Your wedding day is the day you have probably dreamed of for a lifetime.  And part of those dreams probably included an idea of how you would look on your wedding day.  Here are some tips to help you look your best in your bridal portraits.

Talk to Your Photographer.  Communicating with your photographer is a critical step to getting the most out of your wedding day photography.  Share with your wedding photographer your vision of what your wedding day photos should look like.  Make suggestions for location, posing or unique photo ideas so that your photographer is able to meet your expectations.

Make a Shot List.  Your photographer will work with you to develop a wedding photography plan.  Before speaking with your photographer, it may be helpful to look at bridal magazines for photos that have the look or feel you would like for your wedding day images.  This will allow you to share your inspiration images with your wedding photographer.  He or she can then advise you on the best way to achieve your photography goals by helping you to prioritize your shot list.  Remember, this is your wedding day so it may be best to limit the number of group shots you want to allow the photographer to focus on pictures of the bride and groom.

Communicate with your fiance and bridal party.  If one of you is more passionate about wedding pictures than the other, make sure you understand the importance to each other.  If you are not on the same page about wedding picture preferences or importance, the other party could appear disinterested in the process, which may cause frustration to the other.  Share your photography plan with your fiance and bridal party so that everyone has a clear idea about your expectations and is ready to cooperate.

Practice the poses you love.  Once you have identified the type of wedding pictures you love, practice the body positions from the images.  If you are able to position yourself in a similar way, your wedding photographer will have to provide less direction, lending to more natural photography.  If you like wedding photos of couples dipping or the groom lifting the bride, it might be a good idea to get your fiance involved also.

Relax.   It can be a bit intimidating at first to have a photographer focused on you.  Sometimes this causes brides and grooms to become a bit guarded – and it can show in your posture and personality, resulting in stiff and unnatural wedding pictures.  Select a wedding photography with a portfolio you love and a personality you enjoy and then be yourself.  When you act naturally, your wedding photographer is able to capture candid moments, genuine emotion and truly, the real you.

Allow Extra Time.  On your wedding day, time seems to move quicker and small tasks take longer.  If you feel stressed, the pictures will show it.  Build time into your wedding day schedule that allows you to savor each moment, rather than rushing past them.

Most importantly, have fun. The best gift you can give yourself is to hire a great photographer who works with you and sees your vision your way. You have been planning this day for months, even years, once it finally arrives, relax and enjoy it – and your wedding photos will show it!

Tips for your wedding photos:

Before the wedding

• Get plenty of rest so you look refreshed in your wedding images
• Drink plenty of water in the week leading up to the wedding.  This will help purify your skin.
• Avoid spa facials the week of the wedding that could lead to a break out.
• Practice wearing your wedding day shoes.  You’ll be on your feet a lot on your wedding day.

On your wedding day

• Pay attention to your hands.  If you notice that your hands feel tense, your body language is probably a bit stiff.
• If you need to take a break for a moment, do so.  Your wedding photographer is your personal photographer and should understand if you need a moment to regroup.
• Carry a small mirror and make up kit with you for touchups as needed.  This is a great part of your wedding day emergency kit.
• Keep clutter to a minimum.  This is especially true of getting ready images.  Anything that might be a distraction in the photos should be removed.
• Slightly raising your chin will elongate the neck, minimizing the appearance of “double chins”.
• Moving your elbows away from your body reduces the look of a wide torso.
• Standing square to the camera can make you appear wider.  While it is a strong pose for men, most women prefer to be slightly angled.
• When standing, place your weight on your back foot and point your front foot toward the camera.  This will accentuate your curves in a flattering manner.
• Placing your hand on your hip will make your waist look thinner.  Doing it too often will make you look like you have a lot of attitude.
• Put one shoulder a bit forward and turn the hips when posing.  This creates a slight angle that accentuates the hips.  Pointing your nose away from the camera, but keeping your eyes to it can be very flattering.
• Make sure you do a “dress rehearsal” of your wedding look.
• Keep bouquets at belly button height or by your side.  You don’t want to hide that beautiful wedding dress!
• The most flattering sunlight happens 1-2 hours before sunset.  If your wedding timeline allows, try to capture images of the bride and groom outside during this time.
• When walking for images, look ahead, at each other or steal a kiss – just don’t look down the whole time.
• Photo props like sunglasses, parasols or other items can really personalize your wedding photos.
• For variety in your photos, try tipping your head slightly to one side or down, looking up with your eyes. This is a great way to show off your veil, hairstyle or for images with your bouquet.
• Looking downward or into the distance creates a calming, serene photo.
• Most importantly, if you are uncomfortable it will show in your wedding pictures!  Let your photographer know so that you can try something else.

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