12  Tips for you to look your best on your wedding photos

1. Get emotional

One tip that I always tell my brides is that true emotion is so much better than posed. Faking a smile will result in a photo you hate. During your photo session, make sure you don’t focus on the photographer, but rather, your new husband! Focus on your emotion and you'll create photos you love.

2. Embrace the unexpected

Allow your wedding day to simply be what it is. Whether that means inclement weather, forgetting that bracelet you wanted to wear, or events running way off schedule. Keeping an open mind will allow spontaneity and magic to surprise and delight you, and make your wedding uniquely yours.

3. Try to no look only straight ahead

For candid photos, it’s always helpful to look slightly away from the camera. Try looking over the photographer's shoulder or at your bridesmaids. It’s best to move into a position, so it feels more natural, rather than freezing in a pose.

4. Keep your Poses Natural

Even the most natural wedding portraits require some posing. Again, your photographer will direct you on this, but keep in mind how you usually interact with your partner. If you're not into PDAs, for example, there's little point in having a dozen photographs of you kissing. Let your photographer know what you're comfortable with, and don't be afraid to suggest alternatives if the pose just doesn't feel authentic.

5. Have a good time

Enjoy yourself. Don't be so stressed out about everything that's going to happen that day because it will show on your face. Be confident in the fact that everything is done now, and the day has come where all you need to do is go get married and enjoy yourself.

6. Stay relax

Stay relaxed. People always look the most photogenic when they’re relaxed. Doing something as small as making sure to take a few deep breaths throughout the day can help you relax and give you a natural glow in your photos.

7. Avoid the double chin.

Trust me, double chins can plague even the slimmest of women in pictures. To avoid it, elongate your neck by moving your head forward slightly and lift up your chin. You know you have gone too far down when you feel your neck creasing.

8. Use Flower Power

Instead of clutching your bouquet with your arms flat at your sides (which makes arms look wider), hold flowers near your belly button with arms curved away from the body. This will also hide your tummy and visually whittle your waist.

9. Tan with Caution

If you're planning on applying fake tan before the big day, go a shade lighter than you ordinarily would for a special occasion. We won't go into the science behind it, but fake tan will often look more orange in photographs than in the flesh, and equally, photographs may enhance the appearance of tan lines. It's also worth remembering that your skin might look darker than expected when photographed alongside your partner's skin, and that of your bridal party. A good photographer will be able to balance all skin tones in their photographs, but where fake tan is involved, do expect a difference between what you see in the mirror and your completed portraits.

10. Take easy on the make up

Take it easy on the makeup. Request that your makeup artist give you an enhanced natural appearance, especially when it comes to the eyes. False eye lashes are a big deal when it comes to makeup. They transform the eyes, making them pop in the photographs. But instead of using the adhesive strips, apply individual lashes so that if one piece falls off, there is no big deal.

11 Find a Photographer that You Trust

One of the most important factors in looking good in your wedding photographs is being comfortable around your wedding photographer. With this in mind, don't just look for a photographer whose work you love (although that's crucial, of course!), but also someone that you have a good feeling about, and imagine you will have a good rapport with. You can gauge this by reading the About Me section on their website, having a look at their social media accounts and, of course, by your initial emails with them. You can also book an engagement shoot with them. I recommend arranging a meeting or Skype chat with your photographer once you've booked them, as this will help break the ice

12. Get a Good Night's Sleep

There are very few things you can do to hide a tired appearance, so schedule in a good eight hours of sleep before the big day. Your makeup artist will thank you for it, and knowing that you've got lots of fuel in the proverbial tank will put you at ease!