Wedding Picture Tips

10 Tips for Flattering Wedding Photos

by Neal Freed, owner, Freed Photography
(originally published in the Spring 2008 issue of I Do for Brides)

Look your best on your wedding day with advice from a wedding photographer.

Don’t Stand Flat-Footed

It’s only when we get nervous that we tend to “stand at attention.” This causes the stiff look that you probably dislike in pictures. If you gently bend your front knee, your weight will naturally shift towards your back leg. This will lower your back hip and raise your front shoulder, giving you a more natural, curvy look.

Don’t Slouch

Everyone wants to look long and lean, but it’s impossible to do if you’re slouching, which is easy to do on your wedding day when you have the dress, veil, train and bouquet weighing you down. When you slouch, you tend to look shorter and wider. Standing straight makes you look taller and thinner. Try to remind yourself periodically to stand tall.

Keep the Bouquet Small

Your bouquet should be an accent to you and your gown. If the bouquet is too wide, it will make you look heavy. When held, the bouquet should fit inside of your hips. If you look down when holding your bouquet, you should see your hands, not the bouquet. If you can see the bouquet, it means it will be pointing up in the photographs.

Relax Your Shoulders

Often, when we think to stand up straight, we automatically raise our shoulders as well. This shortens the neck and makes you look nervous. When you stand straight, remember to relax your shoulders as well.

Hold your Flowers Correctly

The bouquet should typically be held at belly button height. This will lower your shoulders, reveal your bodice and allow your arms to naturally fall at a visually pleasing, slenderizing, 45-degree angle.

Wear Proper Makeup

The nature of photography tends to accentuate any oil or imperfections on your skin. We recommend that all brides wear makeup on their wedding days, even if they typically don’t wear it. Use a little more than you might normally, with more definition around your eyes. If you can afford it, a professional makeup artist can help you achieve the most flattering look.

Lower Your Chin, Accentuate Your Eyes

The magic of a portrait is in your eyes. For a variety of reasons, many brides are reluctant to lower their chins. If you tilt your chin back, you will accentuate it and narrow your eyes. Slightly lowering your chin will widen and accentuate your eyes.

Hire a Knowledgeable Photographer

If your budget will allow, you may want to consider hiring a photographer who has training in people, facial analysis and composition. Photographers are not magicians, and we can’t make you look half your size. But at the same time, you don’t want someone making you look twice as big. Facial analysis, positioning, lighting patterns, lens selection, camera height and many other factors come into play when making you look your best.

Gown: Pricilla of Boston, Vineyard Collection, provided by Terri Lynn Bridal in Bethesda, Md.