Now that you have successfully lost 10 kilos and look stunningly hot in time for your pre-wedding photo shoot, how do you make sure that you don’t spoil the pictures with clumsy posing?
Killer looks could get a woman almost anywhere. But when it comes to standing before the camera, beauty is handicapped if you pose with two left arms and two left feet.
During a photo shoot, the photographer usually does not have the time to reach you the ABCs of modelling. But now with some tricks that professional bridal models swear by, you can also make the camera fall in love with you.
#1 Don’t Be Square
If you are on the plump side, NEVER, NEVER stand square to the camera. You should always turn your body slightly to one side, usually at an angle of 45 degrees or more to look slimmer.
Don’t be afraid that this pose will draw attention to your tummy as some gowns are designed to make you look bustier with a rolled out tummy.
#2 Put Your Best Foot Forward
Accentuate your curves by moving one food forward and pointing your toes, as you rest your body weight on the back foot. This will tilt your hip to one side and make your hips look fuller and rounder to create a sexy, statuesque effect. However, do not over-stretch your torso as that will make you look more vampish than regal.
#3 No Cold, Rigid Shoulders
When you are all tensed up on a shoot, rigidity will show on your face and shoulders. Some women, when nervous, will draw up their shoulders and make themselves look shorter above the chest. You should always remind yourself during the shoot to relax your shoulders for a natural look.
Useful Tips:
Do not face the camera squarely as your face may look flat when there is no angle at all. Point your nose always from the camera, as you keep your eyes on the camera or look in the direction where your nose is pointing. This angle will give prominence to a nice nose bridge.
#4 Crook The Elbows
Bend your elbows slightly to create a think crack between your waist and your arms. This pose works well if you have the sunlight or any other bright illumination shining behind you. It will make a beautiful picture, and furthermore, when the lights bounce off your waist and inner arms, the effect will deceptively take inches off them.
This pose is highly recommended for women who have less than well-toned upper arms, because when the arms are slightly lifted, they will not appear squished on the sides.
However, do practise to perfect this pose ahead of the actual shoot as you will not want to extend your elbows too far away from your body and look unnatural and clumsy. As mentioned in the earlier tip on relaxing your shoulders, do remember to keep them down as you work your elbows.
Useful Tips:
There is nothing worse than a slouching bride-to-be. Suck in your tummy, straighten your back and stick out your bottom to flaunt your curves.
#5 Don’t Make A Spectacle Of Yourself
Glasses look unglamorous in bridal shots, but if you must wear them, beware of certain taboos. Never wear transition lenses as they will look dark on the photos, even if the photos are taken indoors.
Make sure that your glasses have anti-reflective lenses to reduce reflections. When you pose, tilt your chin slightly downwards so that the camera’s flash will not reflect on your lenses and render your photos amateurish.
#6 Don’t make the headlines
When too much focus is on the eyes, arms, legs and torso, women tend to forget to mind their wrinkles, even in the case of young women.
Some women would furrow their brows to attempt the “cool look”, but end up looking irritated instead. And in some other cases, women with small eyes would try to open their eyes as widely as possible, only to look “surprised” with wrinkles etching the forehead.
Again, the solution is to relax your eyes and above the brows. If you are using the trick of lowering your chin to enlarge the eyes, make sure you relax your forehead.
#7 Make Eyes At The Camera
Some women with enthralling soulful eyes just can’t seem to project the same charm on camera. The problem lies once again on getting the angle wrong.
To make your eyes appear bigger, lower your head slightly to bring your eyes nearer to the camera than your chin is. Don’t push your head too close to your chest as that will create double chin and expose too much of the whiteness in your eyes if the camera is positioned at eye level.
Useful Tips:
If you don’t feel natural in certain postures, keep adjusting your body and angles until you feel comfortable, or else you will look uncoordinated in the photos.
#8 Posting The Posy
For women who feel exposed, awkward and naked without holding anything in their hands when they take pictures, bouquets are the best props. But do not raise your bouquet beyond the chest level, unless you want to highlight its beauty rather than yours.
As a general rule, place your wrists on your hip bones and don’t forget to leave a small space between your arms and your side. This will create a graceful 45-degree nook on your arm and naturally bring the bouquet to your mid-section. This is especially useful for women who are conscious about their belly.
Useful Tips:
Invite some friends along – preferably the jesters – who know how to push thr right buttons to help you feel relaxed, ease you into the most photogenic positions and bring on the natural smile.
