In a perfect world, we would all be supermodel-level confident in front of the camera, but in reality, most couples approach their wedding-day portrait session feeling something between trepidation and full-on dread. It's only natural to feel a little anxious about your wedding photographs - for 99.9% of people, hiring a photographer to follow you around for a day is unfamiliar territory! The good news is that there are lots of things you can do to ease your worries and get the gorgeous results you're after. Follow our advice on how to look good in your wedding photos and you'll be feeling fabulous in no time!

1. Find a Photographer that You Trust

One of the most important factors in looking good in your wedding photographs is being comfortable around your wedding photographer. With this in mind, don't just look for a photographer whose work you love (although that's crucial, of course!), but also someone that you have a good feeling about, and imagine you will have a good rapport with. You can gauge this by reading the About Me section on their website, having a look at their social media accounts and, of course, by your initial emails with them. You can also book an engagement shoot with them, as mentioned in #2. We recommend arranging a meeting or Skype chat with your photographer once you've booked them, as this will help break the ice.

2. Consider An Engagement Shoot

If you think you and your partner would benefit from a practice run, you can always book an engagement shoot with your wedding photographer (or a photographer that you're considering booking!) Not only does this give you time to build up a good rapport with the photographer, but it'll give you a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera and iron out any unflattering posing habits you may have (Chandler Bing smile syndrome is more common than you might think!). If you can time this to coincide with your hair and makeup trial, all the better!

3. Find the Right Location

When you're comfortable in your environment, this tends to come across in the photographs. This is why, in city weddings, our favourite photographs are often taken during a stop-off in the couple's local pub! For this reason, it's a good idea to discuss prospective portrait session locations with your photographer in advance of the day. Your photographer will probably have their own favourite spots in your wedding venue or area, which are always worth trying, but if they just don't resonate with you, it's fine to say so, ask about alternatives and suggest your own.

4. Choose Your Hairstylist and Makeup Artist Wisely

It's only natural that you'll want to look fabulous in the flesh on your wedding day, but creating a look that translates well to photography is a whole other matter. That's why we recommend leaving it to the professionals! Spend a bit of time researching your hairstylist and makeup artist, paying close attention to the photographs of real brides on their websites and social channels. When you've found the right people for your glam squad, be candid about what you want, and make sure to take a few pictures after your trial - of course, a selfie will differ from your professional wedding portraits, but it'll give you an indication of what to expect.

5. Tan with Caution

If you're planning on applying fake tan before the big day, go a shade lighter than you ordinarily would for a special occasion. We won't go into the science behind it, but fake tan will often look more orange in photographs than in the flesh, and photographs may enhance the appearance of tan lines. It's also worth remembering that your skin might look darker than expected when photographed alongside your partner's skin, and that of your bridal party. A good photographer can often balance skin tones in their photographs, but fake tan makes it much more difficult to achieve a natural effect, so expect a difference between what you see in the mirror and your completed portraits.

6. Prepare a Makeup Top-Up Kit

The photographs don't stop after the portrait session, so make sure to keep your makeup topped up throughout the evening! Buy a few products after your trial, once you and your makeup artist have decided on the final look, including lip products, a powder and a concealer. You can also throw in a pencil eyeliner if you want to amp up your eyes at the reception.

7. Get a Good Night's Sleep

There are very few things you can do to hide a tired appearance, so schedule in a good eight hours of sleep before the big day. Your makeup artist will thank you for it, and knowing that you've got lots of fuel in the proverbial tank will put you at ease!

8. Use your Favourite Relaxation Technique

Everyone has a slightly different approach to relaxation. For me, a small whiskey always does the trick. Someone else might favour essential oils, yoga, meditation or a playlist of their favourite tunes. Often, a chat with a friend or parent is just the thing to put you in a chilled-out mood. This tip is about doing what works for you - our tips for a calm wedding morning will give you lots of inspiration.

9. Be on Time

Time loses all meaning on your wedding day, so it's easy to get behind schedule. But if you're flustered and stressed from rushing about, you won't be looking or feeling your best, and this will show in the photographs. So stick to your wedding schedule. This might mean getting up an hour earlier, delegating last-minute jobs to pals, or putting your bridesmaid on timekeeping duties, whatever it is - it's worth it to ease the stress and help you relax.

10. Don't Focus on How Your Body Looks

As we discussed on an episode of the podcast, we think you should look like yourself on your big day, and not have to worry about conforming to societal beauty standards. The most beautiful wedding portraits are ones in which the couple look happy and relaxed, and it's hard to do that if you're sucking in your tummy or pushing out your chin. Often, worrying about how you appear in the camera lens will only build tension in your body and face. A good photographer will give you subtle direction on how to look your best, taking in all of the other factors at play, from the light and the composition of the image, to how your outfit moves, so trust their judgement.

11. Handle your Bouquet with Care

How you hold your bouquet depends on its size, shape and weight (if its oversized, expect to ask your bridesmaid or other half for help throughout the day!), but, as a general rule, you should hold it roughly at your waistline, or by your hips. That way, it won't obscure anyone's face, and your outfit will get some of the spotlight, too! Remember to handle your flowers delicately - a too-tight grip will make you look nervous.

12. Keep your Poses Natural

Even the most natural wedding portraits require some posing. Again, your photographer will direct you on this, but keep in mind how you usually interact with your partner. If you're not into PDAs, for example, there's little point in having a dozen photographs of you kissing. Let your photographer know what you're comfortable with, and don't be afraid to suggest alternatives if the pose just doesn't feel authentic.

Still looking for a wedding photographer? Click here for our favourites and here to read our tips on choosing one!