Feelings in Frame
Images are so much more than the sum of their parts. Each captured smile reflects a shared memory. The exposure reveals a tender glance, while the composition frames the irreplaceable connection between you and your forever person. Photography is the art of illuminating these emotional moments. Western Australia Wedding and Bride’s Hannah McDonald sits down with Amy Jaye Sansom, owner of Sunny Daze Lovers, to discuss her philosophy on this distinct art form – from clicks to connections.
Image courtesy of Sunny Daze Lovers.
Sansom considers it the greatest honour of her work to be welcomed into such a sacred day, filled with meaningful moments shared between two people. “I just love to capture people and emotions; that’s at the heart of all my work. It’s pretty cool being able to capture people’s best day ever!” This passion is the foundation for Sansom’s assertion that “wedding photography should be more than just staged perfection for social media. It should be raw, real and deeply personal – preserving not just how your day looked, but how it felt.”
As with anything, it’s the little moments that flicker with vulnerability and humanity that hold the most meaning – and weddings are no different. “At the heart of my photography is a deep belief that your wedding day isn’t just about the aesthetics – it’s about the feeling. The laughter, the quiet in-between moments, the electric energy of the dance floor, the way your partner looks at you when they think no one else is watching. I’m here to capture that”, Sansom affirms.
Trust First, Photos Second
After years behind the camera, Sansom understands the vital ingredient to snapping the shots with heart – trust. “It means absolutely everything. They are trusting you to be able to capture the best day of their lives. There should be a huge trust formed before you even get to the big day,” she says. The couple’s confidence and assurance are evident in the final product – and perhaps felt even more strongly in their absence. “The best photos come when you feel comfortable, seen and celebrated for who you truly are. If there is no trust, good luck getting any good candids,” she cautions.
Because trust is essential to capturing the emotion between a couple – and ultimately within the photo – Sansom has a thoughtful process to ensure it’s nurtured. She prioritises gentle, supportive guidance to encourage natural movement over stiff, posed shots. She also creates a judgment free space and leads with openness and honesty herself – setting the tone by example. “I think that my approach to the day leaves couples feeling super relaxed – not up in their face with a camera. I will have lots of phone calls before, so I know that our personalities work well. You can definitely tell when a couple isn’t feeling it and it’s better to work with the flow. The best compliment I can get on a wedding day is the couple feeling as though I’m not even there.”
Emotions Unfiltered
To have the look of love captured in every image, Sansom points to style and instincts. “I feel as a doco-styled photographer, you can give directions when needed. You can tell when something is about to happen. Don’t mess with the natural moments and if you feel your couple starting to feel awkward that’s when you can step in.”
In moments of stiffness between couples, Sansom has a go-to technique to snap shots of warmth and intimacy. “One of my favourite prompts to do is to get the couple all close and cosy towards the end of the session. Once they are more relaxed, I get them to whisper either something dirty or a joke in each other’s ears. It always creates the best smiles.”
A particular example where this produced some golden shots, was between two high school sweethearts, where the moment captured the true history between them. “Those photos were pure joy – her head thrown back laughing, his eyes crinkled in the biggest grin, their bodies moving naturally together. You could feel the years of love and friendship between them in every frame.
It wasn’t about perfect poses – it was about them being exactly who they are. That’s what I always aim to capture: the essence of a couple’s connection, in all its messy, magical, beautiful realness,” she asserts.
Lens Lessons
With so much experience in the field, Sansom has a few pointers for you to focus on when it comes to being photographed on your big day. As already iterated, trust is a major factor – and an element that needs to be developed before the camera even comes out. Knowing your vision is another pivotal point. “I would say the best thing to do is find out the style that you are wanting, down to how its captured and edited. And getting to know your photographer! This can make or break your photos,” she says.
In terms of the technical, Sansom advises on the finer details, as well as reminding brides about the need to be detail-oriented, while keep expectations in check. “Lighting and timing mean so much for photos. I understand that not every wedding day is the same and that couples have different wants and needs. But you can’t expect the golden hour photos if we don’t get portraits during golden hour.” Aside from these technical tid-bits, the true gold in photos comes through in the emotion between the subjects – which can only be revealed in a process of trust, vulnerability and where possible, dirty jokes.