Ask any bride or groom, and they’ll all say they want to look their best on their big day. Who wouldn’t? The thing is, as long as you’re beaming with happiness, you’ll always look back at your photos with joy. Cliche, yes, but true.
That said, there’s no harm in doing what you can to look good in your wedding photos. The best photographers will touch up your photos during editing, but if you pull that face you hate or if they capture your “bad” side, there’s not much they’ll be able to do about that.
Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent that scenario. From finding the ideal poses for wedding photos to preparing yourself for the big day, here’s how to take great wedding photos.
It can take time to get used to being in front of the camera. One tip is to have another shoot before the big day, such as an engagement shoot. If you hire the same photographer for both, you can get to know them and how they work and feel that much more comfortable on your wedding day. Plus, it gives you the chance to talk to them about which photos from the engagement shoot you loved and which poses you weren’t overly comfortable with.
If you ask your friends and family for tips on looking good in wedding photos, you might not hear this one too often, but it’s truly valuable advice.
If your skin is glowing on your wedding day, your photos will turn out that much better. This doesn’t mean having flawless skin. It just means taking care of yourself before the big day to give your skin that healthy pallor.
If you have a few months to spare, you can try new products, such as retinoids. However, experimenting right before your big day is likely not wise. Instead, focus on hydration, avoid alcohol, eat foods that affect your skin in moderation, and limit your sun exposure. If you do have the odd pimple that you’d rather didn’t make an appearance in your wedding photos, don’t worry. It can probably be edited out of your photos.
Choosing your dress or suit is a big decision. You want to look your best, but you want to wear something comfortable, too. Maybe not chilling-on-the-sofa comfortable, but comfortable enough for you to feel OK standing for long periods. Your wedding is a busy and tiring day, and if you’re wearing something uncomfortable, that discomfort often shows in photos.
By all means, find something that makes you look amazing, but consider whether you’ll be happy standing in it all day. Whatever you choose, try it on again a week or two before the wedding to make sure it still fits comfortably. This gives you a little time to make alterations if needed.
Your hair and makeup will make a big difference in how you look in your wedding photos, so it’s important you’re happy with the style. Consider a trial so that you can make sure you’re happy with the results before the big day.
And don’t forget to bring a few small products to touch up if needed. You can hand these off to a member of the wedding party to look after — it’s your day to enjoy, after all!
If you really want to know how to look your best on your wedding day, one of the secrets is getting enough rest. Getting a good night’s sleep before the big day is easier said than done, but you should still try. Going into the day well rested will make your skin look better and make you feel more energized.
This is one of our favorite wedding picture tips. Planning ahead with your photographer will help you get amazing photos on the day. You can hear their thoughts and talk to them about certain photos you want and things you definitely don’t want. All of this planning will help you look amazing in your wedding photos.
You may feel self-conscious trying to work out how to pose for wedding photos, and practicing popular wedding poses with your partner can help you feel more natural. Stand in front of a mirror and see what looks and feels good.
When you’re practicing, try to:
A stunning location can improve any wedding photo. Whether it’s a scenic coast or an old-fashioned country house, the background to your photos will give context to your day and character to your pictures. When venue hunting, consider how photos taken there will look.
Once you’ve chosen your venue, scout it out if you can. While your photographer may be familiar with it and know the best locations to snap some photos, you can also generate your own ideas.
If you’re having a photo shoot before you arrive at the venue, talk to your photographer about the location. If they haven’t been there before, they may want to check it out before the day.
When you’ve put so much time and effort into planning the day, it can be hard to just let go and enjoy it for the amazing occasion that it is. Trying to always be “on” for photos can make staying present even harder.
The best thing you can do to get great photos while enjoying your day is to trust your photographer. Remember that you picked them for a reason. If that doesn’t help, consider this. Candid photos are often the best photos you’ll ever get, but they’re impossible to manufacture. If you spend the whole day worrying about getting the perfect photos, you’ll never strike gold and capture the authentic moments.
At Shutter & Sound, we specialize in capturing the true essence of your day through must-have posed photos and candid shots that show the raw feelings. We use the emotions of your day to create photographic art that you and your partner will enjoy for a lifetime. If we sound like the type of photographer you want to capture the best moments of your day, contact us today.