If you are like most brides, your wedding day may be the first occasion on which you have a professional photoshoot! So, don’t be surprised if you are nervous about the whole experience. Fortunately, a little planning and preparation can help you be your photogenic best and have wedding photos that look amazing.
I’ve come up with some tips to get you started on your adventure!
Book an engagement photoshoot
This is huge and I can’t recommend it highly enough! For a couple of reasons…
- You find out what to expect at your wedding photoshoot and it provides you the opportunity to become familiar with your wedding photographer’s style of working. Once you strike a rapport with your photographer (and I promise you will!) you can then relax about your Wedding Day. You will spend as much time with your photographer on your wedding day as anyone else, getting to know them prior to the day makes a massive difference.
- You will be delighted with the photos! Without exception, all my newly engaged couples can’t believe how great they look in their images and of course this alleviates a LOT of the anxiety that comes with the first-time-photo-shoot self doubt.
Have your smile dazzle
A dazzling smile is a wonderful accessory for any bride. Get a wedding-worthy smile by putting in a little effort before your wedding day. Brighten your teeth with whitening toothpaste, or have a dentist polish your teeth till they sparkle. The lipstick colour you wear will also affect the brightness of your smile. Colours with a blue overtone make teeth appear brighter. Unless your teeth are pure white, stay away from red and brown hues that give teeth a yellow appearance.
Choose your makeup carefully
Certain cosmetics do not look good in pictures. So, be careful when you choose your wedding day makeup. I certainly suggest that you have a trial makeup session, and see how your choice of makeup translates in pictures. Snap photos of your bridal look in different lights. This will allow you to make necessary changes if you aren’t happy with the results you see. On your wedding day, use slightly more makeup than you usually do. However, try to keep the look natural, you can definitely over do it. And please RESIST THE FAKE TAN! Your skin colour is perfect for you and will look gorgeous in the photos!
Keep hair away from your face
Unruly hair that flies into your face can spoil your wedding pictures. If your wedding is at an outdoor venue like the beach, keep your hair off your face with hairpins and setting spray. If you leave your hair open, ensure that it is manageable. Choose a hairstyle that highlights your facial features and also suits the contours of your face. A few tendrils look great, but too many curls will look artificial and can cover the face in what could have been a gorgeous protrait.
Be comfortable & always communicate with your photographer
Some poses can make you uncomfortable, and this will reflect in the pictures. If you aren’t happy about striking certain poses, don’t hesitate to say something to your photographer. The key is to be comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera, and your photos will look amazing. The best pictures are often the candid in-between-the-poses shots, where you take your attention off the camera. Some of my couples I only instruct when necessary, if what they are doing together naturally looks beautiful I run with it! And there are others that benefit from more direction. These are all conversations to have with your photographer prior to the day. This is your day, be a demand on your photographer to deliver! I know I love it when my couples are that way with me!
Relax and surrender to the experience, it can be a load of fun!
You will look most photogenic in pictures that capture your personality! Keep this in mind and be yourself on your wedding day. Don’t be obsessed with the camera. Just relax, have fun and trust your photographer to do the rest. Enjoy every special moment, and your wedding pictures will also reflect the happiness perfection of your day.
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