I've been a Calgary wedding photographer for 20 years now, and in that time I've photographed weddings everywhere from right here at home out to Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise and all across the Rockies. If you asked me what makes the biggest difference in how a couple's photos turn out, you might expect me to say the light, the location or the camera.
It's none of those. It's the couple's mindset.
So here's my opinion, and I'll own it: Type B brides tend to get better photos than Type A brides.
Now, before any Type A brides close this tab, stay with me. This isn't a dig. Some of my favourite couples have been colour-coded-spreadsheet people, and I love them for it. But after two decades behind the camera I've noticed a pattern worth talking about. And by the end of this post, I'm going to show you how to borrow the best parts of being Type B on your wedding day without giving up the planning that makes you you.
What I Mean by "Type A" and "Type B"
Quick definitions, and none of these labels are meant to stick.
Type A is the planner. There's a timeline down to the minute, a Pinterest board with a few hundred pins, a shot list, and one eye on the clock at all times.
Type B is the go-with-the-flow type. There's a rough plan, a lot of trust in the people around them, and a shrug when things change.
Most of us are a mix of both. And honestly, planning isn't the problem. Where it shows up in photos is on the day itself, when the planning brain keeps running in the background instead of switching off.
Why Relaxed Couples Get More Genuine Photos
They're actually present
A camera can't fake presence. When you're fully in a moment, hearing your partner's vows or watching your dad tear up, your face showst it. When half your brain is wondering whether the boutonnières made it to the groomsmen, your face shows that too. I can find you beautiful light, but I can't photograph a feeling that isn't there.
They laugh (a lot)
The best portraits I've ever made almost always happen *in between* the "real" shots. The posed frame is nice. The frame two seconds later, when one of you says something ridiculous and you both crack up, is the one that ends up on the wall. Relaxed couples give me those in-between moments constantly, because they're not waiting for the "real" picture to be over.
They roll with the weather
If you're getting married anywhere near the mountains, you already know the forecast is more of a suggestion. Rain can roll in over the peaks with ten minutes' warning. A Type B couple grabs an umbrella, pulls each other close and says, "Well, this'll be memorable." And it is. Moody clouds, glowing wet pavement, two people tucked under one umbrella laughing at the sky: some of the most dramatic images I've ever made came from days that were "ruined" on paper.
They don't watch the clock
It happens at almost every wedding: hair and makeup runs long, a shuttle is late, and suddenly the timeline is 30 minutes behind. A Type B couple says, "Eh, we'll catch up." A Type A couple often feels that half hour in their shoulders and jaw, and that tension shows up in photos. I've been doing this long enough to know where time can be found. We'll get the shots. Your job is just to enjoy the day.
They trust their photographer
When you trust me to find the light, keep an eye on the timeline and spot the moments, you stop performing for the camera and start living your day. That's exactly what I want to photograph.
They say yes to the real thing
When your wedding day is full of real moments instead of a shot list, your gallery becomes a story you can relive. That is the difference between photos that look nice and photos that feel like you. And it is the difference between a wedding that feels like a performance and one that feels like a party.
What this looks like in real weddings
I've photographed this kind of couple all over Alberta and the Canadian Rockies, and the photos always have the same quality: motion, laughter, a little bit of mess, and two people who are clearly just happy to be there.
Private vows in the storm
On a windswept day near Canmore, two people read their vows to each other while the sky did its thing. No one else was listening. Those are the photos I come home and think about: the wind, the clouds, and a couple who forgot to pose.
A rainy day that still felt like a party
When it started raining, they shared an umbrella and kept laughing. The mountains were right there, dramatic and a little wild, and the wedding was better for the weather.
Christina, the fire bride
After their wedding, Christina and Bryce climbed onto a fire truck. She looked composed, radiant, and completely herself. A little fire on the day is just part of the story, and it made the photos.
A veil and the mountains
In Banff, a long veil caught the wind and the mountains were doing the rest of the work. I barely had to direct anything. That is the whole point of this post.
If this sounds like your wedding
You do not need a bigger venue, a longer timeline, or a more "polished" day. You need a wedding where you can actually be yourself. If you are still deciding, Check if your date is available and get in touch here, and I will tell you honestly whether your day is the kind of day I love to photograph.
For couples who want a few more ideas before they get in touch, the wedding guide is a good place to start.
Check if your date is available and get in touch here (https://www.tkshotz.com/). And if you want a head start on planning a low-stress day, have a look through my wedding guide (https://www.tkshotz.com/guide/).