Part of wedding planning is wedding dress shopping. And you want that dress to be PERFECT, right?
But have you thought about how your dream wedding dress will photograph?
Before you splurge on your gown, read tips for the best wedding dress photos possible.
Consider YOUR body type, not the model wearing the wedding gown of your dreams
Are you looking at wedding dress photos on Pinterest or magazines? Now think about those images. Are you saving dresses that are modeled by someone with a similar body type to yours? Or does the model have a totally different build? Every style and fit of wedding gown will look different on every body depending on height, size, where you carry your weight, how big your bust is, etc. So you may be falling in love with a style you love on the models body that you will hate on yours. That doesn’t mean your body is wrong or bad. It just means there are better options you will feel like a goddess in.
I’ll use myself as an example. I’m 5’2”, curvy but athletic build, big butt, and my waist, although not tiny, is proportioned quite smaller than my hips. My least flattering part of my body is my lower stomach, upper thighs, and backs of my arms. My most flattering part of my body is my neckline, shoulders, back, and waistline proportions in comparison to my hips.
That means I will feel best in something that accentuates my best, most flattering features, and takes attention away from the areas that I would feel self conscious about.
take this dress as an example. It’s a simple and inexpensive dress, form fitting but not supportive, has a plunge neckline and flounce sleeves. It also has a fairly high slit on the leg, especially high on my 5’2” stature. (I had also just eaten a big meal at a Mexican restaurant & ive gotta say, while I DONT recommend eating a big meal right before wedding pictures, nobody would’ve known if I was in an a-line…just sayin.)
The dress on the model vs the dress on my body:
Um. Hmm. Yeah, um, uh… yeah, no. It draws attention to areas I’m self conscious about. It doesn’t show off my favorite features. I literally had to try folding my boob in half. You can see how bloated I am from dinner. Like, it’s just a mess.
Now look at the wedding dress below.
1000% better for my body as it shows off my neck and shoulders, accentuates waist area, and hides the areas I don’t love. (A-line dresses ftw amiright?)
See the difference a dress can make?
Like, are those people even the same person? Cause I’m not sure.
Below is my body type in regular everyday clothes. And somehow the first dress brought out all the parts of my body I wouldn’t even see normally. And it exaggerated them.
Easy tips to find the perfect dress based on your body type
Take your least favorite part of your body. Think of the one thing you would be most self conscious about.
Make sure that part is the least accented and most balanced
for instance, if you’re self-conscious about bigger breasts, they can be balanced with a v-neckline, drawing the eye upward and balancing the bust area.
Think of 2 parts of your figure you like or aren’t self conscious about.
Make sure that your wedding dress shows off those 2 features.
additional info on different fits:
A-line dresses are universally flattering, showing off the smallest part of your waist, and then flowing toward the hips in an A-shape. If you’re self conscious about your stomach area, a-line is a great option. (But it’s honestly so universal)
Plunge necklines show off neck and bust area in the sexiest yet classiest way. Plunge necklines tend to work well for bigger busts as they draw the eye up to your face, creating balance.
Mermaid and trumpet style (fit and flare) wedding gowns are sleek and form fitting gowns that will show off your curves. Don’t mind your stomach area and love your butt? Fit and flare will help you show that off. Keep in mind all your wedding photos will be focused on showing off your figure, so make sure you see yourself from every angle and feel sexy as hell. Note, if you are petite and want to look super elongated while showing off your figure, a fit and flare dress might be right for you as well. But if you’re a fit and flare lover, keep in mind you’ll have a harder time walking and sitting in your dress. But if you love the dress… WORTH IT.
Long lengths and long trains give length, especially if you’re a shorter bride.
Sheath dresses look beautiful on dainty bodies that have very little curve, but if you do a sheath dress, make sure it has beautiful detailing (more on that in tip #3)
I’m a big fan of a-line dresses. And there are literally thousands upon thousands, if not millions, of a-line wedding dress options. Basically, a-line dresses give everyone an hourglass body, and then you can decide on sleeves and neckline after choosing your silhouette based on your best and least favorite features.
Wedding dress designer Justin Alexander has an awesome plus size campaign, which I love, because it shows more body types in various wedding gown styles. That will help more brides envision themselves in the right gown for them.
So (tldr), if you’re researching wedding dresses online before trying on in person, make sure the models you’re viewing share your body type to save you time and heartache.
2. Flowy flowy flowyyyyyyy.
I love movement in my photos. A sweep tulle train, a long lace train, layers of tulle or organza, anything that has fabric that would move around if you spun in a circle is great for wedding photography. If you don’t have a flowy dress (or even if you do), ADD A VEIL. Even if it’s just for your bridal photos. There is so much artsy goodness a veil adds! You don’t have to wear it on your wedding day, but please bring one for photos. (I always try to bring one with me too). Take these photos, for example. See the difference?
Without a veil is still gorgeous.
But then LOOK AT THE DREAMY YUMMY MAGIC A VEIL ADDS.
3. That detail, baby.
Beautiful beadwork or lace can add a lot to your photos. Textures are everything in photography. They give dimension. When looking at wedding dresses, think shape, dimension, and interest. A shapeless sheath dress with no detailing won’t photograph as beautifully as an intricate lace gown with long train, beadwork, and buttons down the back. Make sure your dress gives shape, dimension, and interest, and you’re sure to have gorgeoussss photos.
4. Don’t be afraid to get your dress dirty!!!
Dry cleaners exist for a reason, and if you’re worried about getting your gown dirty, you will not look as natural in the photos. This obv goes for all wedding dress styles, but it’s an important one.
And side-note: make sure your photographer cares about the details. My biggest pet peeve is seeing photographers not fix a wedding train before taking a photo. It looks sloppy. You and your photographer should work together to create the best photos, no matter the style of your dress.
5. Make sure it’s 100% YOU.
Are you a rock and roll chic bride? Boho? Feminine? Punk rock? Traditional? It’s easy to let others sway your opinions when it comes to wedding gowns, but you’ve gotta do what’s right for YOU. And honestly,
6. don’t limit yourself to one dress.
More brides are opting for 2 dresses plus a wedding exit dress (or jumpsuit). This is your day and you make the rules. If you want a feminine a-line dress for most of your wedding day, but want to exit your wedding in a punk rock two piece dress and doc martens? F*CKIN DO IT.
Your wedding photos will be versatile. And you’ll feel like you got to experience the day as 3 different brides showcasing 3 different sides of you.
Outfits inspire us photographers. It gets new creative juices going with each dress change. Which also means your photos will be rad as hell.
And ugh, your wedding album? It’s gonna be STUN👏NING.
I hope these tips were helpful in choosing a wedding dress that will get ahmazing photos of you on your wedding day!
Any questions or comments? Let me know in the comments!
xx
Jules
About the author: Jules wagstaff is the owner of Datura Photo, a top rated wedding photographer in Utah. She has been photographing weddings, families, seniors, children, and high fashion catalogs for over a decade. You can contact her by emailing contact@daturaphoto.net