Rebecca Ellison Photography » Seattle Weddings-Engagements-Portraits-Events

My guess is that by now you have looked at wedding inspiration blogs for hours and hours looking for that perfect look, that perfect theme, that perfect idea for your big day…

Ever noticed in all the “real weddings” that you have perused through how amazingly confident all the couples look? These are real people at real weddings just like you will be at yours. How do they get that beautiful model look and how do they shine with all that amazing confidence while sitting in front of a camera?

It’s pretty easy really. They fake it! Ever heard the phrase fake it till you make it? Well, there is some major truth to that when you find yourself standing in front of a camera wondering what you should be doing.

Be relaxed and confident that you are looking good.

Trust me, we will tell you if what you are doing doesn’t look right from our perspective and give you instruction on how else to stand or look to arrive at the image that we want to capture, but until you here us tell you to change what you are doing be confident that you are exactly as you should be. It’s the second guessing that will show through the photos.

Body language is super important in photos. Every tense part of your body finds a way to show through in your photos from your toes to your fists, shoulders and eyes.

Here are a couple of tips to keep in mind while in front of the camera:
Let’s start from the bottom up!

Feet:
When we tell you to move to look one way or another, move your entire body, not just the top half. Move your feet to match the direction your body is in, otherwise you look like someone told you to stand a specific way instead of looking like you chose that spot yourself. Your entire body position needs to align in a natural way otherwise it looks off and you won’t know why.

Hips:
Okay ladies, how often do you ever stand with equal weight on each hip? Pretty rarely huh? Then why would you do that in front of a camera. The quicker you get into a stance that is natural to you, the faster you will relax and have fun in the session.
And men, there is something about tuxes that make every man stand like a mannequin. I know it isn’t your normal attire, but pretend you are in your favorite outfit that you KNOW your lady likes and you are super confident in. Mentally dress yourself in that and hold yourself as if you are wearing that…not the penguin suit! And check into your hips as well, how often do you stand straight up and stiff normally? Stick a foot out lean back and breath. Those are the photos you’ll love the most.

Hands:
It’s amazing how unconscious people are about what their hands are doing while they are uncomfortable or nervous. Try to keep your hands from instantly clenching when they are at your sides. Finding something for your hands to do will also help make them (and you) more relaxed. Play with the ring on your finger, hold your hands together, put them in your pockets, etc. Consciously flatten your hands on your pants instead of letting them clench. If it looks off, we will tell you do something else, but at least you won’t be there unconsciously keeping yourself tense.

Men, use your pockets. There is something automatically relaxing about having your hands in your pockets, and your entire body will react for the better for it. But for the love of God, NEVER put them in your tux jacket pockets. Those pockets should never ever ever be used. Pretend they don’t exist. Use pants pockets only!

Ladies, on the wedding day use your bouquet if you don’t know what to do with your hands. It’s the perfect built in prop to give you something to do and keep you looking relaxed. If you don’t have your bouquet rest the palm of your hands on your dress or on your man. If you can’t have your palm touch something because your fingers are in the way, you are clenching… and should relax. Also, ladies, always have a bend in your elbow. Even if it is very slight, there is something stagnant and off putting about limbs that have no bend in them.

Shoulders:
Most people hold tension in their shoulders. If you are uncomfortable or cold, your shoulders will move up and close you in, which in turn makes your chest turn in and give a look that says “go away”. Release your shoulders whenever you feel them tensing. Not only will it look better in the pictures, but it will relax you as well!

Eyes:
Whoever coined the term that the “eyes are the window to the soul” only had to look at photos to know that they hit the nail on the head. When being posed by a photographer trust that, even though you don’t know what they are looking for, they do. So, if they tell you to look over to them in a specific way, take a breath, relax and look at them in that way as if IT WAS YOUR IDEA. By owning up to how you are looking at them, your eyes will show that confidence and you will look stunning in the photos. It’s when you find yourself thinking “am I doing this right?” or “what do I look like right now?” your eyes will show the question and the image will not be as powerful. Just fake it like you know what you are doing.

Trust me, even if you aren’t doing exactly what it is that we told you to, if you are standing there with confidence that that is exactly what you should be doing and you know you look good doing it, the image will be great. We’d rather have you interpret how we want you to stand and have you own it and make it yours. It’s the second guessing what you are doing that will undo it all.

So, in short remember these quick tips:

• point your feet in the same direction of your body
• put weight on one hip or another, not evenly weighted -relax your hands so they are open, if you don’t know what to do with them, put them in your pocket or fiddle with your bouquet -keep your shoulders relaxed and down, even if you are cold -don’t second guess how you are looking or standing, as it will show in your eyes. Tell yourself you are doing exactly what you should be doing, and the confidence will shoot out of you!

Don’t believe me? Hop onto one of those great inspiration sites you’ve been spending your work hours on and look at the subjects feet, hips, shoulders, hands and eyes. Believe me now?

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Check out other parts of my Engagement Session Series:

• Tips on how to bring your personality through in your engagement photos

• 5 tips on choosing a great outfit for your engagement photos

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Looking for a wedding or engagement photographer? Contact me to talk about your wedding date!