Not into the stiff posing in a field, or matching linen on the beach?

If the thought of standing in a field, staring lovingly into each other’s eyes while someone tells you where to put your hands makes you want to crawl out of your skin — you’re not alone.

Couple photos don’t have to be overly romantic, perfectly posed, or even particularly serious. In fact, some of the best sessions happen when you forget about taking photos and actually have something to do.

If you want photos together but traditional couple photography just isn’t your thing, here are a few ideas that feel more like a date and less like a photoshoot.

1. Go to an Arcade

Arcades are basically made for couples who don’t know what to do in front of a camera.

Play air hockey. Get competitive over basketball. Squeeze into a photo booth. Attempt to win something ridiculous from a claw machine. Wander around under all the neon lights.

There’s constant movement, plenty of colour, and most importantly — something else to focus on besides the camera.

An arcade couples photoshoot also works incredibly well if you love a nostalgic, colourful or slightly retro look. (have a look at my "Creative Session" tab in my portfolio)

2. Have a Pub Date

Grab a beer, order some chips and take over the corner booth.

A pub, bar or brewery can make a surprisingly good photoshoot location, especially for couples who want their photos to feel casual rather than overly romantic.

Think sitting across from each other, playing pool, choosing songs on the jukebox, leaning against the bar or walking outside together at the end of the night.

It feels much more like documenting an actual date — because it basically is.

3. Go Bowling

Bowling alleys have everything: weird carpet, old signs, colourful shoes, fluorescent lighting and plenty of opportunities to make fun of each other.

Instead of worrying about posing, you can actually bowl.

And yes, being terrible at it arguably makes the photos better.

4. Hit the Record Store

If music is a big part of your relationship, head somewhere you can flip through records together.

Pick albums for each other. Find the most questionable cover in the shop. Show me the record you played constantly when you first started dating.

Locations like this naturally give you something to interact with, which makes getting candid couple photos considerably easier.

5. Go to the Beach — But Skip the Traditional Beach Photos

A beach photoshoot doesn't automatically mean matching linen outfits and walking barefoot along the shoreline.

Bring takeaway. Go swimming. Sit in the back of the car with the boot open. Eat fish and chips. Bring a surfboard. Crack open a couple of drinks. Run straight into the water fully clothed if you're feeling brave.

The location doesn't determine what your photos have to look like.

What you actually do there does.

6. Take Me to Your Favourite Date Spot

This is one of my favourites because it makes your photos immediately more personal.

Where do you actually go together?

Maybe it's the coffee shop you visit every Saturday morning. The pub where you had your first date. Your favourite takeaway place. The beach you always end up at. The lookout where you park and talk for hours.

It doesn't need to be objectively beautiful.

If it means something to you, we can make it work.

7. Have a Stay-at-Home Session

You don't technically have to go anywhere.

Make coffee. Cook breakfast. Put a record on. Sit on the kitchen bench. Make cocktails. Play cards. Dance badly around the lounge room.

Home sessions can feel incredibly relaxed because you're already somewhere familiar.

They're also perfect if you're more introverted and the idea of having your photo taken in public sounds significantly worse than having your photo taken at all.

8. Go for a Drive

If you have a cool old car, ute, 4WD or even just a car that's somehow become part of your relationship, use it.

Pick a destination, put together a playlist and make an afternoon of it.

We can stop along the way, shoot at a servo, pull over somewhere interesting or photograph you hanging out around the car.

It can be simple and still look bloody good.

9. Make It Weird

This is where things get fun.

Have your photos taken at a laundromat.

Go to the supermarket.

Find an old motel.

Have a picnic in a car park.

Go roller skating.

Dress like you're heading to a questionable 1970s nightclub.

Recreate your first date.

Base the entire session around your favourite movie.

Build the concept around a song you both love.

There really aren't many rules here.

If you message your photographer with, "Okay, this might sound weird..." you're probably onto something good.

10. Just Do Something You Actually Like Doing Together

Ultimately, this is the easiest way to plan couple photos when you hate traditional couple photos.

Don't start by asking:

"What are we supposed to do for our photoshoot?"

Start with:

"What do we actually like doing together?"

Your photos don't need to look like anyone else's engagement session, Pinterest board or Instagram feed.

If you're homebodies, stay home.

If you're loud and competitive, let's go somewhere you can play something.

If you spend your weekends camping, take me camping.

If your idea of romance is takeaway and sitting in the back of the ute, perfect.

If you want to dress up and wander through town at night, let's do that instead.

The session should fit the two of you — not the other way around.

"But We're Awkward in Photos"

Almost everyone tells photographers this.

You don't need to arrive knowing how to pose, where to look or what to do with your hands.

Choosing a session with an activity already takes away a huge amount of that pressure. Instead of constantly thinking about the camera, you're talking, moving, laughing and interacting with each other.

I'll still give you direction when you need it. I might move you into better light, give you something to do or gently adjust where you're standing.

But you don't need to perform being a couple for the camera.

You already know how to be together.

That's the bit worth photographing.

Couple Photography Can Be Whatever You Want It to Be

There is absolutely nothing wrong with beautiful, traditional couple portraits.

But they aren't the only option.

Your couples session can be colourful, nostalgic, quiet, messy, cinematic, playful, romantic, weird or somewhere in between.

It can happen at sunset on a beach.

Or underneath fluorescent lights in an arcade.

Both can be beautiful.

So if you've been putting off booking a couples photoshoot because you're convinced you're "not photo people," maybe you don't hate having your photo taken.

Maybe you just haven't found the kind of photoshoot that feels like you yet.

Looking for a couples photographer in Rockhampton or Central Queensland? I photograph relaxed couples sessions and creative concepts built around the people in front of my camera. Bring me your date-night ideas, strange locations and the messages that start with "hear me out..." — those are usually the fun ones.