If you’re a soon-to-be bride or a newlywed you know how much time and effort goes into wedding preparation. One of the many things that is or has been on your mind is: photos. Photography is the one of the only mediums that will allow you to reminisce and visually share this special day of yours, so on the day of your wedding the last thing you want to overthink is how your pictures are going to turn out. Below are a few tips to consider when preparing for your wedding celebration to ensure that your pictures look like they came straight out of a page in a magazine.

• 3-6 months before:

  • Diet and Exercise Regimen: If you feel you need to get “more in shape” before your wedding, allow yourself ample time to adjust to a healthy, regulated lifestyle. Don’t rush this process, as long as you feel your very best on your wedding day, that’s all that matters.

  • Schedule: Finalize a wedding day schedule so that everyone including the wedding planner, hair and makeup team, photographer, florist, and vendors are all on the same page. This will keep the day going smoothly without any hiccups.

  • Know Your Angles: Being comfortable in front of the camera is a MUST when aspiring to have amazing pictures. We ALL have a side we favor when taking pictures. Make this known to the photographer so they know to photograph you in a way that makes you feel confident. It’s also not a bad idea to practice taking photos to learn what poses flatters you best.

  • Hair and Makeup: If you’re hiring a hair and makeup artist, utilize the months leading up to your wedding to do a trial run. Not only will this ensure that you love how you will look on your special day, but you can also plan to get your engagement session done after being glammed up to knock several things off of you to-do list.

• 1-2 months before:

  • Hair: Get your hair trimmed and colored a couple months leading up to your wedding. This will make sure that your hair looks fresh and healthy on your wedding day, and it will also ensure that if any mishaps occur that you can get it fixed in plenty of time,

  • Teeth: Just face it, you will be smiling A LOT on your wedding day which makes having pearly whites an essential! Go to your dentist or purchase whitening strips to keep your smile bright and fresh.

  • Facial: Getting a facial done will allow your skin to be smooth, clear, and refreshed in your photos. Giving enough time in between your facial session and the photographs is a must, though. This allows time for any possible reactions or flare-ups.

  • Special Picture Requests: By this point, you should have a pretty good idea of how your wedding day schedule will encompass your picture spots. Have some good ideas in mind? We want to know! Set the expectation for us because we want your visual memories to be unique and personal to you!

• The week of:

  • Manicure: Having your nails nice and neat ensures those desired ring shots are satisfactory and on point!

  • Ring Cleaning: We want your ring to shine on your hand and in your pictures. You’ll take everyone’s breath away with a fresh, shiny ring.

  • Wax/Shave: Wax and shave any unwanted hair from your body. We have professional cameras for a reason: to pick up EVERY detail. Don’t want it in your photos? Get rid of it.

  • Don’t Pick: What could I possibly mean by this? You’ve been planning your wedding for awhile now and have picked or assisted in picking out everything. What I mean is: don’t pick your face. Plain and simple. Makeup artists are there for a reason, and swollen faces should not be a prerogative. If you have a flare up try a trusted topical treatment you’ve been using, ice it, or stay away from mirrors to avoid the compulsion.

• Night before/Day of:

  • Sleep: It’s hard. Excitement and nerves are coursing through your body, but a good night’s rest (7-8 hours) will keep the dark circles, stress, and exhaustion from creeping in.

  • Hydrate/Snack: So many brides forget to stay hydrated and eat on their wedding day. Whether that be from pure forgetfulness or refusing to do so, it is SO important to drink water and eat to avoid headaches, nausea, or even passing out. We want you to stay happy and healthy on your special day!

  • Take a Peek: Unsure of how pictures are turning out or out of pure curiosity, if you want to take a look at what we’re capturing, it’s okay to ask ever so often.

  • Timeliness: Make sure to stick to the planned schedule. We don’t want you to feel rushed and we also want to be able to capture everything we and yourself had planned.

During getting ready moments make sure you’re happy with the final outcome of your hair and makeup and take time to sip on your preferred beverage and grab a snack.

Angles. Are. Everything. Look at how beautiful these brides are! Their posing is so elegant and flattering.

Special picture requests can include anything from special loved one group shots to fur baby photo-ops. Also, take a look at how beautiful these rings are! A cleaning goes a LONG way in photos.