12 Bridal Portrait Posing Tips for Camera-Shy Brides

Almost every bride tells us the same thing on the morning of her wedding: I am not photogenic. By the end of the session she has forgotten the camera exists. Here is how that happens.

Twelve directions that always work

• Turn your body forty-five degrees, then bring your face back to the lens
• Push your chin slightly forward, never up — it defines the jaw
• Keep your weight on the back foot and let the front knee bend
• Hold your arms a hand's width away from your waist
• Look at something, not at nothing — a person, a light, a flower
• Blink slowly, then open your eyes into the shot
• Laugh on purpose for three frames; the real smile comes fourth
• Use your dupatta or veil as a frame rather than a cover
• Sit on the edge of a chair and lean forward
• Sip water, fix your hair, walk — we shoot the in-between moments
• Ask your mother to stand behind the camera for a genuine reaction
• Breathe out before the shutter, not in

Why we direct rather than pose

Stiff poses look stiff. We give you a direction, let you settle into it, then shoot the second and third frame when you have relaxed. That is why our bridal session looks natural without being random.

You are not being photographed. You are getting ready, and we happen to be in the room.

What to prepare before the shoot

Have your jewellery and makeup finished twenty minutes early, keep a clean dupatta pinned and ready, and ask your family to give you ten quiet minutes near a window. That window light is the best portrait light you will get all day.

We allow forty-five minutes for bridal portraits in every wedding package, at no extra cost.

Planning a wedding in Raiganj or anywhere in Uttar Dinajpur? Send your date to the studio on WhatsApp and we will tell you what is still available, what it costs and what your photographs will look like. You can also see the full list of services and our wedding coverage areas.