OF COURSE YOU want to look your best! It's one of the biggest days of your life and it is being forever captured
on film - well, it's generally digital files these days but you know
what we mean. So look back on your wedding day with a smile with our
guide to posing for the camera.
Ahead of time
There's lots that can be done
ahead of the big day to ensure that you end up with photographs to
cherish for years to come. Choosing the right dress and hair and
make-up artists are just two of the most obvious examples and easiest
ways of making you feel fabulous on the day.
Communicating
effectively with your photographer beforehand is vital too, especially
if you have specific concerns about how you'll look. Now is the time to
talk about any physical features that you're self-conscious about!
Don't worry, they'll have heard it all before (and more!).
On the day
Get
your timings right so that you're not rushed on the day. It's hard
trying to be poised and elegant when you're worrying that there's only
ten minutes till dinner and you haven't even said hello to your auntie
yet. Give the photographer enough time to do their best for you, and to
listen to them about how long they need with you and your groom after
the ceremony. The more time you have, the less pressure there is for
everyone to get each shot looking perfect.
Take your pick
If you've chosen a great photographer then they will have plenty of
tools and techniques to help you and your hubby (and your venue) look
even better than normal! They will find the best backdrops and make
sure you're only shot in the most flattering lighting,and will direct
you into the best poses.
Don't forget to smile!
Brides often complain
about sore cheeks after smiling all day for the cameras, but to avoid
that fixed 'Wallace & Gromit'-style look, try relaxing your face
between shots. And remember that you don't have to give a toothy grin
in every photo; it is possible to look happy without beaming away like
crazy. A little smile can actually be more flattering as a huge grin
will make your face look wider.
There are lots of things YOU can do during your wedding
photography session to make the most of the natural assets that you've
been blessed with... All it takes is a little know-how and some
practice in front of the mirror!
WHEN STANDING...
* lower your chin
People
often stick their chins out in order to avoid a double chin, but end up
overdoing it and looking like they're doing a Jimmy Hill impression.
There's a happy medium to be achieve and, in fact, keeping the chin
down casts a shadow underneath, preventing more than one chin
appearing.
* Turn your head to the side (slightly!)
This
will extend your neck, elongating it. And when you tilt your face at a
slight angle it makes you appear slimmer in the photograph too; all the
top models do it!
* Don't flatten your arms
Putting
your arms straight down by your side feels like the natural thing to
do, but this squashes them against you, making them look bigger than
they actually are. Instead, keep them a few inches away from your body,
which might feel odd but looks loads better.
* Get your stance right
Try
not to be photographed straight on; a slight angle will immediately
make you look lighter. Turn your body by about 30 or 40 degrees for a
much more flattering pose.
* Ensure your posture is correct
While
it's obvious that you shouldn't slouch, you also shouldn't look too
rigid either - you're not in the army. To get a nice relaxed stance,
take a deep breath just before the photo's taken; as you breathe out
you automatically fall into a natural-looking position.
* Don't look stiff
Photo
shoots can take a while, but to prevent looking stiff after standing in
a similar position for a long time, rock back and forth slightly from
one foot to the other.
WHEN SITTING DOWN...
* Get the shoulders right
Your
shoulders have the power to determine how the rest of your body is
positioned, so it's important to get them right. Keep them back but be
careful not to lean your spine too far backwards as this makes your
shoulders want to hunch forward.
* Lean forward a little
This will improve your posture by straightening your back.
* Use your bouquet
If you're worried about your tummy looking bigger when you sit down, put your bouquet on your lap.
* Don't cross your legs
This
might be comfy but it isn't flattering as it only makes the leg at the
front look huge. If you have to cross something, cross your legs at the
ankles.
Got a photography question? Get help from other brides-to-be at the SWD Forum... CLICK HERE!
