Wedding Dress & Make-Up Tips from a Photographer's View

Makeup - On a Budget?
If you can afford it, hire a professional. If you can cut anything else in your wedding to ensure you have the $30 or $40 to have your makeup professionally done, do it. Why not pay someone $30 that can make you look like a million bucks? This is the most important and most photographed day you will probably ever have, why not look the best you ever will? Besides, don’t you want your husband to look back on his wedding day and think, wow, I’ve never seen her glow like that.

Less is more. This is the digital age and trust me, the camera picks up everything. There are important things to keep in mind to tell the person doing your makeup. They will need to know if your event will be indoors and or/outdoors and if it will be dimly lit, etc. For example, if you are getting married on a beautiful summer day at 2 p.m. outdoors, you would want your make up to be a little bold. The more lights and the brighter the lights, the more the lights will wash out your color. This is the opposite for dim lit conditions.
** Let’s say that you are getting married indoors and the church is very dimly lit, not a lot of windows, and the lights are a yellow tint. If you told this to the professional doing your make up, they would try not to use makeup with a yellow tint, and would make sure that your make up was modest. Do not wear bright lipstick, really dark eye shadow and especially watch the blush. You can, but I assure you that you will probably look on the “clown” side because dim lights exaggerate the colors. Now, that’s not saying you can’t wear bright colors with dim lights, a professional makeup artist can use bright colors in a way that is flattering, but a friend or family member will more than likely end up making it worse because of their lack of knowledge. Okay, you’re probably thinking well, should I have good lighting for the formals? Well, or course, but unless you want big umbrella lights and light stands on at your ceremony, your pictures will be in the normal lighting of the church or location. Most receptions are also in dim lit conditions. It’s better for your makeup to be in accordance of the settings without lighting assistance, as we as photographers for your formal pictures can adjust our lights accordingly to flatter you as best as possible.

Always bring clear lip gloss and touch up makeup with you. Through out the day your makeup will “melt” and/or fade out. We strongly recommend bringing oil blotting paper in lieu of powder, because every time you reapply powder, it will start to look “caked on.” Most professionals will offer you samples to use throughout your day for purchase or complimentary.

The Dress - Don't be in a Hurry!
Make sure that the top portion of your dress is not too tight. When you try it on at the fitting, move around in it in the mirror and make sure it’s not cutting in and making bulges that you normally don’t have.
Make sure that it is also not too loose – you don’t want to be pulling it up the entire day. We often see a Bride’s frustration throughout the day, constantly pulling up her strapless dress.
Make sure that if your dress shows cleavage, that you look in the mirror and bend over. Ask yourself if that is the amount of cleavage you want your family members and guest to see (and all of your pictures to show) because most brides comment when looking through their pictures that they had no idea that they were showing that much cleavage when cutting the cake, leaning in and/or over for poses for the photographer and family members, dancing, etc.

**We also suggest taking a small handheld mirror with you. Sounds silly right? But having two teenage girls I often make them do this – take the mirror and hold it above your cleavage – now look up into the mirror looking down your dress. Wow right? Often women forget that men are taller than most women, and their view is, you guessed it, the same you see in the mirror, straight down your dress.

Even if you have already purchased your wedding dress, you can always get these things altered. We understand that you are planning a wedding with a budget but the dress fitting is not something to skimp on. How you look and feel in your dress is always reflected in your photographs whether you like it or not. Too many times we can see the bride’s frustration in her dress being too heavy, too tight, too loose and flat out uncomfortable. If you can afford it, or course we would suggest purchasing a separate wedding dress for the reception if your ceremony dress is too big and awkward for dancing and having a good time in. If you are like most brides and cannot afford a second dress, we strongly recommend that at your fitting you ensure you have a good bustle to tie up your train.

And please, don’t wait until your wedding day at the reception to figure out how to do it. Too often we have seen guest waiting for 20 minutes for a bride to get her dress bustled up because the person they delegated did not practice before hand. Brides, if your maid of honor or mother, or whom ever is the person that will be doing this task for you, make sure that you take them along with you when you purchase your dress and at your fitting and have the professionals there show them how. You cannot possibly show them how to do this with your dress on. We have seen time after time a bride become so mad because their mother or maid of honor cannot tie a bow right, knot or button, zip or bustle their dress. Why ruin your happy joyous mood? Don’t make the mistake in assuming that it’s easy and they will know exactly what to do and can do it fast, always do a test run and make sure they can do it and do it right and fast. You’ll thank yourself later and you’ll have pictures of you relaxed in your dress, not pictures of you giving your maid of honor or mom a look of frustration.

Of course, these are my opinions, from a Photographer's view - Angel Canary from Angel Studios Photography.

Wedding Dress & Make-Up Tips from a Photographer's View

Makeup - On a Budget?
If you can afford it, hire a professional. If you can cut anything else in your wedding to ensure you have the $30 or $40 to have your makeup professionally done, do it. Why not pay someone $30 that can make you look like a million bucks? This is the most important and most photographed day you will probably ever have, why not look the best you ever will? Besides, don’t you want your husband to look back on his wedding day and think, wow, I’ve never seen her glow like that.

Less is more. This is the digital age and trust me, the camera picks up everything. There are important things to keep in mind to tell the person doing your makeup. They will need to know if your event will be indoors and or/outdoors and if it will be dimly lit, etc. For example, if you are getting married on a beautiful summer day at 2 p.m. outdoors, you would want your make up to be a little bold. The more lights and the brighter the lights, the more the lights will wash out your color. This is the opposite for dim lit conditions.
** Let’s say that you are getting married indoors and the church is very dimly lit, not a lot of windows, and the lights are a yellow tint. If you told this to the professional doing your make up, they would try not to use makeup with a yellow tint, and would make sure that your make up was modest. Do not wear bright lipstick, really dark eye shadow and especially watch the blush. You can, but I assure you that you will probably look on the “clown” side because dim lights exaggerate the colors. Now, that’s not saying you can’t wear bright colors with dim lights, a professional makeup artist can use bright colors in a way that is flattering, but a friend or family member will more than likely end up making it worse because of their lack of knowledge. Okay, you’re probably thinking well, should I have good lighting for the formals? Well, or course, but unless you want big umbrella lights and light stands on at your ceremony, your pictures will be in the normal lighting of the church or location. Most receptions are also in dim lit conditions. It’s better for your makeup to be in accordance of the settings without lighting assistance, as we as photographers for your formal pictures can adjust our lights accordingly to flatter you as best as possible.

Always bring clear lip gloss and touch up makeup with you. Through out the day your makeup will “melt” and/or fade out. We strongly recommend bringing oil blotting paper in lieu of powder, because every time you reapply powder, it will start to look “caked on.” Most professionals will offer you samples to use throughout your day for purchase or complimentary.

The Dress - Don't be in a Hurry!
Make sure that the top portion of your dress is not too tight. When you try it on at the fitting, move around in it in the mirror and make sure it’s not cutting in and making bulges that you normally don’t have.
Make sure that it is also not too loose – you don’t want to be pulling it up the entire day. We often see a Bride’s frustration throughout the day, constantly pulling up her strapless dress.
Make sure that if your dress shows cleavage, that you look in the mirror and bend over. Ask yourself if that is the amount of cleavage you want your family members and guest to see (and all of your pictures to show) because most brides comment when looking through their pictures that they had no idea that they were showing that much cleavage when cutting the cake, leaning in and/or over for poses for the photographer and family members, dancing, etc.

**We also suggest taking a small handheld mirror with you. Sounds silly right? But having two teenage girls I often make them do this – take the mirror and hold it above your cleavage – now look up into the mirror looking down your dress. Wow right? Often women forget that men are taller than most women, and their view is, you guessed it, the same you see in the mirror, straight down your dress.

Even if you have already purchased your wedding dress, you can always get these things altered. We understand that you are planning a wedding with a budget but the dress fitting is not something to skimp on. How you look and feel in your dress is always reflected in your photographs whether you like it or not. Too many times we can see the bride’s frustration in her dress being too heavy, too tight, too loose and flat out uncomfortable. If you can afford it, or course we would suggest purchasing a separate wedding dress for the reception if your ceremony dress is too big and awkward for dancing and having a good time in. If you are like most brides and cannot afford a second dress, we strongly recommend that at your fitting you ensure you have a good bustle to tie up your train.

And please, don’t wait until your wedding day at the reception to figure out how to do it. Too often we have seen guest waiting for 20 minutes for a bride to get her dress bustled up because the person they delegated did not practice before hand. Brides, if your maid of honor or mother, or whom ever is the person that will be doing this task for you, make sure that you take them along with you when you purchase your dress and at your fitting and have the professionals there show them how. You cannot possibly show them how to do this with your dress on. We have seen time after time a bride become so mad because their mother or maid of honor cannot tie a bow right, knot or button, zip or bustle their dress. Why ruin your happy joyous mood? Don’t make the mistake in assuming that it’s easy and they will know exactly what to do and can do it fast, always do a test run and make sure they can do it and do it right and fast. You’ll thank yourself later and you’ll have pictures of you relaxed in your dress, not pictures of you giving your maid of honor or mom a look of frustration.

Of course, these are my opinions, from a Photographer's view - Angel Canary from Angel Studios Photography.

Lists You Need to Give your Wedding Photographer

We have made a quick list of what you should provide to the photographer to ensure that you get what you want for your wedding photographs.

1.A Detailed List of all of the events that will transpire on your wedding day. This includes the order of the reception (cutting the cake, first dance, speeches, food service, etc.) This helps the photographer know where to be and when. You would want the photographer to have time to get a quality photograph of the wedding cake, not have the DJ announce the cutting of the cake and get a mere “snap shot” of it seconds before you cut into it, simply because the photographer had no idea of when this would transpire or the schedule changed and nobody informed the photographer. This should be given to the photographer 3-4 weeks before your wedding day. (The photographer will then make a list and schedule timeline for your photographs for that day to co-inside with your plans.)

The more detailed your list of events are and order they will transpire, the better your photographs will be because it will mean the photographer is more prepared and in the place that she needs to be in and ready for you. This is especially helpful if the photographer notices the lighting or style of the photographs can be improved by having the bride and groom stand in a certain place or way to cut the cake, rather than have them just walk up and grab the knives and start cutting with little to no notice to the photographer.

2.A Detailed List of all of the Formal Pictures that you want. These should include if you want indoor and/or outdoor photographs of that group, party or person. Who you would like the photographs with (one of Bride with Favorite Aunt Jean Outdoor Pictures if no rain) (The Groom wants a picture with all of the groom’s men outdoor only and the bride wants pictures of her with the maids indoors and outdoors, and also wants a picture with each one separately.) This will help the photographer make a list of how long you will need to plan to take photos to ensure you have time to do all of them and to ensure they are not forgotten by checking them off the list during the day.


3.A Detailed List of all of the Small Things that are important to you – that you want pictures of. They can be two different things. If you tell the photographer that you love the way the bathroom is decorated, and you love the way your mom set up all of the bride’s maid’s bouquets, you love your grandmother’s ring and you’re wearing it on your wedding day, and you love your shoes and the flower girl’s basket, your programs, rings, etc – don’t be alarmed when you get all of your photographs back for proofs and there are pictures of all of these small things. We as photographers are merely doing what we are asked, and we take pictures of what you said you loved. That’s what we do. We record all of the small things that tell the story of your wedding day.

If you do not want pictures of your shoes, the flower girl’s basket, your grandmother’s rings, your programs, etc, we of course would simply suggest letting the photographer know that although you went out of your way to point these details out and how much they mean to you, that you don’t want any pictures of them, that way we can focus on the pictures of things that you do want and that are important to you. Of course 99.9% of our brides and grooms Rave about how glad they are that we documented in a beautiful way all the small things of their wedding. After all, these are the things that the bride has worked on for a year!! To make it simple, just make a list of what you want pictures of, that’s important. Don’t want pictures of my garter on my pale legs!! Do want pictures of my New Shoes! Of course, to date we have only had one bride complain that she had too many pictures and 0 that have not had enough pictures. As a photographer, I’ll take that.

4.A complete list of all of the locations that the photographer will need to be at – for the entire day. Even if you’re not sure of the times, at least provide this complete list to simply ensure that the photographer has time to utilize this information to make their own maps and driving directions. We always have two copies of driving directions to and from each location in conjunction with the main schedule. This will ensure us that we will not be late or get lost. Include the full Company name and the complete physical address and if possible the phone number with area code. For example:
Do Give: The Sunshine Salon
1234 Melody Lane
Greenfield, IN 46140
317-123-4567
Do Not Give: Salon in Greenfield off Melody Lane.


5.Complete list of your Wedding Party and the names of your parents, on both sides. The easiest way to do this is to simply copy your program. We also strongly suggest that you assign or request one person to be in charge of “gathering” everyone for your photographs per the schedule. This needs to be someone that knows who everyone is. This person can assist the photographer’s assistant in gathering everyone together at the times and in the locations that they are needed for photographs to ensure you stay on your schedule. You don’t have to do this but it will be easier on you, because if you look at the assistant and tell him that Mary is missing, he doesn’t know who Mary is. This is not something that most people think about, it’s just something that we noticed and developed and so far it works wonders and relieves the brides and grooms from gathering everyone that is missing or late.

6.A list of any changes, or requests in the schedule that the photographer made for your wedding day for your photographs. If for any reason, you don’t want to eat lunch before you put your dress on, let’s say you want to eat your lunch after you put your dress on. Well, you’re the boss; just write that on the list to change and the photographer will make the changes as needed per the bride and groom and/or wedding planner. It will be easier and less confusing for all parties involved to have all of the “kinks” in the schedule worked out ahead of time to ensure your day goes as smooth as possible.

7.A copy of any lists or schedules you have made for your family or wedding party. This would include deliveries, etc. We have actually had this come in handy often because the bride’s mother or maid of honor had either lost the list, or had brought the wrong or old one. These lists included how many bouquets and boutonnieres should have been delivered and who to pass them out to, etc. Like we said, we’re always happy to help.

Of course you don’t have to provide any lists at all. But I assure you that it will be reflected in your photographs. The Brides and Grooms who are overwhelmed or/and rushed and pulled here and there due to not having any idea of what was going on, had the deer in the headlight look or the I have a headache and want to choke someone look in each one of their pictures. They can smile all they want and pose all they want – but the eyes are the windows of the soul and they don’t lie – and a photograph catches it all. Then there are the Brides and Grooms that took the time to make the lists and the schedules not just for the Photographer, but for their wedding party and family. Their pictures always are the best, they don’t even have to be posed, because they experienced the joy, peace and love of the day and it was reflected in each and every photograph displaying the laughter and joyful tears of the day, not the confusion and frustration of an unplanned and unorganized day.

Lists You Need to Give your Wedding Photographer

We have made a quick list of what you should provide to the photographer to ensure that you get what you want for your wedding photographs.

1.A Detailed List of all of the events that will transpire on your wedding day. This includes the order of the reception (cutting the cake, first dance, speeches, food service, etc.) This helps the photographer know where to be and when. You would want the photographer to have time to get a quality photograph of the wedding cake, not have the DJ announce the cutting of the cake and get a mere “snap shot” of it seconds before you cut into it, simply because the photographer had no idea of when this would transpire or the schedule changed and nobody informed the photographer. This should be given to the photographer 3-4 weeks before your wedding day. (The photographer will then make a list and schedule timeline for your photographs for that day to co-inside with your plans.)

The more detailed your list of events are and order they will transpire, the better your photographs will be because it will mean the photographer is more prepared and in the place that she needs to be in and ready for you. This is especially helpful if the photographer notices the lighting or style of the photographs can be improved by having the bride and groom stand in a certain place or way to cut the cake, rather than have them just walk up and grab the knives and start cutting with little to no notice to the photographer.

2.A Detailed List of all of the Formal Pictures that you want. These should include if you want indoor and/or outdoor photographs of that group, party or person. Who you would like the photographs with (one of Bride with Favorite Aunt Jean Outdoor Pictures if no rain) (The Groom wants a picture with all of the groom’s men outdoor only and the bride wants pictures of her with the maids indoors and outdoors, and also wants a picture with each one separately.) This will help the photographer make a list of how long you will need to plan to take photos to ensure you have time to do all of them and to ensure they are not forgotten by checking them off the list during the day.


3.A Detailed List of all of the Small Things that are important to you – that you want pictures of. They can be two different things. If you tell the photographer that you love the way the bathroom is decorated, and you love the way your mom set up all of the bride’s maid’s bouquets, you love your grandmother’s ring and you’re wearing it on your wedding day, and you love your shoes and the flower girl’s basket, your programs, rings, etc – don’t be alarmed when you get all of your photographs back for proofs and there are pictures of all of these small things. We as photographers are merely doing what we are asked, and we take pictures of what you said you loved. That’s what we do. We record all of the small things that tell the story of your wedding day.

If you do not want pictures of your shoes, the flower girl’s basket, your grandmother’s rings, your programs, etc, we of course would simply suggest letting the photographer know that although you went out of your way to point these details out and how much they mean to you, that you don’t want any pictures of them, that way we can focus on the pictures of things that you do want and that are important to you. Of course 99.9% of our brides and grooms Rave about how glad they are that we documented in a beautiful way all the small things of their wedding. After all, these are the things that the bride has worked on for a year!! To make it simple, just make a list of what you want pictures of, that’s important. Don’t want pictures of my garter on my pale legs!! Do want pictures of my New Shoes! Of course, to date we have only had one bride complain that she had too many pictures and 0 that have not had enough pictures. As a photographer, I’ll take that.

4.A complete list of all of the locations that the photographer will need to be at – for the entire day. Even if you’re not sure of the times, at least provide this complete list to simply ensure that the photographer has time to utilize this information to make their own maps and driving directions. We always have two copies of driving directions to and from each location in conjunction with the main schedule. This will ensure us that we will not be late or get lost. Include the full Company name and the complete physical address and if possible the phone number with area code. For example:
Do Give: The Sunshine Salon
1234 Melody Lane
Greenfield, IN 46140
317-123-4567
Do Not Give: Salon in Greenfield off Melody Lane.


5.Complete list of your Wedding Party and the names of your parents, on both sides. The easiest way to do this is to simply copy your program. We also strongly suggest that you assign or request one person to be in charge of “gathering” everyone for your photographs per the schedule. This needs to be someone that knows who everyone is. This person can assist the photographer’s assistant in gathering everyone together at the times and in the locations that they are needed for photographs to ensure you stay on your schedule. You don’t have to do this but it will be easier on you, because if you look at the assistant and tell him that Mary is missing, he doesn’t know who Mary is. This is not something that most people think about, it’s just something that we noticed and developed and so far it works wonders and relieves the brides and grooms from gathering everyone that is missing or late.

6.A list of any changes, or requests in the schedule that the photographer made for your wedding day for your photographs. If for any reason, you don’t want to eat lunch before you put your dress on, let’s say you want to eat your lunch after you put your dress on. Well, you’re the boss; just write that on the list to change and the photographer will make the changes as needed per the bride and groom and/or wedding planner. It will be easier and less confusing for all parties involved to have all of the “kinks” in the schedule worked out ahead of time to ensure your day goes as smooth as possible.

7.A copy of any lists or schedules you have made for your family or wedding party. This would include deliveries, etc. We have actually had this come in handy often because the bride’s mother or maid of honor had either lost the list, or had brought the wrong or old one. These lists included how many bouquets and boutonnieres should have been delivered and who to pass them out to, etc. Like we said, we’re always happy to help.

Of course you don’t have to provide any lists at all. But I assure you that it will be reflected in your photographs. The Brides and Grooms who are overwhelmed or/and rushed and pulled here and there due to not having any idea of what was going on, had the deer in the headlight look or the I have a headache and want to choke someone look in each one of their pictures. They can smile all they want and pose all they want – but the eyes are the windows of the soul and they don’t lie – and a photograph catches it all. Then there are the Brides and Grooms that took the time to make the lists and the schedules not just for the Photographer, but for their wedding party and family. Their pictures always are the best, they don’t even have to be posed, because they experienced the joy, peace and love of the day and it was reflected in each and every photograph displaying the laughter and joyful tears of the day, not the confusion and frustration of an unplanned and unorganized day.