Wedding photos are the memories you will be displaying on your walls for years to come. These 8 tips will help you be prepared and get the wedding photos of your dreams.
1. Pick a Quality Photographer
Wedding photos have the longest shelf life after the wedding, so picking a quality photographer is absolutely essential. If possible, try to dedicate an adequate amount of your budget to photography. When it’s all said and done, your wedding photos are what you will have left. You can learn more about how to pick a photographer here.
2. Have Examples of Poses You Like
It’s helpful to offer your wedding photographer examples of poses you like. This is where Pinterest becomes your best friend. Try narrowing it down to three or four must-have poses to re-create and leave the rest up to your photographer. Photographers are creative-minded individuals and will have new ideas, poses and tricks up their sleeve.
3. Be Open to Trying New Things
It’s fairly common to have certain poses you know you don’t like. However, it’s even more common for brides to end up loving a photo with a pose they were sure they would hate. So, be open to different poses, backdrops, and other suggestions from your photographer. You never know, you may surprise yourself!
4. Know How to Hold Your Bouquet
Holding your wedding bouquet the correct way is simple, but has a big impact and can make all the difference in getting picture-perfect photos on your big day. The most important thing to remember is that you should hold your bouquet with your hands down at belly button level. This will help relax your shoulders, elongate your arms and add elegance to your stance. It will also keep your bouquet from covering up the neckline details of your dress.
Warning: It’s natural to want to hold your bouquet with your arms bent at a 90-degree angle. It’s enough to resemble a chicken wing and we suggest saving the “winged” look for the reception dance floor.
5. Share Some of Your Physical Insecurities with Your Photographer
If you feel comfortable, share some of your physical insecurities with your photographer. For example, if you struggle with good posture, ask your photographer to remind you to straighten your back. Or if you don’t like the way your back looks, ask your photographer to avoid pictures from that angle. While photographers are ultimately not responsible for how you look, professionals can use creative angles and poses that help accentuate the features you’re proud of that make you feel confident. However, they can only make these choices if you communicate with them.
6. Practice Your Top Photo Opportunities
It never hurts to be prepared and avoid awkward encounters when it comes to your must-have wedding photos. Here are some examples of in-the-moment wedding photo opportunities you might want to practice:
- The kiss at the altar
- A second kiss at the end of the isle as you exit the ceremony
- Your “send-off” and kiss
7. Ask Your Wedding Officiant to Step Aside During the Kiss
Ask your wedding officiant to step to the side as they pronounce you man and wife right before the kiss. You will get a more picture-perfect moment if your wedding officiant isn’t peeking through your ceremony kiss. If they forget to step to the side, try to recreate an altar kiss photo with your spouse before the night is over.
8. Have fun!
This is supposed to be one of the best days of your life, so don’t forget to have fun! Try to loosen up and let your personality come through in your photos.