When considering mantel-worthy wedding photographs the make or break factor really is your wedding photographer. Ultimately your photographs are all you have left of the most magical day of your life; and as such you want to make sure you look absolutely breath-taking. It then goes without saying that hiring a professional wedding photographer, who shoots in a style you love, is an investment in your own happiness post-wedding day.
While hiring a professional wedding photographer that you trust is the first step toward incredible wedding photographs, there are additional tricks you should be employing to get the most out of your time in front of the camera. The following tips from Cape Town based wedding photographer extraordinaire, Jo Stokes, will get you looking and feeling incredible in your wedding photos!
Posture
Posture is paramount to a good photograph. Observe yourself in the mirror prior to your wedding day and assess your bad postural habits; examples that can ruin even the best photographer’s work include slumped shoulders and a jutting pelvis. While you may feel a bit silly practising; actively working on your posture before your wedding day will ensure you look statuesque and elegant in your photographs.
Make-up mishaps
While professional make-up artists ought to know these tricks of the trade, if you are doing your own make-up, or would like to ensure you are receiving the stellar service you deserve; take note of the following:
- Choose a foundation with no or minimal SPF – SPF causes harsh white reflections when you are being photographed with a flash or additional lighting.
- Contouring with highlighter and shading crèmes plays up your most striking features and makes for a stunning photograph – ensure that your make-up is thoroughly blended though to avoid dark streaks or harsh white reflections.
- Be true to you – you want to look like the most beautiful version of YOURSELF on your wedding day. This is not the day to experiment with new looks and bold colours; stick to enhancing your best features naturally.
Everyone’s a critic
Everyone has a part of their body that they are first to criticize when looking at photos. Your wedding photographs are a celebration of the best day of your life and should reflect that joy and excitement – smile with your eyes, even if they get a bit scrunched up; laugh out loud and often, even if you think your teeth are a bit wonky; the best photographs are those which capture the essence of a moment in pure emotion! Nobody is going to criticize you as harshly as yourself.
Handling hands
Make sure that you relax your hands in your photographs. Our hands carry a lot of tension that we often overlook; witch-hands are something any professional photographer will be on the lookout for and will call you out on; but it always helps to be aware of your hands so that no beautiful spontaneous shots get ruined by witchy claws.
