For many of us your wedding day is going to be one of the most photographed days of your life! Looking and feeling your best is something that we all aspired to, so today make up expert Carey Hawkins is sharing with us how to avoid the common bridal makeup mistakes!

I am so lucky to work alongside so many talented Bridal photographers in France. Seeing their images and having worked in studios (TV and photographic) I am still to this day amazed at the power that make up has on these important images. Badly applied make up can mean the difference between a 'wow' image and a mediocre image.

These images are for a life time so never underestimate the difference an experienced pro make up artist can make for you on this incredible day. David Page Photography said "I always think that the first thing you want to see when shooting a Bridal portrait is the beauty of the Bride and not the make up. The make up is there to enhance the natural beauty of the bride."

Here are 5 common Bridal Make Up mistakes to avoid and look out for when creating your perfect image:

• Eyebrows
  The backbone of the face. The current trend for strong, over defined brows is just that and in a year's time this will look dated. Your eyebrows should not enter the room before you! Eyebrows can completely change the look/feel of a make up so letting a good beautician first shape/wax/thread them and then a make up artist to fill/blend them subtly will create a natural look.
• Fake Lashes
  Semi permanent lashes are currently popular with Brides. I see some great jobs and I see some shocking results! These look great for the first few days but then they start to move and come unstuck in places leaving gaps.
  Also after removal your lashes can be damaged. Ask your make up artist for individual 'false' lashes loved by all the red carpet beauties. You cannot feel these or see them on camera and they create an amazing openness to the eye. At the end of the day they can be removed with cleanser - perfect!
• Strong Lips
  Unless you are going for a real vintage look steer clear of any bold/catwalk trend colours instead opting for a classic nude, peachy tone or soft pink to bring an elegance to your shots. Red lips can dominate an entire photo.
• Thick foundation
  Yes of course you need some coverage (and maybe a tad more than your day to day to last!) but this cover should still be only where you need it (commonly t zone area) to even out any redness/discoloration. Your skin should not be covered completely or it will look like a mask on camera. Opt for a medium coverage/silicone based foundation to last the through the tears and all the kisses!
• Shimmer v's Glow
  Every Bride wants that 'glow from within' and there are incredible products available to do that but do be careful. Shimmer can easily be read on camera as shine/grease. A glow is achieved by placing a highlighter on certain areas of the face e.g. tops of cheeks, cupids bow, not all over the face.

Carey Hawkins is a freelance make up artist and hairstylist. She is a regular contributor to FWS. Carey specialises in Weddings and lives in France. For more information visit: www.careyhawkinsmakeup.com.