Pre-wedding photography taken several months before your actual wedding in your wedding finery is a bit of an Asian concept. Westerners often prefer taking engagement shots in casual wear before the wedding and only save their wedding gown for the actual wedding day to maintain that element of surprise for their groom.
Whether you choose to have a formal or casual session, pre-wedding photography is often a fun and exciting time for the couple. It is a hint of how real their wedding is becoming and a great day at pretending to be superstars with paparazzi trailing behind them to capture their every smile! Read on for some tips on how to prepare for your pre-wedding photography session.
Get Enough Rest
You might be too excited to sleep early but do try to get enough rest a few nights before your photo session. Your make up artist might be able to conceal your dark circles but no make up will be able to hide your tired face. Remember that the camera magnifies everything so sleep well before your session to avoid tired-looking and stressed photographs.
Ensure Your Clothes Fit Well
If you are taking your pre-wedding photographs in a rented wedding gown, make sure it has been altered to fit you well. Try it on a week before your photo session and check for any areas that may not fall properly. Be extra careful of tube wedding gowns as a tight tube will result in little unsightly lumps of flesh peeking out over the tube as your chest area might be too squashed. In the privacy of your fitting room, practice bending forward to check for any clothing accidents. You don’t want to only realise it when you see it in your photos! If using your own casual clothes, select clothes that you know you look great in and ensure they are ironed well before your shoot.
Add Your Personal Touch To Your Shoot
Photoshoots, especially those taken by bridal studio, may take on an almost standard quality with similar poses and expressions. Turn your photoshoot into something different by adding some of your special items to the shoot. Bring flower petals and throw them in the air for a dramatic shot or perhaps bring your bicycle for some really fun and enjoyable shots. Its your photos for keeps so go an extra step and make them memorable!
Practice Smiling
This may sound silly but practice your smiles and expressions in front of a mirror! Do it with your partner and have a bit of a laugh. At least you’ll both be aware of how you will look in your wedding photos. The photographer will usually guide you during the shoot in your expressions or tell you if you’re not smiling wide enough but doing a little homework before your shoot will help you prepare for a day of smiling till your cheeks hurt!
Practice Posing
Do a little research and homework and learn what sort of poses suit you. Practice in front of a mirror to learn your best side and how you should stand to appear slim and tall. Flip through bridal magazines or samples of wedding photos to see what poses you can consider for your own shoot. Cut out some poses you might particularly like and ask your photographer if he can recreate them for that special shot. Most photographers will be happy to oblige!
Most importantly, don’t stress out over your photoshoot but do it with happiness and excitement for that will shine through your smiles and create beautiful wedding photos! Have fun being the superstar of the day!
With Love,
Elle
Photo Credits: Jenny Sun Photography