Looking Your Best

Improper posing, use of lenses, and camera angles can add unwanted pounds to your wedding shots. It is your job to research your photographer, looking extensively at his/her portfolio, to avoid the camera "adding ten pounds".

1. Posing:

There are certain strategies that celebrities use to look their best in photos. Your photographer should be able to instruct you on how to do this. If you are savvy enough to find this and read this ahead of time, you can increase your percentage of getting great shots!

As a photographer, my main concerns are getting a great exposure, making you look great, and composition. The more educated or comfortable the bride is on how to pose herself, the more the photographer can concentrate on exposure and composition. It's all about teamwork!

You can use the name N.O.V.A.K. to remember how to pose yourself. I got this idea from my friend Jay at Evoke Photography and Video in Houston, Texas. Thanks Jay!

N Never hold your breath. Relax.
Holding your breath makes you look tense or stiff and can cause your upper body to look larger. Stay relaxed and have fun with your photography experience!

O  Open your eyes
Anyone who is an artist has heard the eyes called "the windows to the soul". Have you ever seen a photo with a "fake smile"? Photos labeled as having fake smiles often have an OK smile, but their eyes look empty. Real smiles have open and inviting eyes. Smile with your eyes first, or think of something pleasant. Then kick in your pearly whites!

V V shape with your arms
Placing your arms in a V shape keeps your arm muscles toned and creates separation from your torso. Ideally you want to see a diamond shape in the hole you create between your torso and arms. This accentuates your feminine curves.

A  All your weight on your back foot
It makes sense to shift your weight away from the camera. If your body is further away than your front leg, it appears smaller, thus slimmer. For some people it is natural that their hips and shoulders shift, placing their bodies at a 45 degree angle to the camera. This is exactly what you want. As a general rule, if you are having trouble, your front foot should be pointed toward the camera while your back foot should be pointing out to the side.

K  Keep your back straight, and shoulders and forehead relaxed
Good posture reflects confidence just like a firm handshake. Tense shoulders can make your shoulders look larger, and no one wants a wrinkly forehead!


Thinking about this acronym is all fine and dandy, but you will surely experience better results by practicing in front of a mirror, or maybe even making a game of it in your bridal shower! Take pictures of each other for a memorable scrapbook!

2. Lenses, technique, and camera angles can make or break a shot:
Make sure you choose a knowledgeable photographer who uses lenses and camera settings appropriately. Without getting too technical, you should be able to browse your prospective photographer's portfolio and see a variety of images with accurate and creative use of color, focus, and perspective. Not only does choosing the right lens, technique, and camera angle effect how your body looks, but it also can add artistic flare and uniqueness to your photos.