How to look good in wedding photos

If there’s a wedding invitation on the mantelpiece, you may be dreading the face-ache photos. If you’re always the one skulking under a huge hat in the back row, you’re not alone. 

According to a survey by dermatology company Sinclair IS Pharma, a sheepish 76% of us hate the way we look in pictures.

A sneaky shot of Botox used to be the favourite face-saver of mothers, grannies and second-time brides themselves. 

But make up and face creams have come such a long way that botox has become a step too far for many.

Get rid of wrinkles naturally

Wrinkle creams 

So rather than botox or another surgical option, a ‘lift for a day’ cream could be the quick fix you need. 

A friend swears by Freeze 24.7 Instant Targeted Wrinkle Treatment, for cooling flushed, rosacea-prone skin and tightening droopy brows, open pores, lines and creases.

Also, look out for Prevage Anti-Aging Wrinkle Smoother, a clever new ‘filler’ for frown lines and crows’-feet with a soft-focus blurring effect. 

The trick with fillers like these is to dab not rub, then give them time to settle before you apply your base.

Photo-friendly make up

Clinique’s Beyond Perfecting 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer goes a long way to even out skin tone without looking heavy, while a few extra touches hide dark circles and age spots. 

"Choose a slightly lighter shade than usual for brightness," advises Florrie White, Clinique’s UK Colour Artist, who is used to doing famous faces for their red-carpet close-ups. "And always match your neck to your face," she reminds us.

How to get your glow back

A deft bit of sculpting won’t go amiss, either. 

Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder is a subtle pinky-bronze that make-up supremo Mary Greenwell persuades me is the 60-plus woman’s new best friend. 

Indeed, a touch along the jawline, under cheeks and on temples next to the hairline slims, softens and defines features without leaving dingy lines. 

A dab of powder to kill a shiny T-zone, and you’re ready for your close-up. It always pays to double-check your blending first. My new sensor mirror lights up when it sees me, then magnifies my misgivings a terrifying ten times. Scary, but indispensable these days.

The right attitude 

But what allows you to pass scrutiny with flying colours is, of course, attitude. 

"Think about your posture," encourages celebrity portrait photographer Mark Harrison. "Avoid negative body language – hands clasped in front looks hunched and defensive."

Standing with one foot at an angle to the other looks more relaxed than square on. Pull your shoulders back, head slightly to one side, eyes to the camera… and smile. 

"A smile is an instant face lift that makes you look confidently relaxed," says Mark. Just don’t say cheese…

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Photo finish

Try...

1.) Freeze 24.7 Instant Targeted Wrinkle Treatment, 10g from £50 (freeze247.com). Promises a lift in a jar.

2.) Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Wrinkle Smoother, £65 (John Lewis, elizabetharden.co.uk). Filler that claims to blur even deep lines and creases.

3.) Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer, £25 (Boots).Smooth on as a base, or dot on as needed to cover up. Feels weightless, yet absorbs oil and stays put.

4.) Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder, £39 (Debenhams). Silky, feather-light texture makes face-shaping easy – no hard lines.

5.) Benefit The Porefessional Agent Zero Shine, £23.50, (Boots). Long-lasting, oil-absorbent powder blurs pores and lines.

6.) Simple Human 12cm (5in) sensor mirror, £99.99 (simplehuman.com/uk). LEDs and 10x magnification make blending easy.

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