Wedding Photography Tips for the Bride
If you’re about to
get married, you’ve probably put a lot of effort into choosing the perfect
venue, and making sure you’ve got the wedding dress of your dreams. You’ve
probably also booked the photographer who you feel is most capable of capturing
your once-in-a-lifetime wedding memories. But to get the most out of your
wedding photography, you’ve got to make sure you’re prepared as well!
1. Have an engagement shoot – An engagement shoot is a slightly more informal photography session that you can have before the wedding. It’s great not only because you can use the pictures for your wedding favors, save-the-dates, and invitations, but because it will allow you and your husband-to-be to get comfortable in front of the camera. Some people may find being in front of a camera awkward, especially if they aren’t used to portrait sessions. However, it’s much better to get used to it before the wedding day itself, or you run the risk of looking awkward in your wedding photos!
2. Practice your posing – Posing in front of a mirror could make you feel silly at first, but it will definitely pay off on your wedding day. To avoid fat-looking arms, relax your elbows and keep them away from your body. You could either do this by holding your bouquet slightly away from your body, or resting your hand on your hip. Make sure you don’t create double chins either, by lifting your chin slightly and tilting your head a bit to the side. Make like a beauty pageant contestant and practice that winning smile, too! You’ll need it on your wedding day, especially if you have to take a lot of posed group photographs.
3. Have some props ready – Your photographer will be thankful if you have some props for him to add to your wedding photographs. When taking shots of details, a few props like your wedding invite, a boutonniere, and some other things specific to your wedding will make his compositions so much more interesting. It will also make the photographs uniquely yours.
4. Lighting – Hopefully, you’ve selected a wedding venue with a lot of natural light, and during a time when the sunlight is diffused, warm and even. If you did, you’ve just made it a lot easier for your photographer to take great shots of you. If your wedding is to be held in a relatively dark place, try to make arrangements for extra light, or ask if the photographer is allowed to use flash or set up his own lighting.
5. Stick to the timeline – Weddings are notorious for falling behind schedule. While it sometimes can’t be helped, do as much as you can to make sure you stick to the timeline. If you have relatives who need to be in photographs, make sure they arrive on time – and give a little extra allowance for those whose punctuality leave something to be desired.
