My top tips to help with pain during wedding season

We put our bodies through a lot during wedding season! On the wedding day but also as we edit ALL the images. We spend so much time in front of our computers, doing a lot of repetitive movements which can cause us a LOT of pain.

Today, I want to share my top tips to help you have a more comfortable wedding season.

Check your chair, desk and monitor height

When I started photographing and editing more than 10 years ago, I paid no attention to office ergonomics. My desk might have looked pretty but my back and arms were not happy! You will need to check the following:

1. Ensure you sit at a height keeping your shoulders relaxed, forearms parallel to the ground and sitting tall.

This will show you the right distances for your body height.

2. A good chair is important. Make sure you have adjustable height so that your feet are comfortably on the floor or on a footrest and good lower back support.

This is not the right chair for office work!

3. Make sure that you look straight ahead at your screen. You may have to lift your monitor to achieve this.

4. If you work on a laptop, you may need a separate mouse and keyboard to avoid being hunched over as it’s not good for your spine.

Use a wrist pad

I used to have a lot of wrist pain when using my mouse. I have added a gel wrist pad and it's been great. They provide relief and support and are super cheap. You can also get one for your keyboard. 

Use a Wacom tablet instead of editing with a mouse.

It will help with ergonomics (as well as speed) but make sure you get the right tablet for your screen size and workstation. Too small or too big could cause you problems. The Wacom tablets are a workhorse and will last you years. I have had mine for so long that I have to reinstall the same old driver each time I update my mac as it doesn’t seem to recognise it.

It takes a little bit of time to get used to the tablet but it will be a game changer when you edit your weddings or portrait sessions.

Move your body at regular intervals.

Sitting for long periods of time is bad for our health (it is considered the new smoking) but it is so easy to forget to move, especially when we have tight deadlines.

Make sure you get up from your desk and walk around, do some neck rolls & stretch. Not only will it be great for your body, it will be fantastic to refresh your mind.

You can use this free tool to remind you to get up.

5. Do some yoga.

My husband and I both work from home and we take a break in the middle of the day to do 30 minutes of yoga. It has done a lot of great things for us, physically and mentally. 

It allows us to move, stretch, breathe and decompress. Don't be afraid to start even if you think you are not flexible. That means that yoga will be great for you! I started with Youtube videos and now go to a class once a week. The difference in strength and flexibility has been crazy.

Go to a beginners class to learn the basics or if you'd prefer to start at home for free, check out Yoga with Adrienne (she is fantastic!). Yoga mats and blocks are super cheap. Your body and mind will thank you!

And if Yoga is not for you, try Pilates or just stretching everyday. Mobility training is super important.

6. If you have chronic pain, a TENS unit can help with short-term relief.

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation which sounds scary (it's not painful!) but it means that it stimulates your nerves via an electrical current through your skin. It provides pain relief but make sure you talk to your doctor or physiotherapist before using one. 

7. Don't forget to stretch after you have photographed a wedding.

Wedding hangover is real and I noticed a big difference in my pain levels if I stretched after a wedding. My husband also would give me a 5 minutes arms and shoulders massage, which helped tremendously. Remember to keep hydrated on the day, wear good footwear and consider getting a new camera strap or harness to distribute camera weight evenly. If time permits, a good bath with Epsom salts is amazing!

Your desk can be pretty but it must be ergonomic.

9. Wear a camera strap or harness.

I used to have a Blackrapid strap which has been a great investment. There are many options out there, from leather holsters such as Holdfast to belts like the Spider Holster.

8. Outsource your wedding editing.

Consider sending your weddings during the busy wedding season to a private editor. This will reduce your workload and pain (physical and mental) and will give you plenty of time to take care of you. Get in touch with me and see how I can help you!

It's easy to forget to look after ourselves when we are busy. Our bodies can take a lot but some of the damage can have strong repercussions as we age.

Our bodies are precious and are our livelihood. We need to take good care of ourselves. Your business will be all the better for it!