, and you’ve got a relationship built on humour, comfort and just the right amount of chaos.

Mitch proposed on March 7th, 2025 at their favourite Belgian bar, and a year later they’ll say “I do” at his family church in Appleby, the same place generations before him have married. Sentimental, steady, and very them.

When we met at Rabbit Island for their engagement shoot, the weather kept us on our toes. We squeezed the session in between downpours, laughing as we watched the clouds roll in and out. Gemma and Mitch were super nervous beforehand — the classic “we’re going to be awkward” energy.

And then? They surprised themselves.

I don’t do stiff poses. I give prompts, I direct when needed, and we keep moving. It feels more like hanging out with a mate who happens to have a camera. We chat. A lot. I use that time to genuinely get to know my couples, so by the time the camera comes up, it doesn’t feel like a performance. It just feels like them.

By the end, they were relaxed, laughing, leaning into each other without thinking about where their hands were. That’s always the shift I love to see! When couples realise they don’t need to “be good at photos.” They just need to show up as themselves.

If you’re worried you’ll feel awkward, you’re probably my kind of people. And like Gemma and Mitch, you might just surprise yourself.