During the pre-shoot meeting, the photographer asked, "Are there any photos you don't want me to take?"

2021.01.26 published

I received a question from a photographer.

I received this kind of consultation through DM for marry.

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During a meeting about pre-wedding photos, the photographer asked, "Are there any photos you don't want to take?"

Even though I had a clear idea of the ideal images I wanted, I suddenly couldn’t think of “photos I didn’t want,” so I decided to make it a homework assignment.

What kind of "photos you don't want to take" do you all have? I'd like to hear from those who have already had their pre-wedding photos taken as well as those who are yet to experience it!

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Indeed. It's relatively easy to answer about things we like, but when it comes to things we dislike, we often haven't put them into words. So, when asked suddenly, it can be difficult to respond.

However, if you tell the photographer both "I like this" and "I dislike this," it makes it easier for them to imagine your ideal photo, which is kind.

For example, what shots do other brides consider to be off-limits?

I had asked my followers a question on my story, so let me share all the responses I gathered.

【Response 1】

I have a complex about the shape of my thumb nail, so I dislike close-up shots of my hands...

If we take any, I would prefer it if you could frame it so that only my thumb is out of the shot...

【Response 2】

I didn't want a picture of female guests from the groom’s side sitting at the bride's table during the intermission.

Every time I look over the photos, I feel bad for my parents and wonder what the guests on the bride's side thought..., so it makes me uncomfortable.

It might be better not to keep anything that could come off as rude in the photos!

【Response 3】

When I look at Instagram, there are many photos of couples kissing, but...

I feel embarrassed about kissing photos with my husband, so I would want to avoid them💦

If we have to take one, maybe it would be okay if we hid behind the bouquet or something like that...!

【Response 4】

I didn't have any particular dislikes, but I might not want kissing photos!

【Response 5】

This isn't about pre-wedding photos, but on the day of the reception...

There was an ex-girlfriend of my husband among his guests, so I told them I didn’t want a two-shot with her.

【Response 6】

It seems to be a standard to take proposal shots during pre-wedding photos, but I told them I didn't want to do it since he hadn't proposed to me, and I felt a bit embarrassed.

I also expressed that I wanted to avoid poses where we make a heart shape with our hands.

【Response 7】

I have buck teeth and cannot close my mouth.

I have always hated being told "please close your mouth!" during photos, like for ID pictures.

It’s hard to say, “I can’t close my mouth because I have buck teeth,” right there, so I would force it closed, resulting in awkward mouth pictures.

Since this is a wedding photo, a once-in-a-lifetime event, I gently requested, “Please don’t force me to close my mouth.”

【Response 8】

During the pre-wedding shoot, I suddenly realized I had lipstick on my teeth.

It seems it happened earlier in the shoot, but no one pointed it out, so it was left as is.

I received around 400 photos, and in about three-quarters of them, I had lipstick on my teeth.

Can’t the photographer see the lipstick on my teeth from their angle...?

I will make it a point to check every five minutes on the wedding day when using the same photography studio.

【Response 9】

I wanted photos that I wouldn't feel embarrassed about looking back at when I am a grandma or grandpa, so I communicated that I didn’t want to hold studio props.

I think just having the bouquet made for beautiful bride-like photos.

【Response 10】

I have a flat nose and have never looked cute in profile photos, so I told them I wanted to avoid those!

Also, since I have a hunchback and chubby arms, I will be mindful of that and asked them to let me know if I slip into bad posture! Haha

I think it’s great that it’s easier to say these things if the photographer is a woman🥰

【Response 11】

① I don’t like my profile, so I dislike side-angle shots.

② I don’t want photos of us kissing because I find it embarrassing.

These were the things I communicated.

【Response 12】

I am a photographer taking pre-wedding and wedding day photos!

Common requests from clients are not to shoot from below, to avoid creating double chins, and to refrain from poses that highlight arm fat in dresses.

For example, if you hold the bouquet while keeping your arms close to your sides, it can make the armpits look bulging, making the arms appear thicker.☺️💦

【Response 13】

Shooting from below is definitely an issue! Other than that, I’m not too keen on shots that make my arms look thick...

【Response 14】

On the day of the shoot, it’s great to have a lot of smiling photos, but I thought it would have been nice to have some serious or slightly more candid shots too.😅

【Response 15】

I personally didn’t have any, but I think it’s wise to confirm if both parties are okay with kissing scenes beforehand.

A friend of mine got married in Hawaii and was doing public photos, but it turned out the photographer repeatedly asked them, “Kiss! Kiss! 💏” in front of their parents and friends, which made them really uncomfortable! Haha

Though my husband was on board, the wife was not, and every time she was told to kiss, her face was livid! Haha

For shy Japanese people, kissing in front of parents can be embarrassing, right? Haha

Even if it’s not in front of parents, some people may not like showing kisses to any stranger, including photographers, so it might be good to check with your partner beforehand.

【Response 16】

I have a lot of photos I don’t want to be taken, but nothing in particular that I want. Haha

I thought about photos I didn’t want, such as:

✅ Kissing

✅ Lying down

✅ My husband kneeling

(I didn’t like him being lower than me)

✅ Hugging

So I conveyed this!

I wanted photos that could be shown to everyone and would also look fine when we're grandpas and grandmas, so I made these requests!

I hope this helps! ☺️

【Response 17】

I took dozens of kissing photos, but I think it's better to discuss it in advance for those who don’t want to kiss in public.

【Response 18】

Even for moments I want to capture, there can be subtle differences in our images, so I expressed things like “I don’t want shots from this angle” or “I’d like this object arranged differently.”

For instance, I asked them not to shoot from below or mentioned, “I don't want the costumes suspended from the ceiling. Please keep the dress at least one meter off the floor.”

【Response 19】

I have a complex about my profile! So I told them I didn’t want side photos!

Also, it’s good to indicate which side looks cuter because it varies from person to person!!!

【Response 20】

I didn’t particularly have dislikes, but my friend mentioned that she didn’t want to be photographed from below as she dislikes looking double-chinned and preferred wider shots.

【Response 21】

I wanted to avoid keeping kissing photos, so I had them shot casually, like hiding behind a fan or on the cheek during traditional clothing.

Additionally, I asked them to avoid compositions that emphasized my husband's small stature.

【Response 22】

I dislike shots from below that could emphasize double chins and sagging arms, visually not appealing situations.

I did have them take lying-down shots, but the angle was off and the shots ended up unused because the main subjects (the couple) were hard to see.

If the photo is too small, it just raises the question of “What is this?”

【Response 23】

I might ask to avoid side photos because I don’t like my profile.

【Response 24】

I dislike shots that make me look thick, like close-ups from below...

【Response 25】

Those moments when you let your guard down slightly, like when you're giving a speech and your eyes drift down for a brief moment...

【Response 26】

When taking pictures at a studio, I often get asked to provide serious face shots, but my serious expression tends to look sloppy and unflattering, so I decided to have all my photos taken with a smile.

A lot of responses about kissing photos!!!

I shared all the responses I gathered on marry's Instagram when I asked the question, "Are there any shots or poses you told your photographer to avoid when taking wedding photos?"

There were many comments regarding “kissing shots,” and it's true—many may find it embarrassing to kiss in front of others, no matter if it’s a photo shoot...!

I also considered what I would dislike, and kissing photos were inherently embarrassing, so it was a blind spot for me...

It would be best to convey “I don’t need photos like this” well and create wedding photos that feel like treasures and reflect your true self! ♡

@pentahana1013