10 Ways To Look Great In Your Wedding Photos

One of the things that many people are most nervous about on their wedding day isn’t tripping on the walk up the aisle, or even signing their life away – it’s the wedding photos!  It’s very common to feel self conscious in front of the camera and when faced with something as important as preserving your big day forever on film, you’d be forgiven for worrying about looking your best.  The day you get married is without doubt one of the best of your life and the very fact that you’re so happy and in love is enough to make your photography magical – as long as you can relax and let it shine through!

Read on for our tips on looking film-star flawless in each and every shot…

1. Choose your photographer carefully.  Research the type of photos you like and meet a few photographers to see whose style and way of working you think will suit you and your wedding best.  If you feel comfortable with your photographer, your wedding photos will automatically look better.

2. Think about venue.  You will only look luminous in the photos if your photographer has plenty of natural light to work with so do consider this when viewing potential venues, especially if you’re having an autumn or winter wedding when weather might force you indoors.

3. Practice makes perfect!  You are guaranteed to feel like a prize idiot doing it but practicing facial expressions in the mirror is a great way to prepare for your wedding photos.  Practise smiling and serious faces and focus on the way your facial muscles feel when striking these poses – that way you’ll be able to recreate them without a mirror.

4. Have an engagement shoot.  Many photographers offer this as part of their wedding package and it’s a great way to build up a relationship with them so you can relax on the big day.  There will also be much more time for your photographer to guide you in terms of which poses work for you individually, and as a couple.

5. Have your make-up done professionally.  A make-up artist will know how to accentuate your best features for the camera whilst ensuring you still look like your beautiful self, and professionally applied make up will last all day long so you’ll look great well into the wee hours.

6. Make sure your outfit is comfortable.  If your shoes are hurting, it will show in your face, and if your veil gets caught every time a guest gives you a hug, you’ll be grimacing in every shot!  The more comfortable and practical your outfit, the more you’ll be able to relax and this makes for prettier photos.

7. Do what it takes to feel good in your skin – make a commitment to shifting those stubborn few pounds, hit the gym to tone up your bingo wings or even have your teeth professionally whitened to make your smile sparkle – if it makes you feel good, you’ll look good too.

8. Strike a pose!  Take a tip from the Hollywood elite and learn how to stand in photos – one foot slightly in front of the other, one shoulder turned slightly to camera will elongate your body.  Avoid double chins by not looking down and hold your arms slightly away from your body to make them look slimmer.  Just don’t overdo it!

9. If you’re worried about having a cheesy grin in your photos, try looking away from camera with a straight face and then breaking into smile as your turn to face the lens for a more natural look.  Or get the best man to tell a few jokes!

10. Relax and have fun.  More than anything else, your own happiness on the biggest day of your life is what will make your face glow and your eyes sparkle in those photos so try to forget your inhibitions and just be your loved-up self.

{image courtesy of Kevin Morris Photography}