Secret No. 1: Turn partially sideways to the camera, planting one foot in front of the other. Point your toe to the camera and place your weight on your back foot.

Secret No. 2: Pull head forward slightly to minimize any appearance of a double chin. Lower your chin: this casts a shadow on your neck and adds definition. If you turn your head to one side it extends your neck.

Secret No. 3: Hold arms slightly away from your body. This keeps upper arm flab from flattening out and therefore appearing flabbier (much like thighs do when one sits on a couch).

Secret No. 4: Pull shoulders back, chest forward and gently suck stomach in. Be careful not to suck stomach so far in that your ribs show, thereby causing those who later see the photo to cluck to themselves in a bemused, sing-song voice, "She's sucking i-in."

Secret No. 5: If you can get away with it without looking like a Paris-Hilton-wannabe, try the look away trick. To do this, look away from the camera, then turn towards it, breaking into a smile just before the camera clicks. Your smile will appear fresh, not frozen. This trick takes practice behind closed, locked doors.

Secret No 6: If you're sitting, cross your ankles, not your legs.

Dealing with the bouquet

For closeups, hold your bouquet above the waist; for full length shots, hold your bouquet below the waist.A large round bouquet does not look good held to the side of the Bride for most reasons.

A round bouquet hides and adds 'weight' to the bride's center. This is not a problem if she has a large traditional full dress, but it is a visual mismatch if she has a more slim dress.

You can angle the bouquet, and this will pretty much set-up your hand position to be pleasing: you can cradle your bouquet like a baby if it is large, or merely angle it. For a portrait outdoors, you can 'let it fly' alittle in a casual look with the groom. In comparison: bouquet that is practically the same size as a bowling ball!

If you are not holding a bouquet, you need to think about your hands. Look at photos in a fashion magazine, particularly finger positions. For a graceful look there is the feathered hand with the middle two fingers close together. Then there is a "fan hand" used in catalogue photographs. Don't grip the groom with too much pressure in any portrait. Don't allow your hands to look aggressive, in any shape. Don't allow your fingers to 'run' straight towards the camera, generally.

You’re all a bit self conscious, so you really want to feel more confident and secure in front of the camera. A few things you can do is practice in front of a mirror. Without thinking you will position yourself to look how you want to look. After you’ve got “the look” close your eyes so you can concentrate and remember how you’re positioned. Do this with your husband-to-be and work out what poses you like best.

Why not take some photographs of yourselves with a camera with a self timer on a tripod (or ask a friend to help out). If you think that this is “cheating”, or something that the photographer should all be doing, remember that there is a reason why professional models are hired by magazines.

Looking 10 kgs thinner in wedding photos

Tips for for the whole bridal party...

• Don't let the photographer bend down or take a picture from below. This adds at least 10kgs (to the 10 kgs automatically added by the camera).
• Use objects you are holding to your advantage by placing them in front of parts of you you'd prefer to hide. A purse or corsage in front of your belly. A jacket slung over the shoulder.
• If you're wearing a cocktail dress, wear stockings. The very modern version of the corset, hosery is famous for making women all over the world appear 10 pounds thinner and evening out orange peel skin.
• Fake tans will make you look and feel skinnier. Unfortunately, they tend to smell, so makr sure you apply them a day or two in advance.
• It's not just black that makes you look thinner. Wearing an entire outfit of just one color will do the trick as well, whether it be white, beige, brown, blue or red. One color tends to elongate your figure. Avoid entire outfits in pink, however, unless you are four years old or younger.
• The camera will capture you slimmer if you rotate your shoulders 3/4 to the front. This will make you and your waist look thinner. 
• Flirt with the camera.
• Practice. The Hollywood divas were not born like that; they learned it. Have your own photo shoot, you can invite a friend or family members to join the photo shoot. Take lots of your pictures, give mutual feedback and keep trying; sooner than you think, you will become a camera diva. 

Tips on photographing the bridal Party

A good time to photograph the bride and groom is after the ceremony and before the reception. Ideal is an open lawn away from any building. Other photogenic locations are at the edge of a treed area, under an arcade or at home in the backyard. Important is to choose an evenly lit background: one that does not contain light and dark areas. Place the couple in the shade at least thirty feet away from any background objects with their faces toward the main source of light.

1. Turn the bride thirty degrees away from the camera and fluff the train behind her so that only half of the train is visible from the camera position. Never pull the train around to the front of the bride since this is most unnatural and would never occur in real life.
2. Pose the groom slightly facing the bride and have him offer his arm for her to pass her through. Make sure her ring is visible. The groom’s outside hand can be in his pocket or touching the bride’s hand.
3. The bride should shift most of her weight to the foot furthest from the camera and the groom should have his weight evenly distributed on slightly spread feet.
4. Hands: Never let his hand drop straight down at his side. The bride may hold her bouquet in her outside hand at a level below her waist with some daylight or background showing between her elbow and her waist. An alternate place for the bouquet is on the ground next to the groom’s feet.
5. Turn their faces toward the camera but not fully straight on, but at a slight angle toward each other. Their expressions should show their happiness, but not laughing.