The  time  around  your  wedding  is  also  some  what  of  a  photographic  journey  with  photo  ops  at  your engagement  party,  hens  celebration,  rehearsal  dinner  and  then  on  your  honeymoon!  We  chatted  to Makeup  Artist,  Hair  Stylist  and  Photographer  Simona  Janek,  who  regularly  runs  portrait  sessions  for  gm photographics. Simona was kind enough to let us in on a few of her secrets for ensuring snap-happiness.

Makeup

Most of us don’t have the luxury of a full time makeup artist  on call, so chances are you’ll be doing your own makeup for most of the instances in which you’re likely to be photographed. “It’s important to make sure you have enough coverage,” says Simona. “Foundation will help your skin to look flawless, but take care  to  blend  your  foundation  well,  especially  around  the  jaw,  hairline  and  down  your neck.”  When choosing a foundation for photography, make sure the colour matches your décolletage.

As a general rule, you can carry a bit more makeup in a photograph than you would day to day, so don’t be  afraid  to  apply  a  little  more  than  usual.  “Don’t  be  afraid  to  play  up  your  eyes  and make  sure  your brows  are  well  groomed,”  suggests  Simona.  “Don’t  forget  your  lips  either. Some  women  can  get  away with a bit of gloss, others need a bit more colour to brighten them up. ”

Makeup Dos & Don’ts:

• Do keep shimmer soft and only on the cheekbones and eyelids
• Don’t  use harsh white, instead go for warm gold and peaches, they blend better with your skin tone
• Do keep your foundation matte (with high definition and sophisticated digital cameras it will help your skin look flawless. Foundation that’s too dewy will highlight flaws and make you look oily)
• Don’t wear an SPF foundation or moisturiser – it will reflect the flash
• Do blend your makeup very well

Posing for your Body
Don’t you  just love watching celebrities walk  the red carpet? They know their angles and how they look best.  In  fact,  you  might  even  notice  that  some  of  them  utilise  the  same  pose  over  and  over  again. There’s a reason for that!

“Most  celebrities  have  spent  time  in  front  of  the  mirror,  or  having  many  many  photographs taken.” Simona suggests posing for full-length shots as if you were on the red carpet. “Keep your body on a 45 degree  angle  from  the  camera  and  put  your  weight  on  your  back  foot  to  help slim  the  hips,”  she  says. “Make  sure  there’s  some  space  between  your  arms  and  your  body  to  avoid  looking  shapeless,  place  a hand on your hip to accentuate the line of your body.”

If  you’re  sitting,  there  are  techniques  for  posing  too.  “Scoot  forward  to  the  front  of  the chair,”  says Simona, “and lean forward a bit. This will help give your body a better line and slim down your legs.”

Posing for your Face
Just like there are tricks to posing your body, there are also tricks to posing your face. “First up, spend a little time taking photographs of yourself, or having a friend do it,” suggests Simona. “It will help you get comfortable  with  your  face,  and  get  to  know  your  best  angles.”  Really  work  hard  at  it  if  you  want  the best  results:  try  every  angle  you  can  possibly  think  of,  move  your head  just  a  little  at  a  t ime  and  also spend  some  time  changing  the  way  you  smile,  which direction  your  head  is  tilted  and  where  your  eyes are focused.

A  well-known  modelling  technique  is  called  The  Turtle.  “Basically,  hold  your  head  level,  then  drop  your chin  down  and  push  it  forward,”  says  Simona.  “It  might  feel  really  awkward,  but  it’s  a  great  trick  for elongating the neck and getting rid of the appearance of a double chin.”

Practice Makes Picture Perfect
Just  like  Cher  in  Clueless,  it’s  worth  taking  a  photograph  of  your  outfit  beforehand.  It  might seem  like overkill, but you’d be surprised how differently things photograph. “Some pieces just look more flattering than others, especially on camera,” says Simona. “Spend some time trying on your outfits and finding the right colours and styles to suit you.”

And smiling? Forget saying cheese! “Use a technique called Happy Thoughts – which is pretty much what it sounds like – think about something that makes you happy and it will shine from within.”

Lastly, try to relax and enjoy yourself. Make sure you’re not holding any tension in your hands or mouth. Relax  your  face  by  smiling  or  gently  blowing  air  out  through  your  lips.  Remember, right  now  you’re  the one in the limelight, so lap it up!