From The Straits Times    |


Lace and tulle dress, price upon enquiry, from FELINE WEDDING. PHOTO: Her World Brides September – November 2015.

GET THE MAKEUP RIGHT

Indoor Shoot
If you’re planning an indoor or studio shoot, make sure your makeup base and foundation matches the skin tone of your neck or you might end up looking too pale or tan in pictures. 

Outdoor Shoot
Dues to our hot and humid weather, makeup artists will always advise you not to use too much foundation or base for your outdoor shoots. A little cover-up is fine but anything too thick and your face will end up looking pasty and runny after some time in the heat.  If you must use SPF, make sure the SPF base you’re using is of the same skin tone as the rest of your body.

Cut the Shine
The ‘shimmer’ makeup trend is getting popular with brides now  – especially glittery pastel hues.  The problem of course is that shimmering makeup can end up looking too shiny and ‘sweaty’ in pictures, especially if your photographer is using hard lighting or a flash. Use minimal ‘shimmer’ makeup for the photo shoot but layer on the glitter for the actual event. And I would advise you not to use anything shimmery or glittery for outdoors shoots.

Check and check again
Always check and touch up your makeup during your indoor or outdoor shoot. If you’re having strong makeup for the eyes or lips, it’s best to check after every shot.  You never know when your teeth might be stained with red lipstick, or your false lashes became unglued. Bring along a small mirror and a makeup pouch of touch-up essentials.

Hairy Issues
Hairstylists will tell you that our weather tends to make hair limp and saggy even after tons of hairspray. The solution? Work with hairpieces and accessories to give the illusion of ‘volume.’ A pretty veil will also help. The other option is to forgo anything too coiffured and let your hairstylist get creative with braids, comb-back and hair teasing techniques.

POSE PERFECT

Practise More
Once you’ve pinned down the shoot date, spend some time in front of the mirror practicing your poses. Discover which are your best body and face angle.  Get some tips from your photographer and try out the suggested poses alone and with your husband before the shoot.

Dress & Pose
Some poses work better with certain dresses.  So once your wedding dress is confirmed, try posing in it to see which angle suits you best. You can also get some tips from the dress designer who should be able to tell you which angles are best for the dress and your physique.

Free & Easy
If you prefer spontaneous pics and are not too crazy about staged or posed pictures, you can always practice your smile and expression – different smiles for different moods and outfits! And make sure you practice with makeup on!

Tall, Long & Relaxed
When striking a pose, loosen your limbs and never hunch your shoulders or lower your chin to the chest. You should feel loose-limbed, tall and long; there should be a tension at your jawline when you lift your chin – not too high or low – and push it forward a little to give your face a firm jawline without looking too forced. This will also prevent double chins!

For a longer, leaner neck, lower your shoulders and tilt slightly to a side to give the illusion of a curvier, leaner neckline. A hand-on-waist pose always gives the illusion or a tighter waistline; just remember not to hitch up your shoulders in this pose to prevent looking hunched.

THE PERFECT TIME
Try not to have your photo shoot in the middle of the day. The harsh top-down sunlight will create unsightly shadows for the face. The best times for outdoor shoots here are between 6.30 – 8am or 4.30 – 6.60pm. If you’re having a full day shoot, you can start early to capture the beautiful morning light, take a break from late morning (about 11am) to 4pm before getting ready for the evening shoot. 

Instead of a break, you can continue the shoot but do it indoors or back at the studio.