Engagement Photos

They say your wedding day is one of the happiest days of your life so feeling fabulous shouldn’t be too difficult. The constant smile will make for amazing candid photos but what about when you need to do a few more posed shots, the traditional wedding shots that your mother and grandmother are dying to have? Feeling good on your wedding day will result in great photos but because we aren’t all professionals who can smile naturally on cue or know the perfectly flattering angle for our bodies, an engagement shoot is a great opportunity to get to know your photographer and also have some fun with your fiancé.

Many photographers now offer an engagement shoot as part of the package and while it may seem a little over indulgent, this engagement shoot can serve many purposes. Perhaps you might like to use a shot from the shoot on your save the date card or you might want to display a few at your reception? Not only does this shoot give you a fantastic opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera, it also allows you to play around with poses and scout locations.

Feeling confident in front of the camera can take a bit of practise. Try looking through photographs of yourself and work out what it is about them you like. Perhaps try recreating these poses in the mirror and noting the angles or even get your fiancé or a friend to photograph you so you can see how they translate on camera. While this may feel a little over the top, keeping your “best” angles in the back of your mind may be helpful on the big day. A good photographer can help with this by directing you and using their experience and perspective to create the best possible shots.

There are a few tips and tricks that you can put to use to enhance your confidence on your wedding day. These are tried and tested by celebs on the red carpet.

1. Don’t squish your arms to your side. By putting a hand on your hip or holding your arms away from your body, you will create longer, leaner limbs.

2. Make sure to have your shoulders back, hunched shoulders aren’t flattering nor do they project confidence.

3. Keeping your weight on your back foot and your body slightly angled creates a flattering silhouette.

4. Don’t lift your chin too high but don’t drop it too low (this may create the unwanted double chin), finding what works for you might take a little practice but a slight tilt down of the chin can work wonders.

5. If all else fails, look at your (now) husband and smile. Remember, it is your wedding day, you have married the man of your dreams, and this will create the perfect shot.

How do you feel about having your photo taken?