How to Look Natural in Your Wedding Photos
10 Tips JUST FOR YOU!
Ah, the wedding day! It’s the day you’ve been dreaming about since you first laid eyes on that special someone. You’ve spent months (maybe even years) planning every detail, from the venue and the flowers to the cake and the dress. And while you’ve got all the elements in place for a perfect day, there’s one thing that can make or break your wedding photos: your natural, radiant self.
You see, the key to looking amazing in your wedding photos isn’t about following a strict set of rules or striking rehearsed poses. It’s about being yourself and letting your love shine through. So, if you’re wondering how to look natural in your wedding photos, here are some tips that will help you relax, enjoy your day, and capture your true essence.
Bridal Appointment Tips
Timeline: From Yes to getting dressed
Most bridal boutiques won’t have your dress ready to take home with you on the day of your appointment. You are most likely going to get a new dress made to order. This will usually take anything between four and eight months. Also don’t forget you will have at least 2 – 3 fittings before you have your final dress.
If your timeline is shorter than the above mention period, take a deep breathe and DO NOT STRESS. Lots of boutiques will have something on “the rack” that will most likely need a few alternations.
To ease your nerves, ensure that you dress will be in time, phone the boutiques ahead of time to see if your dress will fit in your wedding timeline before you make an appointment.
The Budget
This isn’t set a budget and then blow it. This is really set the budget and stick to it. Wedding dresses vary so drastically in prices you could spend a couple of thousands to a couple of hundred thousands. Be firm!
If you have someone who is buying the dress for you, have this conversation with them beforehand so you both on the same page and of course to avoid disappointment. There is no bigger disappointment than finding your dream dress and then seeing that its out of the budget. It is soul crushing.
Setting the budget means that the sales consultant at the bridal boutiques will only show you those dresses within your budget.
On a PS note about budget, not forget to think about accessories like veils, jewellery, shoes and hair accessories. Be mindful that some alterations could be added. Make sure when you purchase your dress that you are aware of ANY additional cost surprises.
Research: Designers and Bridal Boutiques
My goodness this could be one of those dark rabbit holes. There are thousands of designers and bridal boutiques. Doing some easy research will help narrow down the search for the dream dress.
I would suggest searching on social media, find some photographers pages, look at the dresses, the photographer usually tag all the vendors in their posts.
Most bridal boutiques won’t have all their dresses online but they will stock the designers. Find your preferred designers and then narrow the search to those boutiques.
Create your Mood Board
The best part! Creating your wedding dress mood board! Pinterest is easiest the easies for this, upload all the dresses you are drawn too. As you go along, the more you add the more you will see a pattern emerge of the fabrics and silhouettes that keep recurring.
The Entourage
Just like your wedding guest list, deciding who comes with you during your bridal appointments can really make or break this should be fun and exciting experience.
I can’t stress this enough…..bring people who’s opinions you value the MOST!
The saying too many cooks in the kitchen could not be any truer for choosing your dress. The opinions of too many people could become stressful and confusing!
Think quality over quantity. Two to four people is more than enough.
Avoid fake tans and heavy makeup
It’s only natural that you would want to feel absolutely SMASHING and GLAMOROUS when trying on wedding dresses, please bear in mind that fake tans and heavy makeup could be easily transferred onto the dress. Lets be kind to the dress and the future brides who want to try on the samples.
If you feel better tanned, make sure you tanning day is a few days before your appointment so that it has time to settle. And with the make up, remember, a little goes a long way.
If you know more a less how you would like your hair to be done on the day, try and get your hair to resemble that style. It doesn’t need to be done by a professional but you could for example, if you know your hair is an “undo” throw your hair in ponytail. This with give you a realistic idea of how you will look on your wedding day in that dress. Also you can tick off buying hair accessories too.
Smash a burger before you bridal appointment!
If you anything like me, HANGRY is not a good look on me. Wedding dress shopping can be draining and most likely will be the entire day! And lets face it, there is nothing worse than shopping on an empty stomach!
So make sure you schedule a lovely lunch with your entourage and pack those snacks. You have an epic day to get through!
Lastly, be opened minded.
So you have done all the research, stalked wedding photographers pages, found designers, set your budget and created your mood board. You got this!
But there is that annoying but again, be opened minded! Try something that you might not think you would like. Sometimes, just sometimes you land up with something you didn’t expect. But the only way you will know is if you try.
Your body confidence is going to need a boost during this time, wedding dress shopping could be stressful. So give yourself extra extra love during this time.
10 Tips How to Look Natural in Your Wedding Photos
1 – Choose the Right Photographer
2 – Practice Makes Perfect
3 – Embrace Your Emotions
4 – Forget About the Camera
5 – Be True to Your Style
6 – Trust Your Photographer’s Guidance
7 – Practice Relaxed Portraits
8 – Don’t Rush the Moments
9 – Smile from Within
10 – Laugh, Dance, and Have Fun
10 Unique Wedding Ideas
1. Choose the Right Photographer
First things first: your photographer is your wedding day MVP. You need someone who can not only capture the candid moments but also make you feel comfortable and at ease in front of the camera. Look for a photographer whose style aligns with your vision, and don’t forget to schedule an engagement session to get comfortable with their shooting style.
2. Practice Makes Perfect
Consider scheduling a pre-wedding photoshoot or engagement session with your photographer. It’s an excellent opportunity to get used to being in front of the camera and build a rapport with your photographer. Plus, you’ll get some beautiful photos to cherish along the way.
3. Embrace Your Emotions
Your wedding day is filled with emotions, from excitement and joy to tears of happiness. Don’t shy away from expressing these feelings. Authentic moments of laughter and tears make for some of the most captivating and natural photos.
4. Forget About the Camera
Easier said than done, right? But when you’re in the moment, try to forget about the camera’s presence. Focus on your partner, the love you share, and the celebration at hand. The more you can immerse yourself in the day, the more natural your photos will look.
5. Be True to Your Style
Your wedding day is a reflection of you and your partner. Don’t feel pressured to conform to traditional poses or trends that don’t resonate with you. If you’re more comfortable being goofy and playful, go for it! Your photos should showcase your unique personalities.
6. Trust Your Photographer’s Guidance
Your photographer is experienced in creating beautiful, natural shots. Trust their guidance when it comes to posing and composition. They’ll know how to capture your best angles while keeping things genuine.
7. Practice Relaxed Portraits
Before the wedding day, practice relaxed portraits with your partner. Spend some time cuddling, holding hands, or simply being close to each other without any pressure. This will help you feel more at ease when it’s time for the official photos.
8. Don’t Rush the Moments
Your wedding day will fly by, but try not to rush through the moments you want to savor. Take your time during the photo sessions, enjoy the process, and allow your photographer to capture the natural flow of your day.
9. Smile from Within
A genuine smile always trumps a forced one. Think about the love you share with your partner, and let that feeling radiate through your smile. It’ll make your photos incredibly warm and authentic.
10. Laugh, Dance, and Have Fun
Above all, remember that your wedding day is a celebration of love. Laugh, dance, and have fun with your partner, family, and friends. Those candid, spontaneous moments will be some of the most cherished in your photo collection.
So there you have it—how to look natural in your wedding photos. It’s all about being yourself, embracing your emotions, and letting your love shine. With the right photographer and a relaxed attitude, your wedding photos will capture the essence of your special day and the love that binds you and your partner. Now go out there and make memories that will last a lifetime!
