Blog Archives

How to look good in your wedding photos

Although it’s a given that you’ll look your most beautiful on your wedding day, the photos are the one thing that will last forever. This means you want them to come out looking perfect. So how do you make sure that you and your new husband or wife look amazing in all of them?

I’ve photographed many weddings across Cheshire and North Wales but not everyone is comfortable having their picture taken. I wanted to provide my specialist tips on how to look good in your wedding photos while being at ease.

How to look good in photos

First, it’s a good idea to start looking through some old photos that you like of yourself. Study them and try to work out why you like the way you look in them. Are you stood a certain way, or facing a certain way? Maybe you’re smiling naturally instead of forcing it. Once you’ve sussed the reason you like the photo, it’ll be easier to recreate the look on your big day.

Once you’ve figured this out, you should start practising in the mirror. You might feel pretty stupid doing this but it’s a good way of finding what works best! Instead of looking straight on, try smiling while tilting your head slightly. This sideways angle tends to be more flattering and adds depth to your face. Then try out different kinds of smiles. You could do a smile showing your teeth or keeping your mouth closed.

The right lighting always helps as well, but this is something you don’t have to worry about. As a wedding photographer, it’s my job to sort this out. Direct sunlight can sometimes be unflattering, as the light falls directly onto your face, causing harsh lines. If your wedding day is really sunny, the best time to get photos is in the evening. When the sun starts to set, it creates a really soft light that is just beautiful.

I’ll be sure to find the best lighting on the day for you.

Stacey’s Pro Tips

Keep your eyes closed until just before the photo is taken to avoid blinking
Avoid a double chin by looking up slightly
Ask your makeup artist to avoid using whitening powder as this can show up if the camera flash is on

How to pose for wedding photos

Now that I’ve determined how you can find your best side and ensure you get the right photos, I want to run through how you can pose for your wedding photos.

The most important thing is to try and relax. If you’re feeling nervous about your photos, it will show in your body language. You should try and un-tense your shoulders, hold your head up and relax your arms.

Many people feel unsure about what to do with their arms in photographs. If you can, avoid keeping them too close to your torso, as this will make them look bigger than they are. Lift them away from your body ever so slightly to make them look as slim as possible. You could even try putting one arm on your hip, keeping your elbow tucked behind you. This will also accentuate your waist.

Many brides forget about what their legs are doing in photos, and why should you need to think about this? Your legs are covered by your dress, right? But what your legs are doing can impact the way you stand in your photos. Either keep one knee slightly bent so that you don’t look too stiff or cross your ankles to make your hips appear narrower.

It’s more flattering to have your body facing at a 45-degree angle instead of directly onto the camera, just like in the photo above.

Finally, stand up straight! You don’t want slumped shoulders in your photos.

February 16, 2020

Blog, Real Weddings

Wedding at Soughton Hall, Mold, North Wales

I came to Soughton Hall to photograph the beautiful wedding of Phil and Aleisha and it’s a place that I’ve fallen in love with. Based in Mold, North Wales, the stunning Georgian building is surrounded by acres of Welsh countryside and is full of character and history.

About Soughton Hall

Soughton Hall is a Grade II listed family home that was built in 1720. There are 15 bedrooms, allowing your nearest and dearest to stay overnight, as well as many beautifully decorated rooms, including the Drawing Room, Library and Dining Room. For summer weddings, there’s the option to say your vows outside on the lawns or in the secret garden.

Phil and Aleisha’s Wedding

The weather was a little overcast on the wedding day, with touches of sunshine, but this didn’t matter – Soughton Hall has plenty of stunning indoor spaces to use, and the bride and groom hired out use of the marquee too. As a photographer based in North Wales, it’s actually easier for me to shoot in overcast weather, which is lucky considering it rains a lot in this country! The rain held off so we could get plenty of shots outside, including in the secret garden.

Aleisha chose a beautiful corset-back princess dress. Her bouquet was mostly a mixture of white and pink roses that were hand-tied with some white ribbon. The pink roses in her bouquet perfectly matched the blush pink colour of the bridesmaids dresses.

I adored Aleisha’s shoes which had small pink flowers on them and looked so pretty.

The bridal prep room at Soughton Hall is the perfect place for you to get ready surrounded by your bridesmaids, your mum, your friends, whoever! There’s plenty of space and it can be a really fun time to get ready together, with enough mirrors and natural light for everyone. I captured this beautiful image of Aleisha looking out the window while drinking her champagne.

In my opinion, there isn’t a colour that goes with pink better than blue. The groomsmen wore blue suits complete with pink ties and handkerchiefs to bring the whole colour scheme together. Their buttonholes were white roses that matched the bride’s bouquet.

The ceremony itself took place inside Soughton Hall and Aleisha’s mum walked her down the aisle.

The ceremony room has decor that is perfectly fitting with the building’s character, emphasising the stunning ceiling rose with a large chandelier. The wallpaper is modern while also keeping some feeling of grandeur.

The venue has plenty of beautiful outdoor spaces to take some photos of the newly-weds and their guests. Phil and Aleisha chose to have some group photos as well as some fun ones of themselves in the grounds, playing on Soughton Hall’s swing. You can see that Aleisha chose to swap her simple heels for a pair of pretty trainers complete with bows!

When you hire Soughton Hall, not only do you get use of their stunning hotel, but also the marquee for use during the wedding breakfast and evening. Phil and Aleisha kept the pretty-in-pink theme by adding bouquets to the wedding tables and pretty table names. The chair covers were made from delicate lace that adds a vintage feel to the whole area.

Phil and Aleisha chose to make their wedding cake a statement by placing it on a large swing suspended from the ceiling, surrounded by stunning foliage. The cake was the centrepiece of the dance floor and was the backdrop to their first dance. Guests often don’t get to see the cake, as it is cut and whisked off to be portioned out, so this was a lovely way for guests to be able to see it in its full glory. I especially love the iced characters of Phil, Aleisha and their children, complete with the colour scheme of the day.

Congratulations again to Mr and Mrs Dennan!

January 28, 2020

Blog

Do satin wedding dresses photograph well?

Your wedding dress will likely be the most special and important item you’ll ever buy, so you want it to be absolutely perfect. However, many brides seem worried about the prospect of a satin dress, thinking that it may look unflattering or come out too shiny in the photographs.

Well, I’m here to prove that your satin wedding dress will look beautiful in your photos. Below, I’ve identified some ways that you can make sure your dress comes out looking as beautiful in the photos as it does in real life. I hope you find them helpful and that you can find the perfect satin wedding dress for your big day!

Make sure it fits properly

As with any wedding dress, if it doesn’t fit properly, the photos will show this. And when it comes to a satin dress, sometimes it isn’t the dress that doesn’t photograph well, but the way it fits you. In order for your satin wedding dress to look amazing in your photos, it needs to fit like a glove.

You should ensure that you make any needed alterations to the dress. Even if you bought it in the size that’s right for you, it may still need altering slightly, as every body shape is different. For example, if you have a strapless dress, you need to make sure that you won’t be pulling it up all day and night.

Choose the right accessories

Because satin has a natural sheen to it, it’s important that you use the right accessories to compliment the dress. Lots of glitz and blingy jewellery or shoes might not be the best option. Keep it simple with a delicate necklace and some simple satin shoes.

Ensure it’s the ‘right’ satin

As with any material, there are tons of options when it comes to satin. Some satin is shinier than others, and it comes in variations of white, off-white, ivory and cream and other colours besides.

Satin will photograph better when it’s not a pure white. Instead, soften the look with an off-white or ivory. It’ll still look really white in the photos, but without becoming too fluorescent and glaring.

Choose a good photographer

Finally, your photos will only be as good as your photographer. A well-experienced photographer will be able to capture the dress in the correct light and make the best, most professional edits to make you and your dress look their best. It’s so important that you make the right decision, as you’ll have your photos forever and you need to truly love them.

When looking at different suppliers, you could ask to see examples of when they’ve photographed a satin wedding dress to ensure it looks as you want it.

Satin is a beautiful fabric that adds a touch of luxury to any wedding dress and is suitable for use all year round. Don’t be put off buying satin because you believe it’ll look wrong in the photos. Any good wedding photographer will be able to work their magic and make the dress look incredible!

December 15, 2019