If you read Sterling Photography’s previous post, then you know that our hot topic of the month is posing for the bride—and we mean bridal poses for every bride in any size or shape.
Now, we understand that some brides do not want to appear self-centered, over-indulgent and vain. However, we believe that a little vanity can be a good characteristic on your wedding day. There is no arrogance in wanting to present your best self for your guests—and for your groom!
Walking away the bridal pose can show the elegance and drama of your dress.
You have worked on every detail of your ensemble. Now all you need is appropriate posture, natural confidence, some lighting and a radiant expression.
Bridal Poses and Time
If your wedding photography is important to you, keep in mind that your photographer will need a little of your time here and there throughout your wedding events. This is not simply a consideration for your professional photographer, but for every guest who will be taking their little shots of your great day.
Sterling’s prompts will buoy up your confidence, and you’ll be surprised how much you will learn as he coaches you and your wedding party through prompted, elegant and fun poses.
Sterling’s Bridal Prompts like pulling your arm away from the body illustrate the best “You.“
Sterling Says,”Bridal Prompts, Not Photoshop!”
Although we want you to look your best in your photographs, we do not believe in adding so much Photoshop to your pictures that your own mother would not recognize you.
We simply do not like the “plastic” look of over-processing your face or your shape with Photo-shop. We believe in working our magic within the camera.
Bridal artist J.R. Sterling will give you every advantage of the photographer’s profession in order to look your best. Think of him as your coach or a director in a film.
Rather than artificial and dated poses, he uses prompts. Like a coach, he will instruct you so he can take advantage of camera angles, body positioning and lighting. You will see classic grace and contemporary style in his work. You will still look like you, but you, at your best. This is one of the reasons you hire a pro.
Bridal Poses and Photography: Our Top Five Tips
This week we are bringing you a few more tips on body angles and positioning. J.R. Sterling helps you appear as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside—and still be you.
Note that her bouquet is low. Her arm is away from her body and her shoulders are angled.Notice her solfly resting hands.
Some of these tips are so basic that once you hear them and understand them, they make perfect sense. Below you will find 5 of our favorite bridal keys to good bridal poses. These tips are pre-prompting prompts!
Bridal Poses Are Not Engraved in Stone!
What worked as a pose you loved in your friend’s wedding might not fit your story. It’s best to allow unique moments to happen. Those are the moments that will become memories. We also want you to know that all of these tips have exceptions. They are not “rules,” just little guides for possibilities.
Natural Bridal Poses from Sterling. Hold the moment. Hold the Memory.
1. No Death-grip on that bouquet! Hold your bouquet softly. In fact hands are very important to your portraits. Keep them soft and relaxed, and don’t worry about them. Sterling will show you what to do with them in your formal poses.
Try to avoid stiffening or flattening your hands.
Another point about the bouquet: Try not to “hide” behind it. You do not want to block the pretty neckline, beading, lace or detail of the bodice of your dress. Likewise, you might have the best waist-line you will ever have in your life, so let your wedding guests see it.
Professional model, Brett Harkness advises brides to “Aim for just below belly button level. Not too high and not too low. This pushes your arms out with a slight bend at your elbow, avoiding crushed skin and bingo wings.”
2. Shape Yourself! Position your feet so that you can put most of your weight on the foot farthest from the lens. A hand on your waist can show off your dress as well as give you stylish flair.
3. Angle Yourself! Slant your shoulders and angle them slightly away from the camera so you are not straight at the camera. If you present yourself square-shouldered and directly at the camera lens, you run the risk of turning your body into a straight line and your natural contours will appear shapeless.
4. Another tip in formal standing poses, is to avoid letting your arms cling to your body. When posing alone, there should be some air between your body and the inside of your arms. This simple tip will slenderize both the waist and the arms.
General Posing Advice:
No matter what your size, short or tall, slender or curvy, use a slight twist or slant of your shoulders toward the camera. This technique will bring gentle curves to your body.
Next Week: Fun Bridal Moments for the Bride and Groom!
Plus, roll your forward shoulder back; do not tuck it under your chin. This will turn about two thirds of your body toward the lens and toward the light.
Just remember the part of your body that is posed closest to the camera will appear the largest in in the photograph. You can really see this in a recent online article about posing women who are a bit curvier than a size 2. The illustrations show how much the pose matters when the professional photographer is prompting it.
The online magazine Rock and Roll Bride has published an Amusing article with a clever and memorable set of do’s and don’t’s for your bridal photographs.
At your wedding, rest assured you can rely on J.R. Sterling, not only for fine photography, but for the kind of guidance, confidence and
encouragement that will help you shine on your special day.
