If there's one day in your life you're going to look absolutely perfect, it's your wedding day. Brides often ask me for advice on how to look slimmer, younger or taller on their wedding photographs and so I've put together a few simple tips for getting the best out of those all-important images.
1. Plan a pampering. Wedding magazines are full of excellent beauty routines from diets to exercise plans, and the truth is that if you feel great, you'll look great.
Treat yourself to a facial and a manicure (for those close-ups of you exchanging rings or holding your bouquet, good hands and nails will make the photographs look beautifully polished and elegant), book a good make up and hair stylist for the day itself, drink plenty of purifying water and get a good night's sleep.
2. Choose the right dress.Shopping for your wedding dress is a wonderful and often emotional experience, so take your time and visit a few different wedding dress suppliers.
Bridalwear shops usually offer brilliant advice on what would suit your body shape and style, so you can find a dress that accentuates your best features and shows you off as it should!
Choosing your dress is a huge part of the wedding experience so take along a special friend, Mum or your chief bridesmaid and make it a big event, followed by a well-deserved glass of champagne to celebrate another mission accomplished!
A properly flattering wedding dress will give you the nicest possible shape for your photographs, and a good photographer will help you stand or sit in the most becoming way for the best results.
3. An eye for detail.Choose a theme for your wedding (again, all part of the fun!) and incorporate it into your table decorations, flowers, invitations etc.
You can get inspiration from other brides by browsing through some wedding magazines – Sally Marie Photography (
www.sallymarie.co.uk) has piles of them available for brides to look through at the studio over a cup of coffee, plus we’re on hand to offer a second opinion or suggest ways to expand on your theme ideas.
Putting the attention into the detail of your wedding will enhance the atmosphere of your photographs. It really does make a difference and is worth the extra thought and effort.
A good photographer will capture the details of the day and the nicer these details look, the better the images for your wedding album.
4. Enjoy yourself.Sounds obvious perhaps, but it’s all too common for brides to get so swept up in making sure everything is meticulous, or trying to please everyone else, that they spend the entire wedding day stressed and harassed.
It’s YOUR day, YOUR way and you only get to enjoy it once! Plan the details of what you want and give yourself plenty of time to arrange everything. Some people can plan a wedding in two months, others need two years so decide how much time you can devote and how long you think you will need personally to arrange everything.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sally Marie has books of local wedding suppliers and venues which brides are welcome to use to help with planning their wedding.
If you are relaxed and enjoying yourself, your photographs will look relaxed and spontaneous. And if you’re enjoying yourself then your guests will enjoy it too, giving lovely natural expressions all round!
5. Posing.Most brides dislike the idea of “posed” wedding photographs. It conjures images of stiff rows of suited Victorians, looking very unnatural and uncomfortable, or of outdated pseudo-romantic poses gazing into each other’s eyes.
That being said, a little direction from a good wedding photographer can make an amazing difference to the final photographs. Try a studio session or an engagement shoot to get used to being in front of a camera and let your photographer show you how to stand, or sit, effectively.
Look at pages from bridal magazines and note the way the models hold themselves, then try to re-create your favourite images in front of the mirror. You might feel a little silly at first, but if you look model-perfect in your wedding album photographs it will be worth it!
Think posture. Straighten your back and shoulders so that you don’t look hunched. Stretch your neck up like a swan and then lower your chin slightly – this will slim your face and add grace and elegance to your stance.
If you have a bouquet, hold it around your navel / belly button with your elbows slightly bent. In front of the mirror, try holding the bouquet slightly to one side and swinging your hips out to add glamour.
A good wedding photographer will help you by directing you and your guests rather than posing you artificially. Spend some time with the photographer before the wedding and make sure you are happy with their direction and their style.
6. Choose your wedding photographer carefully.I’ve saved the most important for last. If there’s one factor that’s going to make the difference between you looking fantastic in your wedding photographs and looking average, it’s the photographer you work with.
Spend time with them and make sure you get on well. If you’re having your wedding-morning preparations photographed, consider whether you would be more comfortable with a female photographer if you and your bridesmaids are going to be rushing around the bedroom in dressing gowns!
Your photographer should listen to your wishes, and add suggestions of their own to get the best results. If you’re not sure, book an engagement photo-shoot to make sure you are comfortable with the photographer and see that you like the style of the images and the way the photographs portray you.
The photographer should be able to direct you into the most naturally flattering poses without being overly bossy.
Ultimately, if you have a good rapport with your photographer then you will look infinitely more relaxed and natural in your wedding photographs. A good photographer will help you get the most flattering results with minimal interference on the day itself.
Find out what other brides thought of your photographer and the way they work by asking to see testimonials as well as example albums.
For advice and information on wedding photography,
www.sallymarie.co.uk is an excellent starting point.
Finally, good luck with your wedding planning and preparations and
enjoy it!
All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.
The morning of the big day will most likely be a buzz of activity. It's a huge part of the wedding day story and a part that you'll want to remember.
More and more brides are choosing to have this time documented by their wedding photographer as part of the wedding photography package, and you may want to consider whether this is something you would like to include in your wedding storybook or album.
Some brides like to have the whole preparations photographed, from rollers-and-dressing-gowns through the hair and make up artist's visit to the final transformation in gown and veil.
Other brides prefer a general "before the wedding" feel, with shots of the dress waiting to be put on, details of shoes and flowers, perfume and champagne, which all add a lovely feel and a burst of colour to the eventual album design.
This elegant image was taken as the bride left the hotel lift on her way out to the lobby:
Sally Marie offers bridal preparations as part of the wedding photography service. With a female photographer who specialises in making women look their best on film, it's a relaxed, friendly approach and the images taken at this part of the day are natural, fun and flattering.
