Worried about candid photos.

megk8oz · December 2009

So I'm a month out as of today, and I'm actually pretty "calm" about a lot of things, but I have this one nagging issue that just will not quit.

I photograph horribly. Posed pictures are one thing (Although, I'm not usually happy with how those turn out either), but in candid photographs, I seriously look bad in my "natural" state apparently. If I'm not smiling or laughing, I look like a sad little kitten that needs to be adopted (I don't even need to be frowning, if it's not a smile, I just look pathetic). I'm not sure if it's my incredibly high cheek bones or what, but if I AM smiling or laughing I look ... when honestly, there's no politically correct way to say it, I look like I should be competing in the Special Olympics (Which, I'm sure somebody's going to rip me a new one for that) ... and not in that "Oh but she's clearly having fun" kinda way (Which I'm sure most people think they look in candids), but in a "Wow, there's really something wrong with her" kinda way.

To me, the pictures are so incredibly important, and I know there's going to be a lot of them. I love the idea of getting candid shots (Those non-scripted moments of joy just seem so beautiful in everybody else's pictures), I just don't love the idea of how I'm most likely going to look in them. I know it would be ridiculous to tell the photog to not take candids of me or to ask him to warn before taking them (And who really wants to spend the night worrying about when the camera's going to go off?) ... I just really don't want to get all of my pictures back, go through most of them and want to crop myself out either.

I know that some people are going to say "Oh, it's just in your head, you're going to look fabulous". I know I'm going to look good on my wedding day (I mean, come on, every bride is beautiful on her wedding day!) ... I'm just petrified it won't convey into the photographs. I also WANT to have fun and not worry about the camera clicking away all.

I'm not sure if there's any suggestions anybody has on "not looking stupid in pictures" or if anybody that's been married had a similar problem (And it worked out fine anyway), or what, but I just really needed to get this out.

Help!

anna.oskar · December 2009

I totally have the same problem. I found a list of tips (like how not to hold your head) last week. I'll see if I can dig that back up for you.

megk8oz · December 2009

If you could find that I would be eternally grateful.

goheels05 · December 2009

Tell your photog your concerns.

I feel the same way about myself in candid shots (I have a terrible overbite and I swear I look like a caveman from the side), but my photog was able to capture (or maybe photoshop?) some awesome candids of me.

megk8oz · December 2009

I have incredibly high cheek bones and very deep set eyes, I think this is what causes it, but even though I have a "thin" face, when I laugh [in pictures], I look about 20 lbs heavier, and like my face is essentially consumed by my cheeks.

jenn.daniel · December 2009

I have the same problem. Talk to your photographer. I have a great candid photo of me from a friend's wedding - I guess they just have an eye for catching you at the right moment.

aerinpegadrak · December 2009

I don't photograph well. I hate photos of me. But when we did our e-pics, there were very few that I didn't like...

Talk to your photographer, tell him your fears. Maybe you could arrange a brief, casual picture session with him sometime before the wedding? He could give you a few tips and work with you to be more relaxed.

karenvaiden · December 2009

I just posted to another board - but I did not like my e-pics because of that very reason. I look sad and old! I wish there were more pics of FI and I looking at the camera and smiling. Maybe you should make sure to get plenty of the posed pics then you won't have to worry about the others later. I also look like I have a double chin in some because FI kissed my forehead and it pushed my head back like a pigeon! Good luck.

NotNumbers · December 2009

I absolutely hate having my picture taken, I almost never like how I look in them. However, looking through the pics from my wedding day (family ones, we haven't had the pros yet), I was amazed. I actually really like the vast majority of them.

Talk to your photog about your specific concerns and any angles you'd prefer he'd avoid. However, I think you'll be most likely be pleasantly surprised.

)

jeannigirl · December 2009

I worry about that same thing because sometimes I look like crap and am self conscious of certain features has well. The suggestion given by a pp to talk about your feelings to your photographer is a great piece of advice.

I know that the knot had al ist of how to pose for your wedding photographer and I am sure that your photographer will help and set you at ease.

tidetravel · December 2009

I am soooo not photogenic. At all. As cliche as this sounds, though, happiness really does radiate off of you on your wedding day. You won't notice the photographer there, and the pics of you will be the true you - not posing or saying "cheese." I'm sure that having an awesome photographer helped too.

I was blown away by our wedding pictures... there were few that I didn't like, even the "bad" ones.

gatorgirl2010 · December 2009

Ugh, I feel your pain. I manage to look TRAGIC in at least 85% of all pictures taken of me. Just chat with your photographer. They capture beautiful scenes for a living. They'll make you look like a million bucks.
Good luck with the wedding!

catcronley · December 2009

All great suggestions. You could also ask your photographer to allow you to get rid of anything you don't like before proofs or cds are made. Everyone takes a bad picture now and again (personally, I don't photograph well either) but if you just get rid of the ones you don't like no one else will see them anyway.

squirrly · December 2009

I would also recommend talking to your makeup artist, if you're using one. Show them photo examples of what you DON'T like. They may be able to do your makeup in such a way that it plays down things you don't like and plays up things you do. Deepset eyes and high cheekbones, I believe, are things that they *should* be able to help with.

This is NOT a replacement for talking with your photog - but it may make his/her job easier.

Worried about candid photos.

Re: Worried about candid photos.

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