Every photographer has a favorite part of a wedding. I actually have three but today I’m going to share one of them with you. When a Bride books with me I actually give them and her groom a printed magazine that showcases all of this information in detail. If you’re here, maybe you’re looking for the right wedding photographer, you’re a photographer yourself, or you just like pretty things. Whatever it may be this is certainly something you can learn about to use on your own or share with someone else.
My whole day begins with the DETAILS! This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day, because it allows me to prepare and get my creative side warmed up for the rest of the day! I photograph a bride’s details in a way that matches and showcases the style of the entire wedding day. So, in some ways, the details set the stage for the look of the whole wedding and I love having ample time to stylize, and shoot everything from the dress, to the jewelry, to grandma’s handkerchief! Below is a list of the most common details that I shoot. I ask brides to gather any details they have before I arrive so that I can walk in, say hello, give them a big hug and then begin with all the goodies!
BRIDAL DETAILS CAN INCLUDE : Dress, veil / hair pieces, rings (all three), shoes, bouquet & groom’s bout, jewelry, perfume, invitation suite, borrowed & blue, and the wedding program.
Sometimes, depending on the theme and “look” of the wedding day, there may be some extra elements that the bride could include when she gathers her details. For example, if it’s a country themed wedding, she could include a piece of burlap or lace. If it’s a rustic themed wedding that includes some wooden elements, maybe save a small piece of wood for me to use when I’m shooting the rings and jewelry. It’s also really ties everything together if the bride asks the florist for extras for photography. This REALLY makes for beautiful, consistent album spreads, blog posts, and printing.
For the Groom, my second shooter or I will be coming to hangout with him and his groomsmen while they’re getting ready. The first thing we’ll need to capture are his details. Most guys think, “Um, I don’t have any details…” but they do! This may seem pointless but let me explain what these details are for. When I design blog spreads or wedding albums, the goal of each spread is to tell a visual story of each part of the day. I will use these details shots to break up some of their getting ready shots for the “pre-ceremony” spread. You can see below how these details can tie together.
These are common details that I shoot on a regular basis but they are by no means mandatory in any way! This checklist could also include heirloom items like a pocket-watch or something that was handed down to them and while they may not actually wear it on the wedding day, they would like a shot of it.
GROOM DETAILS: Cuff Links, Tie or Bow tie, shoes, any military detail, gifted liqueur, watch, belt, socks (if specialty), custom groomsmen gifts, boutonnieres.
For Bridal details I usually ask for a 45 minute window. This allows me to move around the venue and find a spot with great light and aesthetics so I can shoot them to tie into the elements. For the groom I usually ask for 15-20 minutes. Depending on if there is a second shooter or if I photograph alone will determine the shooting timeline for the day.
