How to look good in wedding photos, even if you’re nervous
So many brides tell me they’re nervous about wedding photos. If you’re wondering how to look good in wedding photos, here are my tips. But let me start with the most important one.
Choose a candid wedding photographer
If you’re really nervous about having your photo taken on the day, choose a photographer who is really good at candid shots. These photographers have a natural gift for seeing when the perfect pose or shot is just about to happen, and then grabbing it, all without you even realising it happened.
You can find a candid wedding photographer by looking through their social media feeds and seeing how much of their work is relaxed, unposed photos. Ideally, it should be almost all of it.
Believe me, after about 10 minutes you’ll be swept away by all the excitement and love of your big day. And once your hairdresser and makeup artist have finished with you, you’ll look better than you ever have in your life. That’s a wonderful confidence boost, and it shows in every photo.
Here are my favourite tips for looking your best in photos.
Bridal posture: try Pilates or yoga
Do some Pilates or yoga in the months before the wedding to learn what good posture feels like, and then practise it. I can always tell a bride who has been doing either discipline, because she stands taller and straighter. Good bridal posture also helps your dress sit beautifully, especially a fitted bodice or corset.
How to hold your wedding bouquet: hold it low
This one will feel a bit funny at first. Brides who feel a little shy or self-conscious tend to hold their bouquets high, up in front of their chests. That hides your waist, the smallest part of your body, and can make your top half look heavier than it is.
So practise in front of a mirror before the wedding. Wear something fairly fitted, and grab anything to hold in place of a bouquet: a small cushion, a soft toy or a folded-up t-shirt will do.
Stand facing the mirror and hold your “bouquet” low, down in front of your tummy, with your elbows out a little wide. You should be able to see your waist clearly. Now hold it higher, at your waist or above, and see the difference. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll never hold a bouquet high again.
Find your best angle for wedding photos
Take selfies until you know your best angle for wedding photos. It might be turning slightly to the left or right, like Kylie Jenner. It might be tipping your head down a little, like Princess Diana, or lifting it slightly, like Diane Keaton. Or it might be pushing your chin forward ever so slightly for a more defined jawline, a classic trick used by Dame Judi Dench.
Once you know your angle, tell your photographer, and you’ll feel much more relaxed in front of the camera.
Choose your best stance
Stand with your legs together, or with one foot and leg a little in front of the other. This gives that curvy Hollywood look.
If you’d like to look a little slimmer, turn slightly sideways to the camera rather than facing it straight on. Let your shoulders relax down and back, and keep a soft bend in your arms rather than pressing them against your sides.
Practise until it feels natural
Models spend hours perfecting their poses. You’re investing so much in this day and your photos, so practise until it feels natural. Try your stance, your angle and your bouquet hold a few times in the weeks before the wedding, and maybe in your dress at your final fitting. Then, on the day, forget about it, stand tall and proud, and enjoy every moment.
The very best of wishes,
