Hello! If you’re new around here, we’re Jen and Steve AKA The Fox & The Hare Photography. We attribute Jen as the Hare since she’s quick like a bunny and tries to be everywhere at once with her camera. Steve is the stealthy fox, using a photojournalistic style so you’ll hardly know he’s there.

SPOILER ALERT: We aren’t models!

Sure, as photographers being photographed sort of comes with the territory. We’re used to it. We spend our days helping others feel comfortable in front of the camera, so at this point we know what to expect and feel more at ease. We take photos of each other while on vacation or regularly stand in for test shots at weddings. We were photographed for our Our 2019 Engagement Session, Our 2020 Backyard Ceremony, and Our 2021 Postponed Wedding. I guess trying for multiple attempts to get married in the middle of the pandemic allowed us to really get comfortable in front of the camera – lol! But all jokes aside, this is precisely why we highly recommend doing an engagement session with us. If we photograph you more than once, you’ll feel SO much more comfortable with us by the time your wedding day rolls around.

But, ok so we’ve done it before. It’s not like we are super comfortable with it. (Heck, that’s why most photographers get into this line of work – we’re all basically a bunch of introverts! And it typically starts with photographing objects or scenes ….and then one day you’re like “Hey – this could be my job!” And if you want to make any sort of living doing this, you’re going to have to come out of your shell and help direct people. Almost everything about this process is out of our comfort zone and why most of us stay behind the camera, as opposed to in front of the lens. Sure, there are plenty of extroverted photographers out there who also happen to model! (They exist. But we can’t all be Tyra Banks) We’re here to tell you, we’re not those people.

So if you’re camera shy… we fully get it.

Just remember: You don’t have to like having your photo taken – you just need to like who you’re taking those photos with. 

– Fox & Hare

By 2023, we finally had some much needed TLC given to our website and branding. With a new website launch – we knew what was coming. When the web developers asked for the “About Us” page photos, we knew we needed to update.

We had been using our wedding photos, which are still some of our favorites of all time by Off Beet Productions!! And we felt like it helped humanize us, having our couples see us as a bride and groom. But for the new website launch we wanted to really show off our brand and who we are as photographers. So a new branding shoot was in order.

BIG THANK YOU to Alyssa with Oceans to Mountains Photography for meeting us at Wawayanda State Park last July to get these branding photos done! She helped us feel comfortable, and the couple of drinks we brought with us helped, too. 😉

And now! After a long gap since our wedding & engagement photos, we want to share our perspective of getting photographed again with you all!

It was super important to us that we look casual and friendly, but also like seasoned professionals. We’ve been in the industry since 2010. We felt relatively calm about this. HOWEVER, figuring out what you’re going to wear IS stressful. It’s something we totally forgot about.

You don’t have to run out and get an entirely new wardrobe, but getting some new clothes does help. You feel fresh, modern and a little elevated. Couples always ask us about colors. We prefer neutral & muted earthy tones. Mostly because it’s easier to coordinate with one another.

It was important to us that we take some portraits with our cameras and some without to remind everyone we aren’t just photographers – we are people just like you!

Pro Tips to Easily Change up your Look

Doing a quick swap of pants for a skirt and removing or adding a sweater changed up my look. It’s super easy to bring some layers or accessories to mix it up!

Steve also had a fresh buzz and I had my hair + makeup done. I always prefer a natural look, I want to look like myself. But with curly hair, I always just like to make sure it’s manageable when I’m having my photos done. And having light makeup professionally done just helps me feel a little more photo-ready.

Get Weird.

Pick each other up, give each other piggy back rides, dance. MOVE your body. It’ll help relieve jitters and help you feel more at-ease.

If you aren’t so able-bodied, there’s a way to just shift your limbs and overall body-language to create movement – even if you’re seated. Especially with laughter! The main goal is to just not appear stiff as a board. Let your personalities shine.

Don’t worry about PDA. Be loving. Embrace each other. There are other ways to connect – you don’t necessarily need to be kissing the whole time. But if you’re looking at the person you love and just feel like plantin’ one on em – go for it! It’ll be so much more authentic than when we tell you to do it. Also don’t wait for our permission!!

Get Messy

Kick off your shoes, put your toes in the sand. Play in the water. You’re only on this planet once so just LIVE – you can wash your dirty clothes when you get home.

Closing Thoughts

Not going to lie, being photographed can feel weird. Especially by yourself. But the beauty of a couple’s session is that you’re feeding off one another’s energy. You can start to ignore the camera. You’re aware of it, but it’s so much better to focus on each other. You’ll eventually get more playful and the candids will follow.

It’s a bit of a whirlwind and we forgot how much goes into preparing. But you can take it as far as you’d like. Sure nails, hair, makeup, clothes, fresh hair cuts, and overall feeling good about yourself and comfortable in your skin are huge factors. But it’s not about any of that at the end of the day. By the time the sun was setting on our session with Alyssa, our clothes were wet, feet were sandy, we smelled like the lake and I’m pretty sure Steve smeared most of my makeup off – lol. But you leave on a high. You leave feeling more present and aware and in love with each other than when you arrived. All your senses are heightened and activated. You remember how the Summer air smelled. You remember the feeling of slight warmth as you acclimated to the cool water. You remember the turkey vultures in the woods you were avoiding, the inside jokes you told each other to make each other laugh. The way you held each other. The fun and joy you experienced. We’re so glad we had the opportunity to get in front of the camera again.

Take all the photos, whether or not you have your makeup done – because life is too short!