Prioritise Emotion Over Perfection: Michele Aboud on How to Photograph Couples

The camera can be an intimidating barrier to your subjects, yet it can also serve as a window to genuine human relationships. 

After decades of photographing people, I've learned that capturing authentic emotion isn't about technical perfection, but creating moments of honesty. The camera can be an intimidating barrier, but also serve as a window to genuine human relationships, which makes it so interesting to capture the bond between a couple. 

I encountered a universal truth when photographing The Loveables series for Harper's Bazaar, a Valentine’s Day assignment. Almost everyone says, "I hate having my photo taken" and I understand how self-conscious a lens can make you feel. Through playfulness, curiosity, and a disarming approach, I create trust, allowing their true selves to shine in an authentic, heartfelt way.

The key isn't to fight this resistance, but to dissolve it through genuine curiosity and a light-hearted attitude.

While shooting Gene and Dan, I discovered their most intimate moments were late-night city wanderings, talking until dawn. This informed how I approached their portrait - capturing quiet intimacy rather than grand gestures.

The key ingredients to a standout relationship are listening, honesty, and compromise. Open communication is essential; there’s no point in being with someone who won’t share where they’re at in the relationship. And let’s not forget the importance of being playful and a little cheeky; it keeps it alive and fun. 

Sometimes, the most powerful relationships aren't romantic at all. When photographing Margo and Lady Pandora (her purebred Maine Coon cat), I witnessed a bond as genuine as any human relationship. The woman who once turned down Elvis Presley found her perfect companion in a cat.

Cirque du Soleil performers Olivia and Nelson’s professional precision could have led to overly-posed shots. Instead, I looked for the small gestures between performances - the shared glances and hand positions that revealed their genuine connection.

Technical excellence matters, but it should serve emotion, not overshadow it. Endless fussing with lights and equipment can unnerve the subjects. I create an environment where subjects can forget about the camera and focus on each other. Sometimes, this means stepping back. Other times, it means engaging in conversation until the camera becomes invisible.

Fundamentally, photographing love isn't about capturing perfection - it's about documenting truth. Whether it's the bond between performers who found romance across continents, long-term partners who still wander cities at midnight, or a woman who found companionship in an unexpected form, the key is creating space for real moments to emerge.