One of my favorite parts of the day is styling and photographing all of my bride + groom’s detail photos.  This is my creative warm up for the day and those little details give me a glimpse into the style + feel of the wedding – so that I can tell a cohesive story throughout the day.  Recently, a bride asked me how long it took me and she was surprised to hear my answer.

“I had no idea detail photos took that long!”

While the finished product looks beautiful and elegant, the process to get those photos is actually quite time-consuming.  Styling takes time and I work best when I don’t feel rushed.  I want to give myself plenty of time to be creative and try new things, without constantly looking at the clock.  For this reason, I give myself at least 2 hours for styled detail photos in the morning, before the bride gets into her dress.

As soon as I arrive on-site on the wedding morning, I begin shooting details – starting with the groom’s details and finishing up with the bride’s details.  This way, I can send all of the groom’s details with my second shooter when she heads over there to photograph the guys getting ready.

Having all of your bouquets and boutonnieres on-site by the time I arrive is extremely helpful.  If your florist is able to provide styling blooms, that’s amazing!  If your florals aren’t delivered by the time I arrive on-site, I will have to start shooting your details without them – so if having them in your detail photos is important, please communicate with your florist and be sure that they are delivered as early as possible.  Don’t worry – I take really good care of them, especially when the weather is hot!!

Once I have all of the details gathered, I will set up a little “studio” near a window or glass doorway – or a covered porch/shaded area outside – because good natural light is so important!  I get right to work on those detail photos while my second shooter hangs out with the girls as they get their hair + makeup done.

Within those 2 hours, I take a variety of detail photos to help tell the story of your day.  Below are a few examples of the detail photos I delivered from some recent weddings.  These are the types of images I try to capture at every wedding.  You honestly don’t need much for me to create these types of photos!  I bring a fully stocked styling kit with me to every single wedding, so I always have extra props to give your details a little extra umph if needed!!  Above each group of images, I’ve listed what the bride + groom gave me in terms of their details, so you can get an idea of what I can create with those details:

Emily + Jon’s Destination Wedding in St Augustine, Florida

Groom’s Details: Shoes, Bowtie, Boutonnieres, Cologne Bottle, Watch, Ring, Cufflinks, Personalized Collar Stays (gift from bride)

Bride’s Details: Dress, Personalized Hanger, Shoes, Engagement Ring, Wedding Band, Monogrammed Mrs. Box, Invitation Suite with Calligraphy Envelope, Earrings, Lipstick, Bouquet, Styling Blooms

Styling Props Provided by Me: Various Mrs. Boxes, Small Dishes, Styling Boards

Morgan + Frank’s Legare Waring House Wedding

Groom’s Details: Shoes, Bowtie, Boutonnieres, Ring, Cufflinks

Bride’s Details: Dress, Personalized Hanger, Shoes, Engagement Ring, Wedding Band, Invitation Suite (without envelopes), Earrings, Heirloom Ring, Bouquet, Styling Blooms

Styling Props Provided by Me: Various Mrs. Boxes, Small Dishes, Styling Boards, Silk Ribbon

 

 

Maggie + Mike’s Cedar Room Wedding

Groom’s Details: Shoes, Tie, Boutonnieres, Belt, Ring

Bride’s Details: Dress, Shoes, Engagement Ring, Wedding Band, Invitation Suite with Calligraphy Envelope, Earrings, Heirloom Pin, Bouquet, Styling Blooms

Styling Props Provided by Me: Various Mrs. Boxes, Small Dishes, Styling Boards, Gold Hanger

I hope this blog post has been helpful and gives you some insight into my process when it comes to styling and photographing my clients’ beautiful personal details.  It’s one of my favorite things to do and it gets me completely warmed up for the rest of the wedding day!  If you have any questions at all, please feel free to leave a comment.  I’m happy to answer any questions you may have!