A BIT OF INVESTMENT, AND A FEW TIPS AND TRICKS CAN HELP YOU FIND YOUR NATURAL SMILE FOR YOUR WALK DOWN THE AISLE

If you’re a bride- or groom-to-be (or even a bridesmaid or other member of the wedding party) chances are you’ll have given some thought to the photographs. And if you’re worried about your smile for any reason, rest assured you are not alone.

Here at QO we help many a bride and groom before their big day to ensure they are the best version of themselves and that they feel confident beaming for their pictures. There’s plenty we can do in the orthodontist’s chair to help but all brides and grooms need a sprinkling of magic, too, so we asked wedding photographer Gary Walsh to share his tips and tricks.

“I’ve been running a successful wedding photography business for many years and the two things I hear most from engaged couples are: ‘I don’t like having my photograph taken’ and ‘I can’t smile’,” says Gary. “It’s a pretty normal thing to overthink a bit” With that in mind, we asked Gary to answer some most-asked questions about achieving your best smile on W-Day.

1. WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE MY SMILE AHEAD OF MY WEDDING?

“In the run-up, spend some time practising smiling confidently. If there are any niggling issues that you want to get sorted with your dentist, make sure you allow plenty of time for treatment. Remember that even after any issues with your teeth are sorted, it can take a little while to get used to smiling naturally again, particularly if you’ve been used to braces or Invisalign.

A nicer smile doesn’t always mean major work, however. Sometimes, just a good clean can boost your confidence enormously. If you decide to go down the teeth whitening route, then please – do it together. There will be lots of images of you as a couple on your wedding day and if one has whitened and the other hasn’t, one of you is going to be put in the shade.”

2. I’M SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT MY TEETH. ANY ADVICE?

“As well as talking to your dentist about any concerns, my number one tip is to get to know your smile and which angles work best for you. Maybe get a good friend or your partner to take a few shots of you so you can look through them and see what works best.”

3. HOW CAN I ACHIEVE A ‘NATURAL’ SMILE? I ALWAYS LOOK A BIT LIKE I’M GRIMACING.

“Remember this will be a happy occasion with all your best friends and loved ones. Honestly, you’ll be smiling all day.

For the ‘candid’ shots, It’s up to me as photographer to be in the right place with my camera ready… Opening the champagne on the wedding morning, the first time you see your partner at the altar… the smiles will be flowing and the photographer waiting to capture your natural expressions.

The staged and group shots can be more of a challenge as you’re looking directly at the camera and have more time to overthink. Don’t worry. (Firstly, I have a compendium of bad dad jokes at my disposal.) But more importantly, photographers take these photos really quickly, which is key to capturing a natural smile. Fake smiles tend to appear when people have to hold their grin for a while. If you’re feeling your face ‘freezing’ a bit, ask for a break or try looking away from the camera and then looking back to freshen up your expression.”

4. I’M NERVOUS ABOUT MY SMILE AND THE PHOTOS IN GENERAL. HOW DO I FIND A PHOTOGRAPHER THAT WILL BE UNDERSTANDING AND WON’T PUSH ME INTO PICTURES THAT AREN’T ‘ME’?

“When booking any wedding supplier (even more so your photographer) make sure you’re comfortable in their company. This is so important when it comes to being relaxed in front of the camera. It’s good advice for when choosing an orthodontist too! Meet with as many photographers as you need until you find one you ‘click’ with.”

5. WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR LOOKING GREAT IN YOUR WEDDING PICTURES?

“This is one of my favourite tips: don’t say ‘cheese’, say ‘money’. Get a mirror and give it a go right now!”

Gary Walsh is an experienced wedding photographer working at venues across Teesside, North Yorkshire and Northumberland. You can contact him at https://garywalsh.co.uk/. If you’d like to discuss improving your smile with us before your nuptial, click here to book your FREE video consultation.