One of the compliments that we often get about Kyo’s wedding portraits is, “We look so natural! Normally we hate being photographed and look so ‘fake,’ but somehow you captured our REAL smiles!”

How does Kyo do it?

Here are some “tricks” he uses to help you have fun and relax at your portrait session.

1. Be spur of the moment.

Although it’s always good to have a schedule and plan for each part of the wedding day, sometimes, it’s good to be open to unplanned moments. Some of our brides’ and grooms’ favorite photos weren’t necessarily part of the official “portrait session.”

Julia and Harold had the ULTIMATE unplanned portrait session. Their entire wedding was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene, and they had to get married at their rehearsal dinner the night before. All of downtown NYC was evacuating and the storm clouds were rolling in.

Right after they had their impromptu ceremony at the rehearsal restaurant, Kyo grabbed them and said, “Let’s take a few quick pictures outside.”

Then he got them to stand in the middle of the street in midtown Manhattan and kiss, with backlight coming from the cars’ headlamps.

It just took a minute, but it was a moment they’ll never forget, and a photograph with lots of meaning.

2. DO something.

What do we mean by this?

Who says the only way to have a portrait session is to stand up and smile straight into the camera? Why not do something you really, really love to do, and let your photographer unobtrusively capture the moment?

You could play frisbee, go on a bike ride, fly a kite, dance, play with your dogs — it’s your portrait session, you get to decide! One of our favorites is…

Eat ice cream!

We’ve had a few couples who took a break from the wedding day for sweet treats at their favorite ice cream shop, and the pictures were inevitably adorable.

3. Tell jokes.

OK, this one might be a no-brainer. Definitely line up some jokes to tell during the portrait session.

It doesn’t matter how bad they are.

Or, if one of you is actually funny, you’ve scored!

There is nothing in the world better than making each other laugh.

4. Go someplace different.

If you have time in your schedule, see if there are any interesting, striking spots near your ceremony or reception location. It’s nice to have portraits at the church or the reception venue, but it’s also wonderful to get a few incredible shots in a beautiful park, or with an unusual background, or in spot that has particular meaning for you.

Scout around, look at Google Maps, ask your friends.

Central Park was an obvious choice for Rebecca and Audy. It was on the way to their reception venue and it’s one of everyone’s favorite places for photographs in NYC for a good reason. It’s the very definition of photogenic.

Kai and Erica found a quirky spot for their portrait session: the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association in Kent, CT.

Who can avoid smiling when they’re clambering aboard an old lumber locomotive?

Julia and Grant took a detour after their ceremony for a stop at the Guggenheim Museum. Not only is it a dramatic and memorable place for wedding portraits, it’s also the spot where they had their first date.

So it was special to them… and fun for all the passers-by, too!

Nadira and Dave took some awesome portraits in front of a mural at their favorite tattoo parlor. Not your usual portrait location, but man, it worked perfectly!

5. Move.

Here’s an easy tip for natural-looking portraits: don’t stand still!

Dance, wiggle, run, jump… do anything to release your nervous energy and smile.

Or just take portraits while you’re literally “on the go,” like Nadira and David did when they took the subway to their ceremony together.

6. Be with friends.

Some of our clients like to be alone during their portrait session, but others invite their friends — furry or otherwise — to tag along. Sometimes it’s easier to relax when you have your favorite people (or dog, as the case may be) hanging out with you.

Morganne and Brian had their utterly sweet Golden Retriever there for the portraits.

Julia and Marina brought a few of their favorite people to their portrait session at Washington Avenue Pier in Philadelphia. We love this shot of Julia looking into Marina’s eyes, with one of their closest friends looking on in the background.