How to look good in wedding photos - 5 top tips for the camera shy.

You want those natural wedding photographs and you want to look good in your wedding photos - BANGIN' as a matter of fact! However, for most, the thought of 'all eyes on me’ and a camera in our face fills us with dread…! Wedding photography is part and parcel of a wedding day, so how do you banish those camera fears and ensure that when you look back at your photos - you LOVE them? Well read on and you may just find my 5 top tips on how to look good in wedding photos, the handiest you have read in preparation for your wedding day.

Natural wedding photos

I am often told that my wedding photography is very much natural and storytelling in style. This pleases me no end! I graciously accept the compliment whilst I say: "good natural wedding photos are a partnership between the couple and the photographer." Not being twee, but true. We work together to get those gorgeous photos. We work together on ignoring me. Yes, ignore. But how? How do you ignore a ‘stranger’ with a massive camera shoved in your face?
Well, let's head over to tip number 1...

How to look good in wedding photos, top tip #1: Don't be a stranger.

I pride myself on taking the time in getting to know my couples and vice versa. By doing so means on your wedding day you are comfortable around me, I can blend in with you and your guests. All because we built a relationship. I don’t need to know all your deep dark secrets or be invited to Sunday dinner once a month but I like it when we can talk about common interests or funny stories. A small email here and there, a bit of banter on social media or tuning in to my Instagram stories, are a great way to interact with me and vice versa. I am not like the florist or venue dresser who will do a fab job and leave my creation on the day. I am going to be with you and your guests all day. I feel utterly privileged to be there and for me to capture those natural photos, it helps to know what makes you smile and tick.

How to look good in wedding photos, top tip #2: Book a pre-wedding photoshoot.

It’s not a ploy to get you to spend more money. It really isn’t. You may have heard of a pre-wedding shoot, couples shoot or engagement shoot. They are all the same thing – basically a photoshoot before your wedding day with your chosen photographer. I just said about not being a stranger, right? Well, what better way to get to know me and how I work? Often, ladies, it’s the blokes that need the convincing here. I am often told that they are the camera-shy one. I urge the camera shy to have photos with me before the big day. The wedding day will probably be nerve-wracking as it is, don’t add to it with nerves about the camera. It’s a big risk. You won’t get to do that day again and if you look back through photographs finding you looked and felt awkward in front of the camera, you’ll regret it. Getting natural photos is all in the feeling – it’s about feeling natural and relaxed. The better our rapport, the more comfortable you will be with me on the day. The more comfortable you are, the more natural the wedding photos. If you want to know more, check out my blog on my pre-wedding photography in Rutland, why, where and when.

On the day I am so pleased to find that those who invested in a pre-wedding shoot know just what to do and do it incredibly naturally. Bingo! Natural wedding photos. Double bonus if we are strapped for time. This leads me nicely to my next tip…

How to look good in wedding photos, top tip #3: Give yourself time on the wedding day.

The couple wedding portraits happen in a slot that you have dedicated for yourselves. When planning and organising your day I recommend finding two 15min opportunities for the ‘couple photos’. Try and slot it 15 mins after you have greeted folks and had a glass of champagne, post ‘I do’s’. At this point people would have congratulated you, complimented you (SOAK. IT. UP.) and are mingling – the perfect time to make a quick escape. Depending on your wedding breakfast timings I HIGHLY recommend taking another 15mins during the golden hour for a few more photos of the two of you. At this point of the evening, both of you will be feeling way more relaxed and the light is at its best.

If you’re under time pressure then it will show in your photos. It is your day and you get to plan and prepare it beforehand. 6 weeks before the day I will get in touch with you and send a questionnaire to gather as much info about the day. It is at this point we can plan when the couple portraits can happen. This half-hour will be an absolute godsend. The wedding day does go super-fast – SUPER fast, and often you barely have a minute with your new husband as you're mingling with friends and family. This half-hour is not just about the romantic wedding photos, it’s about taking time out together, holding each other, laughing with one another and celebrating the fact you have just got wed. Do this and you both will look picture-perfect.

How to look good in wedding photos, top tip #4: Accept compliments.

Hands in the air if you just….can’t take a compliment? Does anyone else get super awkward when receiving a compliment?

Them: You look nice

You: Happy birthday.

Is it the British way? Maybe, but whatever it is, leave it at home on your wedding day. This is your day - yes you’ll be nervous, but use those nerves and enjoy being the centre of attention for one day. Just one day. Take the compliments, believe them and try to avoid being self-conscious. Have a bloody tequila shot if necessary. You have to make the most of it, it really does go SUPER fast (I think I may have said that already, because #fact). When you look back through your photos, you’ll be stunned by the absolutely stunning natural smiles on your faces rather than the untucked shirt or the double chin (which we ALL HAVE WHEN WE LAUGH, another #fact). And again, this leads me nicely to the next point (I’m getting good at this linking lark...)

How to look good in wedding photos, top tip #5: 'Baby, you should go and love yourself'...yes, I am a Belieber.

I do not do Photoshop to change your body image. Why? Because I am against it and the message of always needing to look perfect or wedding industry standard (whatever the hell that is). Love yourself.

I remember when I got my wedding photos back, I sat and went through them. No, I mean I analysed them…..okay, I mean I analysed myself. I didn’t see the whole photo but instead focused on my arms, my double chin and the lip liner that was slightly overdrawn because I insisted on doing the lips myself and not by the makeup artist.

I did love my photos, but I didn’t really love me. My husband and the kids set me straight by pointing out the gorgeous smiles, the fun and the love. They were right. I now look through my wedding pics with very different eyes. My kids see a 'beautiful lady' and I now see the bundles of smiles and love in the photos. When you get your photos back – look at the photo as a whole. Don’t focus on yourself and analyse yourself as I did. Look at the story of the day, look at the moments. That is what matters! That is why you decided to have natural and documentary wedding photography that told the story of your wedding day.

I am of course a professional and experienced in low self-esteem (takes a bow) and will absolutely take photos that will flatter you and show you off. Again, a pre-wedding shoot is an absolute ideal opportunity for me to get to know you and your feelings towards photos. We can work together on this and I can recommend a good motivational ted talk on self-love...(tee hee!)

So there you have it:

My top 5 tips on how to look good in wedding photos.

In short, keep in touch, be prepared, enjoy the day and love yourself. Simple, right? Hop over to this blog to see some more examples of pre-shoots with some camera-shy couples that I have done. Here is a pre-wedding shoot at Exton Park with Chris & Danielle and another pre-wedding shoot at Rutland Water with Kat & Nick to start you off.

Gina xoxo