How to Look Your Best in Wedding Photos: Expert Tips from a California wedding Photographer✨📸
Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime celebration—filled with love, emotion, and unforgettable moments. And while the day itself will be magical, the photos are what allow you to relive every beautiful detail for years to come.
As a Los Angeles luxury destination wedding photographer, I know that the most breathtaking images don’t just happen—they’re a mix of artistry, intentionality, and preparation. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to help you level up your wedding photos, ensuring they feel effortless, elegant, and timeless.
From getting ready to the reception, I’ll share expert tips and little tweaks that will make a big impact. Whether you're dreaming of editorial, magazine-worthy portraits or candid, emotional storytelling, this guide will help you create the perfect conditions for stunning images that reflect the beauty of your love story.
Let’s dive in and make your wedding photos unforgettable. 💍✨
Getting Ready: Setting the Scene for Beautiful, Timeless Photos
The getting ready portion of your wedding day is where everything begins—the anticipation, the excitement, the quiet, emotional moments before the celebration truly starts. It’s also the perfect opportunity to capture some of the most intimate and elegant photos of the day. Here’s how to elevate your getting ready photos and ensure they feel as polished, effortless, and meaningful as the rest of your wedding gallery.
1. Prioritize Good Lighting 💡
Lighting can make or break your photos, and natural light is always your best friend (unless you want to go for the flash look). When choosing a getting-ready space, look for a room with large windows and plenty of natural light. Avoid harsh overhead lights or mixed lighting sources, as they can create unflattering shadows or color casts. Soft, even lighting will enhance skin tones, create a dreamy glow, and make your images look more refined and editorial. If possible, turn off artificial lights and let the natural light do the work
2. Keep the Space Clean & Clutter-Free 🏡
Imagine a stunning bridal portrait—now picture that same image with water bottles, bags, and random clutter in the background. It’s a distraction, right? Keeping your space clean ensures the focus stays where it should—on you and the emotions of the moment. Designate a corner for personal items and keep surfaces clear of anything that doesn’t contribute to the overall aesthetic. A little tidying up goes a long way in creating a polished, magazine-worthy look for your photos.
3. Create a Cohesive Look with Robes or Coordinated Pajamas 👗
Matching robes or chic pajama sets aren’t just a fun pre-wedding tradition—they also make your getting-ready photos look so much more cohesive and visually elevated. Whether you opt for silk robes, cozy loungewear, or personalized sets, coordinated outfits create a polished and stylish look that ties everything together beautifully. Plus, they make for the perfect before & after transformation shots when you slip into your wedding dress!
*And if you do not want buy new pjs or robes, just color coordinated!
4. Have Your Details Ready & Think Outside the Box ✨
Your wedding details—rings, shoes, invitation suite, perfume, heirloom jewelry—tell the story of your day just as much as the big moments do. To make detail shots seamless, gather everything in one place before your photographer arrives. This saves time and ensures nothing important gets missed.
And don’t be afraid to get creative! Incorporate meaningful items like a handwritten letter, vintage tray, lace from your mother’s veil, or even a sentimental book. These personal touches add depth to your details and make your photos feel even more you.
Ceremony: Creating Picture-Perfect Moments
Your ceremony is the heart of your wedding day—the moment you’ve been waiting for, where you officially say “I do.” It’s filled with raw emotion, beautiful details, and once-in-a-lifetime moments that deserve to be captured flawlessly. A little preparation can go a long way in ensuring your ceremony photos are as stunning and seamless as the rest of your wedding gallery.
1. Pay Attention to Lighting ☀️
Lighting plays a huge role in the way your ceremony photos will look, so it’s worth scoping out your venue at the exact time your ceremony will take place. Is the sun directly in your eyes, making you squint? Is one of you standing in the shade while the other is in full sunlight, creating uneven lighting? Harsh, dappled light or strong backlighting can impact the look of your photos. If possible, choose a ceremony time or adjust your positioning to ensure even, flattering light. Your photographer can also help guide you on this!
2. Fill the Front Rows & Aisle Seats 💺
An often-overlooked detail that makes a big difference—making sure your aisle seats and front rows are full! Empty seats can stand out in your photos and take away from the warmth and intimacy of the moment. If your guest count is on the smaller side, have your coordinator or ushers guide guests toward the front to keep everything looking full and intentional.
3. Mark Where to Stand for a Perfectly Aligned Shot 📏
You’ve spent time choosing a gorgeous ceremony setup—don’t risk being off-center in your photos! A simple trick is to place a discreet marker (like a flower petal or a small piece of tape) so you and your partner know exactly where to stand to be centered under your arch or ceremony decor. This small detail ensures that every shot looks beautifully balanced and symmetrical.
4. Have Your Officiant Step Aside for the First Kiss 💋
Your first kiss as a married couple is one of the most iconic moments of your day—so make sure the focus is all on you! A great tip is to kindly ask your officiant to take a step to the side right before announcing your first kiss. This keeps your photo clean and free from distractions, ensuring there is not a head stick out from behind the two of you!
5. Consider an Unplugged Ceremony—Or Find a Middle Ground 📵
There’s nothing quite like looking back at your ceremony photos and seeing the faces of your loved ones fully present in the moment. Unfortunately, in today’s world, it’s all too common to see a sea of phones blocking the view, with guests leaning into the aisle trying to get their own shots. While an unplugged ceremony—where guests are kindly asked to put their phones away—is the best way to ensure clean, distraction-free photos, there are ways to modify this if you don’t want to go fully unplugged.
A great compromise is to set aside a specific moment for guests to take their own photos. Right before the ceremony begins or immediately after you’ve been pronounced married, have your officiant or planner announce a quick “photo moment” where guests can take out their phones, snap a few pictures, and then put them away. This allows them to capture a few memories while ensuring that the rest of the ceremony remains distraction-free.
At the very least, consider asking guests sitting in the front rows and aisle seats to refrain from using their phones during the ceremony. These guests are the most visible in your photos, and their devices can easily become a distraction. A gentle note on your wedding website, a small sign at the entrance, or a quick announcement before the ceremony begins can help encourage this.
This way, you get the best of both worlds—your guests can take a few personal shots, but your professional photos remain clean, timeless, and filled with the genuine emotion of your wedding day.
✨ Bonus Tip: The Perfect Exit Kiss! 💃
If you’re planning a celebratory dip kiss while walking back down the aisle—go for it! Just remember one key tip: drop your bouquet low so it doesn’t block your faces. A beautifully framed dip kiss with your smiling guests in the background? Absolutely stunning.
Family Photos: Creating Timeless & Meaningful Portraits
Family photos are some of the most cherished images from your wedding day. These are the photos that will be framed on mantels, passed down through generations, and looked back on for years to come. Since gathering your loved ones together in one place is a rare and special occasion, putting a little thought into your family portraits can make all the difference in creating images that feel timeless, cohesive, and full of emotion.
1. Color Coordination for a Cohesive Look 🎨
While you don’t need everyone to wear the exact same color, choosing a complementary color scheme can make your family portraits look polished and visually harmonious. Neutrals, soft pastels, or muted tones tend to photograph beautifully and create a classic look. If your wedding has a set color palette, you can subtly incorporate those shades into family attire to create a sense of unity in the photos.
Encourage your immediate family members to avoid overly bold patterns, neon colors, or anything that might distract from the overall composition of the images (unless that is the vibe of your wedding). A little planning ahead of time can ensure that your family photos feel cohesive, refined, and worthy of being displayed for years to come.
2. Choose the Right Location—Make These Photos Count 📍
Your family photos will last a lifetime, so the setting should be just as intentional as the rest of your wedding photography. If your venue has a beautiful garden, a grand staircase, or a well-lit, neutral backdrop, these can all make for stunning locations. Your photographer can help choose a spot that provides even lighting and a clean, timeless background.
Since it’s not every day that your entire family is together in one place, take advantage of the moment! In addition to traditional wedding portraits, consider capturing a few generational shots—grandparents with grandkids, siblings together, or parents with their children. These meaningful moments will become treasures as the years go by.
3. Posed or Candid? Decide Your Preferred Style 📸
Some couples love the look of traditional, posed family portraits, while others prefer a more relaxed, candid approach—or a mix of both! Think about what feels most natural for you.
Posed Family Photos: These are the classic, beautifully arranged images where everyone is looking at the camera, standing in an intentional formation. They’re perfect for formal portraits and timeless keepsakes.
Candid Family Moments: These capture the in-between moments—the laughter, the emotional embraces, the way your dad wipes away a tear, or how your mom fixes your veil. They feel authentic, full of movement, and tell a deeper story.
Communicate your preferences with your photographer so they can tailor the session to match your vision. A mix of both styles is often the best approach, ensuring you have a combination of traditional portraits and heartfelt, natural moments.
With a little planning—choosing a color scheme, picking the perfect location, and deciding on the style of images you want—your family portraits will be more than just photos; they’ll be heirlooms. This is your chance to document a once-in-a-lifetime moment with the people who mean the most to you. 💛✨
Reception Photos: Capturing the Magic of the Celebration
Your reception is where the real celebration begins! It’s filled with laughter, heartfelt speeches, and unforgettable moments with your closest friends and family. While your photographer will be capturing the energy of the evening, a little planning can ensure you get the best reception photos—especially of the two of you as newlyweds!
1. Stay Together to Get More Photos as a Couple 💃🕺
The reception can be a whirlwind of activity, and it’s easy for couples to get pulled in different directions—greeting guests, mingling, and hitting the dance floor. But if you want more photos together, make an effort to stay close during the night.
By remaining side by side, your photographer can capture more candid, emotional, and joy-filled moments of the two of you, whether it’s sharing a laugh during dinner, dancing with your guests, or sneaking a quiet moment together. Some of the most intimate and unforgettable reception shots happen in the in-between moments when you’re simply enjoying the celebration together.
2. Be Mindful of Table Decor—Keep Your Faces Visible 🌿✨
Your sweetheart table or head table will be a focal point of the reception, especially during speeches and toasts. While lavish floral arrangements or tall centerpieces can be stunning, they can also create a visual barrier in photos, blocking your faces during key moments.
To ensure your photographer can capture the raw emotions of speeches and your interactions throughout the reception:
Opt for low floral arrangements or a more open tablescape.
If you have larger centerpieces, consider placing them to the sides rather than directly in front of you.
Another option is to stand or move to a different spot for key moments like toasts—this not only improves the photos but also ensures your guests can fully see and connect with you.
Small adjustments like these can make a big impact on the quality and composition of your reception photos, allowing your photographer to capture all the beautiful, candid moments without obstructions.
Your reception is all about celebrating your love with the people who matter most. By staying close to each other and keeping your setup photo-friendly, you’ll ensure your wedding album is filled with the most meaningful and joyful moments of the night. 🥂📸✨
Cherishing Every Moment: Creating Timeless Wedding Photos to Last a Lifetime
As your wedding day comes to a close, the memories you’ve created will live on through the stunning images captured throughout the day. From the quiet anticipation of getting ready to the heartfelt vows at your ceremony and the joy-filled celebrations of your reception, every moment deserves to be documented in a way that feels effortless, elegant, and truly you.
By being intentional with your planning, prioritizing great lighting, and creating meaningful moments with your loved ones, you’re setting the stage for wedding photos that will stand the test of time. Whether you dream of editorial portraits, candid emotional storytelling, or a perfect blend of both, these tips will help you get the most out of your photography experience.
At the end of the day, the most beautiful images are the ones that reflect the love, joy, and authenticity of your celebration. So soak in every moment, trust your photographer, and let your love story shine—because these are the memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime. ✨📸
Meet Your Wedding Photographer
Hey I’m SB,
I’m a California based Destination wedding photographer specializing in capturing timeless, artfully composed love stories with a refined yet effortless approach. Based in the heart of Southern California, I’ve spent over 15 years documenting weddings across the country and beyond, from iconic city venues to breathtaking coastal and vineyard settings. I believe your wedding day should be felt as much as it is seen—filled with genuine, unscripted moments that reflect your unique love story. By fostering a relaxed, stress-free atmosphere, I allow you to be fully present while I document the emotions, details, and fleeting glances that make your day unforgettable. Whether in Los Angeles or a dream destination, my goal is to create elegant, cinematic imagery that stands the test of time.
