Achieving Authentic Portraits
Lily Rose Photography is a Napa and Sonoma-based photography studio offering services to wedding, portrait, boudoir, and corporate clients in California.
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We feel honored to be part of every wedding and portrait session we photograph. It's not something we take lightly. We treat the people in front of our lens with care and respect—be it a wedding, a senior session, a family portrait, or a headshot. Our job is to document real connection, genuine emotion, and everything in between.
Weddings, especially, are filled with beauty and magic that happen on their own. Our job is to capture that—not manufacture it. I'm a hopeless romantic, in case you couldn't tell. We're often asked about our approach to posing or directing people during shoots, so we wanted to give some real answers.
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Our Approach to Posing and Coaching
We don't use the word "pose" as much as we use the word "guide." Most people aren't professional models. They're not supposed to know what to do in front of the camera. That's our job; to help you feel comfortable, relaxed, and natural. We'll guide you just enough to keep you engaged, but not so much that it feels stiff or overdone.
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We notice how you stand, how you interact, and how you laugh when something's funny. We lean into that. The way you hold your partner's hand or how your child leans into you during a family session; that's the good stuff. We provide guidance and encouragement to help bring it out naturally, without forcing it.
The more we keep you moving naturally, the more authentic the image, the stronger the photo, and the better your experience.
How We Handle Posing on a Wedding Day
Weddings are fast-moving and full of emotion. During the ceremony and candid moments, we take a documentary approach; we disappear into the background. During portraits, we shift into a more guided flow, using our experience to make sure the light is right, the background is clean, and you look and feel your best.
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We'll guide family groupings so they look natural and organized. We'll suggest a few poses for the couple that let them interact in real ways. We'll help you look polished without looking posed. And yes, we'll fix your hair if it's doing something weird; although, we cannot control the wind. 🌬️
Client Experience
Most of our clients tell us afterward, "We thought we'd feel awkward, but you made it easy." That's the goal. We don't believe in rigid posing or cheesy instructions. We want you to recognize yourselves in the photos. You should look at your images and see a moment, not a pose.
"They are professional and fun, and they take the kinds of photos you cannot wait to share with friends and frame on a wall." - Louis Gardella, September 2022
We also know when to step back. If a moment is unfolding naturally; laughter, emotion, connection, we let it play out. We'll photograph it without interfering. It's all about balance.
Style, Light, and Mood
Our style is a mix because weddings and portraits call for variety. We're documentary during the candid moments, fashion-inspired during portraits, classic for family groups, and creative when we see a chance for something unique. Light changes constantly on a wedding day or portrait shoot, we work with what's available and create light when needed. Sunlight, shade, flash, LED, we know how to handle it all.
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We also shoot film and digital, and we're experienced with alternative processes like Polaroids and darkroom printing. If you're into that, great. If not, that's okay too. It's just part of the toolbox we use to make your session feel more like you.
A Quick Bit About Us
Lily Rose Photography is a husband-and-wife team. We met at a bridal show and eventually merged our businesses. We've photographed hundreds of weddings and portraits together. We each bring different strengths to the table and push each other creatively. We're a little competitive; in a good way, and that only benefits our clients.
We also work with a select group of associate photographers who share our values and commitment to quality. Each one has been personally trained and mentored by us, and we trust them completely. They bring their strengths to the table while still maintaining the look, feel, and experience our clients expect from Lily Rose Photography. When you work with our team, you're still getting the same level of care, creativity, and professionalism that defines everything we do.
Best Advice?
We'll take care of the technical stuff. You show up and be yourself.
Here's the one thing we want you to remember: stay present. It all goes by fast. Whether it's your wedding day or a portrait session, the more connected you are to the moment, the more your images will reflect the real you.
You should look at your photos and remember how it felt; not just how it looked. If you're rushing through the day or thinking about what's next, those moments slip away. And they're your moments, not ours. We're just here to help you keep them.
"I don’t remember much from that day, but I have these moments, and seeing them makes me sooooo happy!" -Lily Li, August 31, 2019
Lily Rose Photography © 2006-2025 - (707) 603-9062 Address: 1055 Broadway, STE. E1, Sonoma, CA 95476 debbie@lilyrosephotography.com Privacy Terms of Use