Picture fear - everyone looks so damn good!

I'm super critical of myself, but I try my best. It is what it is.

I have your same fears as well. I'm really happy with how most of our engagement pictures turned out. There were plenty that I wasn't crazy over, but enough good ones in the bunch to work with! I am hoping the same will hold true for the wedding photos!

I spent over an hour longer getting ready for my engagement pix then I ever would do normally. Wanted every detail of my hair perfect, every mark on my face gone. But we had such a good time when we were out there none of it mattered. We were celebrating our love and that came through in the pix.

When we got them back we were critical of ourselves and reassuring to each other. I think that is natural. But you will look absolutely fabulous! Don't stress...I'm sure that lens will love you.

Well, if you look like your avatar you are absolutely gorgeous ! : )

I felt a lot better after our engagement session. You learn how your photographer works. You learn how to pose and look natural w/ your FH. When you get your shots back, you'll also know what to avoid -- what angles you don't like of yourself, etc.

Remember that the photos people post are their best. Everyone has some doozies.

I'm worried too. I think I look normal in person, but in every photo I always seem to have b**** face! Maybe it's the shape of my eyebrows.... Like J&B said, I'm hoping the engagement shoot can work as a sort of trial run and I can figure out how to not look so angry!

Diane - Why thank you, though i could use a good grooming lol

J & B - good point, I never thought of that!

Should we do a funny engagement / wedding pics post. out takes?

Sarah- I've been told i have bitchy lips and eyes..whatever that means lol

Situation: Non-professional group photo is placed on a table populated by the women in the photo. What's the first thing every woman looks at? Herself. Does anyone usually hear any woman say, "Damn, I look fantastic. That's my new FB pic!"? Nope, it usually goes like this:

Her: "OMG! I'm so fat! Look at my arms!!! What is up with my hair?"

You: "Stop it, you look great. Look at me! Oh, no. This picture horrible! My stomach is not that big, plus you can see my panty lines!"

The reason most of us don't like photos of ourselves is because they capture light and angles that we don't see when we're carefully applying make-up in the mirror. For a wedding, a photographer is going to make the bride look as good as she can. Part of a photographer's skill is in posing the subject to minimize flaws. So, even if it's uncomfortable, when he says, ""arch your back slightly, drop your head, and turn slightly to the left", just do it.

The Centerpiece - That made me laugh because it's so darn true lol

Laura, I felt this way before our engagement pics, and I would feel nervous about the wedding pics, except that I'm just too excited. My biggest advice is not to look at any of these pictures alone. I checked out the engagement pics online when FH was still asleep, and I burst into tears. He woke up, and when we looked at them together he was like, "what are you crying about? these look great!"

Remember that your fiancee loves you for who you are, right now. I am sure you are gorgeous, and even if you wish your hair was less frizzy or your arms were skinnier (these are my things, i'm sure your hair and arms are great), if the pictures look like the two of you and capture how happy you are to be together, they will be perfect.

But seriously, don't look at them alone., look at them with your FH and it will be harder to get down on yourself. Good luck!

I am very critical of myself in photos & videos. I hate how I look in videos but I like how I look in photos depending how the photo was taken. You have to know which is your best side and you also have to make sure the photographer knows which is your best side too. A great photographer will know how to take pictures of you & your fiancee together. I used to work for a wedding photography company & watched how the photographers would angle the camera. Unfortunately, you can't do much with how you look in video unless you apply the right makeup and are always in great lighting that flatters you throughout the video shoot. If you have great features & great jawline and thin, then chances are you'll look great no matter where the camera is positioned. But for the majority that don't have symmetrical facial bone structure and/or have a double chin, the the best angle is usually when you look up to the camera. That way you appear younger, the double chin goes away & (cont'd next post)

If flash is used, your skin looks flawless too.Also, all those great shots you see on websites are all the best shots that were taken. You don't know if what you're seeing was the best shot out of 200 shots. Also the photos have been retouched and edited so of course the bride and couple are going to look great. The worst way to be photographed is a straight on shot. This is usually very unflattering shot esp if you are concerned with looking heavy and if you have a double chin that you don't like to see.I hate being photographed because most people don't know how to angle the camera to make me look better or how I see myself. I'm always telling people to raise the camera higher and look down at me. If you ask the photographer to do this, I'm sure he'll say then that will put you in the lesser position, that you'll appear weak or vulnerable. If he's saying that, then he's getting all film artsy. All he has to do is position the camera above your eye level so you're forced to look up to

The camera not straight into the lens. Before being photographed, I would voice my concerns to the photographer and have him look at your face through the lens first to see what side is best. Then have him photograph you, then have him play back the picture so you can see in the viewfinder. If you like it, then proceed. If you don't like it, then keep doing it til he finds the right angle that you are happy with. I started getting comfortable being photographed after taking hundreds of photographs by myself. I would hold and extend the camera from all different directions, up, down, sideways, etc.. and then see which angle worked best for me. You have a month and half to experiment and try this for yourself before getting in front of his camera.

You chose a professional photographer for a reason. You are not the first bride (or the last) with this fear. As others have stated, you will feel more comfortable after the engagement session because you know what your photographer can accomplish. That being said, don't underestimate the need to hire a professional make-up artist. They can add that extra touch that makes a bride go from beautiful to absolutely stunning.

I was the exact same way!! I was so worried about getting my pictures taken as I don't tend to like pictures of myself ever but that is why you are paying so much for your photographer. The photographer will get you at the right angle and will try their best to get a shot that they know you'll be happy with.

To be totally honest from my wedding pictures, my favourite photos is a close up of my face. I NEVER thought I would say that.

Don't worry to much, have a wee glass of wine before hand and you will be fine- I promise x

Don't think about the fact that you are looking at a camera. Think that you are looking at FH (sexy look) or looking at your grandparents (with love) or looking at your best friend (got a secret?).

I have always (since a little girl) HATED to have my pic taken. The thought that I'm in wedding albums all over the world is kind of freaky!

I didn't love how I looked in all of my engagement photo pictures. I did my own normal makeup, wore my hair normal and it was a frizzy horrible mess by the end of the session. I love our pictures, but I legitimately only like the way I look in the photos that were taken during the first 20 minutes of the session lol

Our wedding pictures I love love love love love. Because of the professional hair and makeup, I never felt prettier in my life and I still feel that way when I look back at the photos. It's not even like my makeup or hair was super done up for our wedding, and everything was still quite natural. I still felt like me, just the best possible version of me. If I could do everything all over again, I would have paid for professional hair and makeup for our engagement pictures as well. I don't think I'll ever do another professional photo session again without it because I could see just how much it made a difference to me.