You’ve imagined it a million times… you and your new husband, arm in arm, faces beaming with excitement, flashes flashing, hands clapping… on your wedding day. You’ve spent a lot of time (and money) selecting the perfect wedding dress, the perfect bridesmaid dresses, the perfect hairstyle and veil, but have you thought about your wedding makeup? On your wedding day you will want to be as photogenic as you have ever been in your life. Here are some tips to help you get there.

First of all, don’t spend the day before your wedding playing volleyball on the beach! Tan lines, sunburn and peeling are a bride’s worst nightmare! If you’re feeling a little pale, try a light self-tanner and, for your face, a tinted moisturizer to keep your skin looking fresh with a bronzing powder to warm up your skin tone. When choosing a moisturizer and foundation, keep in mind that yellow undertones work best with flash photography.

Always keep that lightbulb in mind for every makeup choice you make! Avoid makeup, powders, and colors designed for a shimmering, highlighting, or shimmering effect. These items, as well as light-refracting foundations, can turn your pretty face into a glittery mess on film! Matte finishes photograph better because they do not reflect the camera’s flash. To set your look, a light brush dusted with loose powder is the perfect touch; do not use pressed powders, sponges or pads as they can cover the powder or stain your face and can make it look chalky.

Keep your look fresh and natural….

For the eyes… Avoid “fashionable” and choose natural colors to contour and highlight with black, brown or navy eyeliner for a timeless look that will linger in your wedding photos for years to come. Smudge and smudge your eyeliner for a softer, more natural look.

For lashes… First use an eyelash curler to lengthen and style those lashes, then a coat or two of waterproof lash lengthening mascara. Keep your lashes clump-free by making sure your first coat of mascara dries completely before applying a second, and be sure to separate any sticking lashes. Avoid wearing too much mascara, as this tends to make your eyes look smaller and can cast shadows on your cheeks.

For the brows… Fill in any gaps or “over-plucked” brows lightly with a good quality brow pencil and apply a brow gel or powder to finish the look. TRY using the side of the brow pencil and sweeping upwards to create a “feathered” look to fill in. DO NOT use heavy eyeliner or eyeshadow to define your brows; these items are simply not designed for brows and can give them a heavy or unnatural look.

For the cheeks… Shades of pink, peach and rose are an excellent choice. Again, avoid highlighting or shimmering powders or creams as they can make your face look shiny in photos. DON’T forget to lightly dust your forehead, nose, chin, and chest for that final look. Powder blushes are ideal for oily to normal skin, while cream blushes work well for drier skin.

For the lips… Choose a liner one shade darker than your lip color. Always apply your lip liner along your natural lip line. Make your lips look fuller with your choice of color instead of extending your lip line beyond its natural line; “circling” your lips with liner just gives you a clown mouth! Avoid colors that are too neutral or frosty, as these can leave you looking washed out in your photos.

And finally, keep your face looking fresh throughout the day with a little touch-up here and there, especially before a big photo shoot. And don’t be afraid to ask your photographer for a quick review before taking important photos. There’s nothing worse than a mascara smudge on your post-ceremony photos!

A clean, natural, “matte” look will create a wedding portrait that will bring you joy for years to come.