Planning for the Perfect Wedding Detail Shots

Your wedding details are easy to overlook when you are busy thinking about the bigger parts of the day. You have your dress, your shoes, your invitations, your rings, your jewelry, your flowers, and probably a dozen other little things that you chose very intentionally.

When your photographer arrives, though, those things may be spread across different rooms, still packed away, or being used by someone else. If you want detailed photos of everything, a little preparation beforehand can make a huge difference.

One of the easiest things you can do is put all of your details together before your photographer arrives.

I recommend having one box or bag with everything you want photographed. That might include your invitation suite, save the dates, rings, perfume, jewelry, shoes, ribbon, vow books, your something blue, and any other small details that are meaningful to you.

This saves time, but it also means I am not having to interrupt you while you are getting your hair and makeup done to ask where something is.

Your invitation suite is one thing I would definitely make sure is included. If you have an extra invitation, envelope, RSVP card, details card, or any other stationery, set it aside specifically for photos. I can arrange everything together rather than having to photograph the one invitation that is currently sitting on the kitchen counter.

I also recommend having two copies of your invitation if possible. One can stay with you and one can be used for detail photos.

The same goes for your rings.

If you want all three rings photographed together, make sure your photographer knows where they are. You can give them to your maid of honor, planner, or photographer at the beginning of the day so you are not trying to track them down later.

Then there are the details that make the photos feel more personal.

Maybe you have a perfume you always wear. A necklace your mom gave you. A handwritten note from your fiancé. A family heirloom. A special ribbon. A piece of fabric from your grandmother's wedding dress.

Bring those things.

They may seem small, but they give your detail photos some connection to you instead of making them look like a collection of pretty wedding objects.

I would also think about what you want your photographer to photograph your details with.

If your florist has extra flowers or greenery available, ask if you can have a few stems set aside for detail photos. A few loose flowers can make a huge difference when photographing invitations, rings, shoes, or perfume.

Your photographer may also bring styling materials, but having pieces from your actual wedding makes the photos more connected to the day.

And finally, don't forget about the dress.

If possible, have your dress hanging somewhere with good natural light before your photographer arrives. A plain hanger can work, but if you have a special hanger you want photographed, have it ready. If the dress is still zipped inside a garment bag when your photographer arrives, it can take extra time to get everything ready.

None of this needs to be complicated.

You don't need to buy a bunch of extra things just for photos. You simply need to decide which details you want remembered and make sure they are easy to find.

Your photographer can take care of arranging them and figuring out how to photograph them. Your job is just to gather the pieces.

And honestly, this is one of the easiest parts of the wedding day to prepare for ahead of time.

Put everything together. Add the things that are meaningful to you. Give it to your photographer.

Then let them take it from there.