Does the camera scare you?
7 tips for being photographed at your wedding
Nervous about your wedding photos?
You have never had a photo shoot, and just the idea of a photographer watching you and taking your picture makes you feel awkward. It isn't easy to stand in front of a camera, but with a few small tricks you can overcome this fear and start to feel real satisfaction when you see a photo of yourself. Some people are naturally more photogenic, while others literally run at the sight of a lens. That's perfectly normal and nothing new: with a few small tips you can achieve excellent results.
Get photos you love with meditation
Before your first photo shoot, which is usually a couple session, sit in your room, breathe deeply and try to think of happy moments in your life. It doesn't matter which moment, as long as it made you happy, and you should think about the feelings you had that day. When the photographer starts photographing you, immediately try to recall those feelings: doing this exercise, you may be surprised at how you feel.
Get comfortable with your photographer and get to know them better.
In every photo shoot, professional ones included, an understanding develops between subject and photographer that helps the subject relax and feel less stressed. A couple session before the wedding is always recommended, so you feel more relaxed on the day and get a more natural, spontaneous result.
Don't stare at your photos for too long and you'll love them more
If you already find it hard to be photographed, don't stare at your photos for long: you'll end up fixating on every flaw. Look at them for no more than 3 seconds and focus on the positives: what a lovely smile, what a lovely memory with my friends…
To truly see your beauty, turn to a portrait photographer
It may sound contradictory, but it's true: perhaps you hate being photographed because you've always been photographed at the wrong moment. A portrait session can bring out the best of your beauty, highlight your natural self and make you genuinely enjoy a photo shoot.
Rely on professional make-up artists and hairdressers
They know how to bring out the best in you. You may not wear make-up every day, but a professional make-up artist can create a natural look that enhances your best features and hides the less flattering ones. Ask specifically for photo-shoot make-up. For your hair, go to someone you know and trust. If you can, meet a stylist for some advice before the photos: they could help you choose the best and most beautiful solution. Hiring expert make-up artists and hair stylists will give you that confidence.
A professional knows how to bring out the best in you.
Even if you don't wear much make-up day to day, a professional make-up artist can create a natural look that accentuates your best features and softens the less flattering ones. They know which kind of make-up works best for portraits. The same goes for hair. For your hairstyle, go to someone you know and trust. If you can, also meet a stylist for some advice before the photos: they could help you choose your look and feel at ease on the day of the shoot. We all want to look beautiful in our photos, and hiring expert make-up artists and hair stylists will give you that confidence.
Smile!!
Smiling in photos is important: it gives you a warm look and shows you physically relaxed. A trick for a relaxed, natural smile is to breathe through your mouth and touch your upper front teeth with the tip of your tongue. When we smile or laugh naturally, we tend to draw the chin back towards the neck, avoiding a double chin.
These are a few small tips to help you relax and approach a photo shoot in a carefree, fun way.
A mistake brides often make is wanting to look like models. It is not at all impossible, but bear in mind that models pose for hours a day, study their posture and do everything in relation to their work. To be beautiful, you just need to be yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How can you overcome camera shyness at your wedding?
Do a pre-wedding shoot with your photographer, breathe, think about the person beside you rather than the lens: naturalness comes after the first few shots.
What if we aren't photogenic?
Being photogenic can be built: an experienced photographer finds your best angles and guides you without forced poses.
Does a pre-wedding shoot help you feel at ease?
Enormously: after the engagement session, on your wedding day the photographer is no longer a stranger and the photos come out more natural.
