We absolutely love shooting details.  It’s so much fun to feature all the little things that make up your day.  It also serves as a great time for us to “warm up” our creative juices.  We ask our couples to give us about 30-45 minutes to shoot details and thankfully they all oblige.  Probably because as a bride, you’ve spent so much time picking out and putting all those little details together.. you want to get ’em photographed!  30-45 minutes may seem like a long time, but when it comes to arranging details those minutes FLY by.. so to help you photographer out and get the best detail shots possible.. follow these few tips..

• Gather your details in advance for your photographers.  We suggest getting a shoe box, or other large sturdy box and filling the sucker up.  Try to remove all the tags before hand.
• Gather your paper products.  For this one, get a large folder and mark it with your photographers name.  We’ll always return the paper products to you.. unharmed, but it’s nice to have some set aside and all together.  Include your invitations, envelopes (addressed and stamped looks the nicest.  Many brides choose to have it addressed to them, or the bride’s parents.. but anything works.  You just want to show off the nice calligraphy or whatever it was on the address side), RSVP cards.. (your full invitation suite as they say).  But you can also include a program, welcome bag letter, menus, thank you cards, etc.

• Add some personal touches.  Think about the theme for your wedding day and some extra little items that will fit in.
  • For example: If your wedding is all about vintage, bring your grandma’s jewelry box.  If your wedding day is quirky and colorful bring some confetti from your invitations.  Lace from your mom’s gown, your dad’s handkerchief, your grandpa’s bible, a teacup from your aunt, the blanket your hubby-to-be proposed on.. All good ideas.  I suggest bringing just one or two things that really fit into your theme.  This is obviously not at all necessary, it just adds a little something personal.  If you don’t bring anything, we will often look around your venue for things we can add in on our own.  (Like this vase from the beautiful Warner Hall)

• Ask one bridesmaid to dress late.  In our tips for a perfect timeline we told you to have all your bridesmaids dressed and ready, but if you can pick someone who dresses quickly and ask her to dress after detail shots are done.  Using a bridesmaids’ dress to shoot details will help everything fit into the color scheme of the wedding day.

• If you’re getting ready in a hotel, ask if they will open an extra room for an hour.  One of our amazing brides did that for us last year and it was glorious.  The hotel staff had no problem giving up an empty room for us to shoot in, and I was able to take all the detail shots without getting in the way. (Bonus: you can also use this room to get dressed in, it will already be nice and clean and you won’t have to worry about tidying up).
  • Not getting ready in a hotel room?  No problem.  We’ll always try to take your details away from the hustle and bustle of the morning to give you a little extra time to prepare before we start shooting you.
• Hold onto the rings. It’s traditional for the best man to hold onto the rings.  But save that for later.  If you keep the rings with your details, we will be able to get you some great ring shots with your details.  Michael will deliver the rings to the best man after we’re done.

Here’s a handy-dandy checklist for ya..  print it out (or pin for later) and ask a bridesmaid or family member to help make sure all these things are ready to go for your photographer.  They will love you and you will get some gorgeous detail shots without veering from your timeline.