Your wedding photos are bound to be a focal point in your new marital home, so it’s only natural to want them to look as good as possible. There are many ways to ensure you get the best wedding photos, including planning the day to allow enough time for all the photography you want to be done, selecting the right gown and accessories to wear, and communicating your expectations clearly to your bridal party and photographer to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Be Realistic About Your Expectations for Photography
While some brides dream of a full photoshoot on the wedding day with several locations in the background, managing time on the day of the wedding is typically challenging. Moving not only yourself but the rest of your bridal party around town only adds stress to an important day and increases the chances of you being late to the reception. Try to minimize changing locations to avoid losing time while the lighting is good for photography and keep things streamlined.
Communicate With Your Photographer
It’s important to let your photographer what kind of photos you like and the moments you want to be captured, so they can plan to get these photos for you. Some brides prefer posed photos that feature the entire family, while others like candid shots that show their loved ones enjoying the moment. Depending on which you like, the photographer will plan a list of shots to get in order. One way to help your photographer understand what you want is to compile example photos that capture the esthetic and look you want from your photos. You can use an app like Pinterest or a mood board app to bring them together and easily add to it from your phone, and then show it to the photographer to help them envision what you want.
Do a Test Photo Shoot with Your Dress and Accessories
The average bride spends $1,600 on a wedding dress, making it an investment piece you’ll want to be sure will look good in photos. You might think a dramatic, long veil or statement accessories are right for your wedding look, but they will look different in photos than they do in person. Dress details like lace, embroidery, and rhinestones can be hard to see in the photos. Be sure to try your dress, shoes, and accessories out and have a friend snap some photos. Check these to see if the accessories or veil take away from your dress and hair, or if the overall look comes together as you’d envisioned.
Start Long Term Physical Improvements
With people looking at you all day and photos being taken of you on your wedding day, there are parts of your physical appearance you may want to improve before then. More than 61% of Americans want to improve the look of their teeth and dental health. This can be done before the wedding, but you have to start well before the big day to get the results you want.
Make Appointments Ahead of Time
Almost 7 million Americans visited a professional waxing service within 2019, going in 4 times over half a year. If you are one of them, be sure to book appointments for your services well ahead of time. This will help you ensure that you are ready for the wedding day.
Set Expectations for the Bridal Party
Let your bridal party know how long you’ll be taking photos for and when so they can plan for this. Bridesmaids or groomsmen who have brought a date or their children along might need to make arrangements for them to wait while the photos are done. Remember they are in for a long day, and you want to help them enjoy it. Children who are part of the bridal party can ruin the photos if they are unhappy, so it’s important to keep them calm. If It’s hot out, or they’ll be waiting an extended period to get the photos done, you can pack water and snacks, so they don’t get cranky.
With the photography planned out and everyone aware of what needs to happen, you can get the best possible photos of your special day.
