In this post, I’m going to list the essential wedding photos to take of the day’s finer details from the point of view of a documentary-style wedding photographer.
Why, because today many engaged couples prefer candid and natural-looking wedding photos.
It’s also essential to have wedding photos of the finer details (e.g., dress, shoes, flowers, etc.,), because:
- People put a lot of time and money into choosing the finer details.
- The dress, shoes, flowers, etc., reveal people’s personalities.
- Finer details reflect the effort people put into wedding planning.
So, as the wedding unfolds, look for things that make the day possible. Namely, finer details as they were found. Documentary-style wedding photographers do not take many photos that are forced or staged.
With that, here are the must-have wedding photos to take of the day’s finer details:
- Getting ready details
- Wedding ceremony details
- Wedding breakfast details
- Evening reception details
- Personal items
- Formal details
- Candid moments
1. Getting Ready Details
When the bride gets ready, look around the room for things that make the day possible (e.g., perfume bottles, jewelry, or clothing. Remember, some items of clothing may not be worn or seen during the wedding. But they are nonetheless important to the story of the day (e.g., comfy shoes, funny socks, naughty underwear!).
Furthermore, little things like a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts the bridesmaids shared for breakfast are also photo-worthy. Lastly, don’t forget to take photos of the bride’s dress, shoes, and floral decorations!
2. Wedding Ceremony Details
Guests and family will arrive at the ceremony venue looking their best, so take photos of their attire. They will most likely be handed an order of service before they enter. Again, a nice shot! Inside, flowers will be displayed with other decorations – so don’t miss these significant finer details. And during the ceremony, rings will be exchanged, a candle is lit, and the marriage license showed off.
3. Wedding Breakfast Details
The reception venue will be highly decorated and looking its best for the feast ahead. Likewise, tables will be adorned with decorations, centerpieces, flowers, and other small details. Lastly, the cake will be set-up somewhere (most likely in the corner of the room). Look around and snap away. More importantly, get in before the guests take their seats!
4. Evening Reception Details
There are many finer details to photograph during the evening reception. For example, items of clothing, watches, or jewelry. Gifts may be shared, rituals performed, and props used for larking around. So, get in close to the action and don’t miss out.
5. Personal Items
It’s quite possible that the bride and groom will have treated themselves to something special to wear or carry with them on the day. So you may catch a glimpse of them showing off this special item to friends and family. But you’ll need to be quick (and have eagle eyes) to catch these items!
6. Formal Details
Some couples request formal shots of the dress, flowers, shoes, etc. In which case, you want to look for an uncluttered backdrop to place the items in front of. And make sure there are no distracting features in the background to ruin the shot.
7. Candid Moments
Many photos of the day’s finer details look best when they’re captured naturally. The dress can look better when it’s being worn, the rings more natural when they’re on the finger, and the shoes more real when they’re being worn. Again, keep your eyes peeled throughout the day to shoot this kind of thing.
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