Got my engagement photos back and i feel way insecure about them.....

I really and truly do NOT think they even remotely resemble maternity photos....any and all maternity photos I've seen incorporate the mom-to-be like holding her baby belly, ya know? And in maternity photos, they also HAVE a baby bump. I don't see any baby bump here? Just a normal, beautiful bride! I honestly think this is 100% a case of the very-relatable-and-everyone's-experienced-it "we are our own worst critics" situation. I don't see any of the "problems" you see. You don't look pale to me...in fact, i think you have beautiful, glowy, clear skin! And almost every single engagement photo I've ever seen has the bride wearing a flowy dress too, so I wouldn't even think twice about that. I can totally relate to the whole "the camera adds X amount of pounds" thing....and it's more shocking to the photographed person when they may have gained Y pounds recently...I have definitely experienced both of those things myself....but really and truly, these photos are gorgeous and DO not look like photos of a pale person....or a person with double chins.....or a maternity photo shoot. I really think they're gorgeous, and you should post them on social media ASAP!!

Your photos look beautiful! Try to be nicer to yourself. Every version of yourself should be loved and appreciated.

You are seriously so pretty, and you and your FH look very happy together!

One of my closest friends was not happy with her engagement pictures, and we have the same photographer. She kept pointing out how she disliked how big her arms looked in certain pictures, and her face in others, and it made me so sad because all I saw in every single one of her pictures was my beautiful friend. I didn't see any of the "flaws" she did.

And I don't see any of them in your pictures, either!

I don't see what you are talking about. You look absolutely stunning in these pictures. I think they came out amazing. You are definitely going to be one beautiful bride. I know how you feel because when I took my engagement photos I didn't like how I looked either, I thought my fiance looked great and I looked horrible. Sometimes we have are hard time see the beauty in ourselves.

Honey I think you and your pictures look really good, we can be so hard on ourselves sometimes but there's no need for it you look great, but I get it I felt the same way just two days ago for my engagement pictures.

Umm no you look very beautiful and elegant! I love the dress on you. Blue is very pretty on you and print is romantic. The pictures are great.

Honestly, I understand how u feel. I hate pics of myself! That said...Girl! U r gorgeous!! U look happy and I think the dress is really pretty. The first does have the maternity look, as others have said, and I didn't know u before these pictures so unlike you I am looking objectively and really think u look great. My favorite is the third if u are thinking of social media post but you both look super natural and happy and in love in all of them and to me that is all that really shines through and what matters!! Congrats 💜

I'm really sorry you're feeling that way, and I get it. I've gained a lot of weight this year too and hate every photo I take. We're always our own worst critic and we will notice things in our photos that no one else would ever pick up on. I think that's what's happening here. Truthfully, these photos are LOVELY. You both look great and loving in all three, and I especially love the second one with your kitty! That dress looks beautiful on you, and these don't look like maternity photos. I know other people's opinions won't necessarily change your mind if you're feeling down about yourself, but really, these photos are so nice and I hope everyone's positivity here helps you feel better. ♥️

I think you are definitely being too hard on yourself. These are beautiful pics. And as has been pointed out...pic number three is absolutely stunning!!

Beautiful pics! We are all our own worse critics & tear ourselves down at the slightest imperfection! I can see why you think the 1st one is a maturity look but I really think it’s the way the dress is laying. I think the last 2 are the best.

Is it surprising to you if I say you look amazing? The photographs look incredible..... I think you're being very harsh on yourself because I'm not seeing the issues you're mentioning. People really do be their own worst critics.

You are beautiful and the photos are stunning. We are our own worst critics. I absolutely love the 3rd photo you look so much in love and happy, it really shows. And the fourth photo says to me he is telling you that you are his everything. Enjoy your love for one another and your absolutely beautiful photographs of your engagement. And Thank him for his service from me.

I don't see maternity at all! These are stunning!

The pics you shared are all super cute! I love the colonnade-type one especially as an engagement photo for social media.

I 100% understand what you're going through, feeling cute in the mirror and then like "WTF" in pics. It's a totally normal thing. It happens to me ALL THE TIME and I specifically mentioned that I hate pics of myself to my photographer. (BTW, I'm average weight/thin, and I totally managed to give myself a double chin in some of my wedding photos LOL -- it's just a posture thing.) I remind myself that on America's Next Top Model, even these wannabe-professional models with all their tortuously-"perfect" bodies, hours of study on how to look good in photographs (and the support of pro photographers, lighting, makeup, hair, and wardrobe!!) take some really bad photos where the judges are like "you look constipated" about the best photo out of literally tens or hundreds of shots they took.

Anyway, one thing that I felt helped me a lot: When buying my wedding dress, I had my dad take photos of me in every definite-possibility dress, and then I chose the dress that looked the same on film as in a mirror. He's a professional photographer, so I knew I was getting a pretty accurate representation of what the wedding photos would look like in terms of angles and things; maybe ask whoever is the best photographer in your crew to take pics for you when dress shopping? I also took lots of pictures of myself after my hair and makeup trial to decide if I felt pretty in those, and tweaked accordingly (which would help with like "oh no I actually look washed out in this lighting").

I also reminded myself that not every photo needs to be good! Because you can really just pick the ones you like to save in a photo book or post online or whatever! So when you see a photo you don't like, just move right past it. Forget about it.

I'm going to be a massive hypocrite right now because I just had engagement photos done and I feel the exact same way you do but I want to say that I wish I looked half as beautiful in you do in your pictures. You are absolutely gorgeous and you don't look fat, frumpy, or anything along those lines. You look happy, in love, and that dress is killer on you! You look incredible! Don't let your brain be mean to you and bully you into thinking you're not pretty.

First off, you look gorgeous! But, I feel exactly the same way. I could’ve basically written your post myself. I had my engagement photos done in August and I couldn’t believe how much weight I had gained. It also didn’t help that a friend of mine said I looked miserable in the photos. I wasn’t, that’s just my face. But, it was also the kick in the butt to get me to really commit to exercise and I’ve already lost a good amount of weight. I’m trying to think of it as a moment in time and my fiancé and I had a lot of fun that day. No matter what we looked like, it’s obvious we are in love. I see that in your photos too!

You have received a lot of responses but I also put on a lot of weight, am also a future military spouse, and picked out that same dress for our photos (and ended up returning it for something black since I thought it would slim me out).

I truly think you look stunning. We are our own worst critic. You are glowing- and not in a maternity way.

Hey thank you guys, yall have been so freaking sweet with your words of encouragement! I do think the photos are growing on me slowly but surely. I just need to learn to get out of my head sometimes. Thank yall again!

You look beautiful, and happy! Don't be so hard on yourself. Love the 3rd and 4th for publishing anywhere, but they all are nice.

I actually really like your dress. The first photo is the only one that I’m not 100% about. You look great in it, but his hand position looks weird and your arm is bent up, I don’t know. I see what you mean with the first one. But the rest of them are stunning! The first one is great too, but my least favorite one just because of the pose I think. But still a great one