After several years of working in the wedding photography business, and portrait business, I have learned a few tips and tricks to looking amazing in your wedding photos.

Have you ever noticed how some instagram stars like to share portraits of them looking slim and fit, then a second later sharing a photo of them looking like they have an enchilada baby growing in their bellies? That’s because they know their body and what angles they look best in. They know the tips and tricks of the trade. Below I am going to share some of those tips with you.

The basic way to look good in your images is to feel confident and to consciously think about your carriage (how you hold yourself). When you feel confident in your photos, you will look confident. As for your posture, pretend there is a string attached to the top of your head and someone above is pulling it up. Below, I will bread down some common body concerns for men and women.

 

Arms:

As a wedding photographer, I work with a lot of clients who find themselves holding things (ie flowers) in their hands. People tend to relax their arms and push them into their bodies. This flattens your arms and makes them look bigger than they really are. The easiest way to prevent this is to be conscious of your elbows. Make sure your elbows are NOT touching anything.

Curves (boobs & butt):

This is fairly simple. If you want to accentuate your curves, you need to think about your spine as the “S” that it is. Push your chest out while pushing your butt out at the same time. You should really feel this in your lower back. You can angle your body slightly to the side of the camera to make sure the camera sees your curves. Never face the camera dead on if you want to accentuate your assets. Ladies, it’s also important to pop a knee in your photos. This will help to offset your angles and really accentuate your curves.

Tummy:

Pretty much everyone is concerned about how their stomach looks in pictures. I know I defiantly am. For women, if you are taking photos with your fiancé, turn perpendicular to your partner (ooh I just used middle school math!) then press your bellybutton into your partner’s hip bone. If you are taking pictures by yourself, you can use the same “S” shaped spine idea as above in accentuating your curves to make your tummy disappear. In general, we have bad posture. When you straighten your spine your entire carriage lifts and stretches (stretching your stomach as well).

Broad Shoulders:

To broaden your shoulders, first square yourself with your wedding photographer. You are facing each other head on. Next, straighten your posture and (like in the arm section above) make sure your elbows are not touching anything. This pose also helps to slim your tummy situation.

 

Remember, be vigilant in maintaining your posture during your wedding portraits, or for any portrait really, and be confident! You look amazing, so feel it and show it.