Working as a wedding and portrait photographer for some years has given me insight on the subject of what looks fabulous at a wedding and how to help a couple look their best on their special day.

As an “expert”, I’ve compiled a list of tips that you might want to keep in mind for your wedding or commitment ceremony. Ask your photographer for additional tips as well. A professional photographer will have good ideas for locations to shoot in and ways in which you can take the most advantage of your specific surroundings and lighting.

Things you can do before the wedding

1. Brides: always have a hair & make up rehearsal day, this way you can be sure you like the way it looks before showing it off to everyone you know. This would be a great opportunity to have a pre-wedding bridal portrait taken with your photographer if they offer this service. That way you can see how the hair & make up photographs, you might see the photos and decide the lip gloss is too dark or the eye make up is too shiny. This way you can make minor adjustments to make sure you look your best. The pre-wedding portrait is a fantastic way to get relaxed & artsy photos of you in your dress so that you don’t have to spend as much time with portraits on the day of the wedding.

2. Ask for help choosing the most flattering dresses for your figure. A dress shop should be able find dresses that will make you look your best.

3. Grooms: Don’t be afraid to use a little cover up and powder. Powder makes everyone look better in photographs, the less shine the better. If acne is an issue, use a little dab of cover up on blemishes. If there is a stylist at the wedding, have them touch you up before the photos.

4. If you have it in your budget, hire a stylist. He or she will spend their day making sure you look awesome so you don’t have to.

5. Choose a photographer that you like and feel comfortable around. Don’t skip out on the engagement session. This is a portrait session with the two of you a few months before the wedding. It’s a great way to get to know your photographer. When you look at the engagement portraits with your photographer make sure to tell them the photos you like the most and the photos that you don’t care for. Be clear about your expectations. This will give them important information about your preferred style that will help them capture images you love at your wedding. The photographs from this session can be used for save the date cards, wedding programs, a photo-guest book and/or for a framed photograph at the guest book.

6. Consider your surroundings! Unless you are selecting your wedding venue based on your membership in a religious community, pick a place based on its inherent beauty. There’s nothing like an amazing beach wedding, or a wedding in a gorgeous park. If you know someone with a beautiful home and/or a nicely landscaped yard, having your wedding there could be a great way to save on a smaller wedding.

7. Especially if you are having an indoor wedding and reception, take the portraits outside! Make sure to use beautiful natural surroundings and light as part of your images from the day. It will add interest in your wedding album too. Make sure to plan sometime outside for photos.

8. Study up on ceremonial traditions when preparing for your ceremony. Select things that have meaning for you both. Ask your officiant to add these significant details for you. These touches can add visual and introspective interest to your day.

9. For both the wedding and reception, make sure you have some interesting details that are special to both of you. If you’re on a budget, make something lovely. Hand crafted details can be the most wonderful of all. Get paper in your wedding colors and make paper cut outs flowers or birds or something you love. Use silky fabric, feathers, and other inexpensive materials to create something that is very personal and unique. You can have a gathering and get family and friends in on the creative process. Most people will be more than happy to help.

10. Make sure you do any major partying a few days before the wedding. A wedding day hangover isn’t good for photos or for your enjoyment of the celebration.

11. Ask your friends and family to take care of small details on the day of the wedding for you. This will help you stay calm (no furrowed brows for your photos) and enable you to relax and enjoy what you’ve work so hard to plan for.

Things you can do on the day of your wedding

12. Give the photographer time to get great photographs. Portraits are usually an important part of a wedding day. Make sure to give your photographer enough time to get great things accomplished. Ask your photographer how much time they will need. A good photographer will be able to give you an estimate based on how many people are involved in your wedding. Take their advice on the time table whenever possible.

13. No glitter. I know glitter can be fun and festive but in photographs it just looks like weird white specks on skin. Best to go without.

14. Unless you’re really attached to the way you look in glasses, take them off for portraits, the eyes are such an important part of you and they can be seen much better without glasses.

15. Carry powder or rice papers with you throughout the day to dab sweat and shine from your face before photos.

16. Keep a few buckets of bottled water on hand, this is particularly important on hot summer days! Stay hydrated, it will help you look and feel refreshed.

17. Remind each other to relax and enjoy this day that you’ve prepared for. Take a deep breath and smile. Have fun this is your day!

After the wedding

18. Consider having a day after portrait session with your photographer. This can be the best way to get photographs of the two of you that are fun & candid. It also gives you the opportunity to get into that dress you love one more time. And how many times do you get to wear a tux or a snazzy suit? Ask the photographer if they will go to a few locations with you. This is the time to really enjoy your selves with the photographer. Don’t worry about getting your dress dirty, you were going to get it cleaned anyway! These will probably be your favorite photos from your wedding. You and the photographer can work together to create artistic images that are all about the two of you!

-Rosemary Ragusa owner of Rosemary Ragusa Photography