Raquel Pires interview Jules Robinson at One Fine Day Sydney while Covering content for FIGUR Bridal

On the 15th of August 26, Sydney's wedding industry came together for one more successful year of the One Fine Day Wedding Fair, and I was there behind the camera capturing the weekend for Jules Robinson and FIGUR.

Jules Robinson attending to One Fine Day Wedding expo 2026 and interviewed by Raquel Pires.

As a wedding photographer, I spend most of my weekends documenting what happens on the other side of wedding planning, the moment when all the choices, fittings, details and months of preparation finally become the wedding day. So being at One Fine Day is always an interesting opportunity to step into the world before the wedding and meet the people and brands helping couples create it.

This time, I was there photographing and creating content for Jules and the FIGUR Bridal stand, where brides could discover FIGUR's shape-wear range, explore different fits and styles.

The FIGUR stand brought the bridal experience to life, with shape-wear on display for brides to discover in person and a Bridal Prize Pack valued at over $2,000. Created around the idea of “from prep to the aisle”, the giveaway brought together a curated selection of beauty, wellness and bridal favourites, a lovely extension of FIGUR's philosophy of helping women feel confident and cared for as they prepare for their wedding day.

And yes - the stand looked fabulous!

But what I find particularly interesting about FIGUR goes beyond shape-wear itself, and you will see it in the interview bellow.

Jules Robinson at Figur Stand hosting the brides.

Jules Robinson at Figur Stand showing some shapewear pieces.

Giveaway

From Wedding Dresses to What Goes Underneath Them

I've had the pleasure of photographing Jules for some time now, including the FIGUR laughing campaign back in 2020, to the last one “Reshaping Expectations” so I've had the opportunity to see the philosophy behind FIGUR develop through the years.

Jules created FIGUR after her own experience wearing shape-wear while filming Married at First Sight. After months of dealing with shape-wear that rolled, moved and made something as simple as going to the bathroom unnecessarily complicated, she decided there had to be a better way.

But what I love most about the philosophy behind FIGUR is that it isn't about using shapewear to hide who you are.

It's about feeling comfortable and confident being exactly who you are.

And I think that conversation becomes particularly relevant when we're talking about brides.

“There’s so much pressure on women to look “perfect” on their wedding day, knowing they’ll be photographed from every angle and those photos will be there forever.” Jules

One Fine Day Wedding Expo 2026 | Runaway Clicks By Raquel Pires

Bridal Confidence From a Wedding Photographer's Perspective

After photographing hundreds of women on their wedding days, there's something I see again and again.

There can be an enormous amount of pressure around how a bride believes she is supposed to look.

Everyone's eyes will be on her. She's invested in the dress, hair, makeup and photography. She knows these photographs will probably exist for generations.

Suddenly every little insecurity can feel magnified.

Part of my job as a wedding photographer is therefore not simply making someone look beautiful. It's helping her forget, at least for a while, that she is being photographed.

I often remind my brides that their wedding photographs aren't meant to become evidence of whether their body looked "perfect" on one particular day.

They're memories.

Years from now, I want you to remember how your partner looked at you. Your mother's face when she saw you dressed. Your friends making you laugh while you were getting ready. The nervousness before walking down the aisle. The ridiculous dance moves later that night.

How you felt, not simply how you looked.

And this is where Jules' philosophy around FIGUR really resonates with me.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting a little extra support underneath a wedding dress if it helps you feel comfortable and confident.

The important distinction is that the product should work with your body rather than make you spend your wedding day fighting against it.

So while we were together at One Fine Day Sydney, I asked Jules if we could have a little conversation specifically for my brides.

One Fine Day Wedding Expo 2026 receive Figur Stand and Jules comes in person to meet the brides.

Here is the full Jules interview

• Jules, what actually makes FIGUR different from other shape-wear?

Jules Robinson:

“FIGUR really came from my own frustration with shape-wear.

During filming for Married at First Sight, I was wearing shape-wear constantly and experiencing all the things women complain about — rolling, seams moving, discomfort and the practical nightmare of trying to go to the bathroom while you're dressed up.

I thought: surely we can do this better.

So when I created FIGUR, comfort was just as important to me as shaping and support. Our Ultimate Range uses multi-level compression to smooth and support the body, with gentle boning designed to help prevent the garment from rolling down. We also created different styles and torso lengths, including Petite and Tall options, because women's bodies aren't all built in exactly the same proportions.

And practicality matters! Our Ultimate styles include built-in underwear and an easy-access toilet design because shape-wear has to work in real life — especially if you're going to wear it for many hours.

But ultimately, FIGUR has never been about telling women that their bodies need fixing.

For me, real body confidence is about knowing your body, working with what you've got and loving yourself. Shape-wear can simply be another tool that helps you feel comfortable and confident in what you're wearing.”

Jules & the Brides

Figur Lounge

Jules meeting Fans

• For a bride choosing shape-wear for her wedding dress, where should she start and which FIGUR styles tend to work particularly well for brides?

Jules robinson:

“Start with the dress.

Shape-wear shouldn't be chosen in isolation because different silhouettes need different things underneath them.

Our Ultimate Range is designed for maximum smoothing and support and sits just underneath the bra line. We have shorts and skirt styles, so the right option really depends on the shape and fabric of your wedding dress.

Torso length is important too. Our Petite and Tall options aren't simply about your overall height — they're designed around how the shape-wear sits on your torso.

And my biggest advice would be: don't wait until the wedding morning to wear it properly for the first time.

Try your FIGUR with your actual wedding dress. Move around. Sit down. Walk. Dance. Make sure you feel comfortable.

Your wedding day is long, and you don't want to spend it thinking about what's underneath your dress.

The best shape-wear is the shape-wear you eventually forget you're wearing.”

• You've experienced weddings very publicly yourself. What would you say to a bride who's feeling pressure about how she's going to look, particularly in her wedding photographs?

Jules Robinson:

“There’s so much pressure on women to look “perfect” on their wedding day, knowing they’ll be photographed from every angle and those photos will be there forever.

But perfection isn’t what makes a beautiful photo. It’s how you felt in that moment. The happiness, the people around you and everything the day represented.

Confidence will always shine brighter than any so-called “perfect” body.

Wear the dress you absolutely love. Choose underwear or shapewear that feels comfortable and supportive. Support, not correction. Surround yourself with people who make you feel incredible.

Then let yourself be completely present and enjoy every second.

Because the woman in those photographs shouldn’t be some perfected version of you. She should be you, happy, confident and having the time of her life.”

My Advice to Brides: Choose Comfort Before Perfection

And this is probably where Jules and I meet philosophically, despite working in completely different parts of the wedding industry.

Her product sits underneath the dress.

My photographs remain long after the dress has been packed away. But both experiences should allow you to be present rather than constantly thinking about your body.

Choose the beautiful dress. Wear shape-wear if it makes you feel fantastic.

Don't wear it because somebody convinced you that your natural body needs to disappear.

And when the photographer arrives? Forget about performing for the camera.

Be with your people. Move. Laugh. Cry. Dance. Let the day happen.

I'll take care of the photographs. Because the photographs you'll treasure aren't necessarily the ones where everything looked perfect.

They're usually the ones that take you straight back to how it felt.

Raquel Pires x

Planning Your Wedding ?

If you're looking for natural, sophisticated wedding photography in Sydney with an editorial approach and plenty of guidance when you need it, explore my wedding photography exploring my website: HOME.

Discover FIGUR Bridal

Explore FIGUR Bridal shape-wear for brides and bridal parties, including the Ultimate Shorts and Ultimate Skirt styles in Nude and Black, with Petite and Tall options available.

Click Here to Find out More: FIGUR BRIDAL