Photography Tips

Matte Make-Up
Use matte make-up and avoid anything with a shimmer, shine, sparkle, glitter or reflective element in the make-up. The camera will view this reflective element as a light source and will cause it to be very speck like creating little white dots on your face that are extremely hard to edit out. It may look cute in person, but not in photos. Use matte make-up only.

Powder
Unless a professional is doing your make-up, only use a small amount of pressed powder for your bridal make-up. High resolution cameras can pick up every grain of sand and every grain of powder on your face. Loose powder appears rough and grainy in photos because each particle is picked upon the camera. Pressed powder in naturally meshed together causing it to blend nicely. Regardless if you use pressed or loose powder, a little goes a long way. The more powder you use, the rougher, grainier and lumpier your skin will appear. Use powder sparingly.

Sweat Strips
A sweat strip is a little piece of specialty paper that is designed to absorb the sweat from your face while leaving your make up intact. It's a brilliant invention that every bride should have.

Love Liquid
Liquid meshes and blends together nicely so do the bulk of your coverage with a liquid foundation and then lightly flatten it out with a light layer of pressed powder. The camera will interrupt the liquid as skin and not particles like powder causing your skin to appear smoother.

Falsies Rule
False eyelashes are HIGHLY recommended for all brides! They will make your eyes pop in a way that Photoshop and your own eyelashes can't. Unless you are allergic to the glue, these are bridal must!

Dark
Facial colors can get very washed out especially when using a flash. So you'll want to make your eye shadow, blush and lipstick slightly darker than normal. Not too much darker but a little darker than normal to ensure you see it.

Light
Those of you who have dark circles around your eyes or sunken eyes may want to consider lightening this area with a primer or lighter foundation. This will brighten your face in photos.

Rolls
Bridal dresses are notorious for causing a top of the dress back roll or side roll by your arm pits even on the skinniest of ladies. Sometimes brides don't even think about this until they see their wedding photos and then want the photographer to do countless hours of Photoshop with a high price tag correcting their wardrobe malfunction. Instead of paying hundreds if not thousands of dollars in Photoshop fees we recommend you ensure your dress doesn't give you any rolls in the first place. If your dress does cause rolls, then spend time in the mirror posing in your dress finding positions that minimize the rolling. Often times, proper posture will eliminate the rolls. However, it's up to you the bride to find a roll free dress and practice your posing to avoid them in photos.

Wind & Hair
One thing you can always expect with an outdoor wedding is wind! Any hair style that must stay in place to look good won't work at an outdoor wedding because the wind will blow it. Ensure your hair is in a style that can whether weather. Up -does and hair pulled back away from the face are your best bets!

Move Smartly
When it is time for your couples photos, unless the photographer directs you otherwise, it is highly encouraged that you move. You aren't statues so don't just stand there, please move. Kiss, cuddle, hug, hold hands, flirt, play, laugh or whatever else comes to you. You don't have to do anything grand or over the top. Subtle and simple are best but do change it up frequently. Think of a model who changes poses and positions every time the shutter on the camera clicks. We aren't expecting you to model but the more you move, the more variety of images you'll have. However, move smartly. Often times when couples are asked to move the first thing they do is turn away from the camera, put a hand in front of their face, hide behind their partner or adjust their own hair. None of these things work in photos and are counter-productive. So, when asked to move, move smartly. Keeps your hands away from your face and your partners face, don't turn away from the camera and always make sure both of your faces can be seen.

Look at Each Other
A few photos of the two of you looking at the camera is great but we really want to capture the two of you engaging and interacting with each other. Look at each other. Tickle each other. Laugh with one another. Cuddle with each other. Get lost in each other's arms. Have fun with it!

Go For It
Your photographer may ask you to do some funky things that you may or may not understand on the wedding day. Instead of fighting it, just go for it! Sometimes these funky things don't work and other times, they end up being truly epic photographs. You won't know unless you try so instead of questioning and judging, just jump in and give it a try. You'll most likely be happy you did!

Get Down
For many people, the best photographic angle for them is from a downward angle. What this means is the photographer will be up higher shooting down at the couple. It is also the most slimming angle for almost all women. However, when on location the photographer may not having any means of getting higher up so the clients themselves may need to get down lower by sitting or kneeling. About 50% of our clients will do a series of downward angle shots which means you should be prepared to sit or knees at the venue.

No Cure for Self-Conscientiousness
Free yourself and let go of any inhibitions. You see, there is no cure or Photoshop application that can change your facial expression or remove your own self-conscientiousness. If you are uptight, worried, stressed or concerned that will show in pictures. The best way you can help yourself is to let go of any of your inhibitions, relax and have fun. The more fun you have, the better your pictures will be! Win-win!

Production not Post
Often times clients will say something like "you can Photoshop that, right?" Photoshop is not a cure for poor planning nor is it quick, easy or cheap. Fixing hair, clothes, backgrounds, etc... is timely and expensive. The answer is "Yes we can Photoshop anything for a fee." The goal is not to rack up Photoshop fees but rather to plan & prepare so that everything is great in production on the wedding day. If you get it right in production, you won't need to fix in post. We are giving you the tools to help you create the best photos possible from make-up to hair to sweat to back rolls and more. It is up to you to use these tools to ensure you have the best images possible that are captured in production. Remember, we include basic editing with all our wedding images but not detailed editing. If we get it right in production there will be no need for advanced editing in post. Please plan, prepare and use these tips. You'll be glad you did.