Detail shots don’t add anything to a wedding album.

Said no photographer ever. Why do those close-up shots of rings, flowers, and decor make all the difference in a wedding album? Here’s my take:

Detail shots capture the small pieces of your big day. They immortalize the little touches and creative choices that were all yours, from the design of your wedding bands to the color of florals you carefully selected. These shots document aesthetics, but also weave in emotions and memories that you’ve tied to each element.

When you’re flipping back through your album for years to come, it’ll be the detail shots that add that extra level of depth, the ones that’ll make you remember how much you loved dancing in those shoes, or how that lipstick shade made you feel to break it out for the big day.

Here’s a giant list of a bunch of ideas of things you can include in your bag/box/pile of details for me to grab and play with on your wedding day. This is for both brides & grooms!

A few notes: get creative. be psyched. but don’t go overboard–there are only so many things we can make sure to fit in, so the best possible strategy is to give me anything you’re dreaming of, let me know if there’s anything particularly important you want me to photograph outside the basics, and we’ll make magic together.

the basics

• your invitation suite (including your save-the-date, invitation, envelope, and anything that your guests would have received)
• Your rings (engagement & wedding bands!)
• Ring boxes
• Shoes (the boxes too if you like!)
• Flower clippings (ask your florist for some bonus flowers for this–they’ll know what you’re talking about! Bonus points if you ask for big blooms)
• Jewelry (earrings, necklace, bracelet, toe ring, etc)
• perfume/cologne
• Vow books

a little more snazzy

• your clutch
• hair pieces
• special hangers
• hot day? the fans you’re handing out to your guests
• doing a sendoff? a sample of the confetti/rice/petals/bubbles
• one of the favors you’re giving to your guests
• your favorite ring dish
• stationery from other parts of your wedding day (menu, drink sign, custom napkins etc.)
• decorative items matching your wedding theme
• a custom newspaper with your wedding details

make it special

• vintage stamps
• love notes to each other
• memorabilia from when you were dating (movie ticket stubs, polaroids or photos, little gifts)
• keys to your wedding night hotel room
• letters from your parents wishing you love & luck (you probably have to ask for this)
• show off your lipstick color by kissing a napkin & leaving a pretty lip mark

your favorite items together

• LOVE FILM PHOTOS? bring a film camera (or ask me to bring one of mine!)
• BIG READERS? your favorite books, a gorgeous leather notebook, or maybe some special bookmarks
• FIST DATE AT THE ARCADE? try tickets & tokens
• WISHING YOU COULD GO FOR A HIKE ON YOUR WEDDING DAY BUT THE TIMELINE WAS TOO FULL? beautiful leaves or rocks/gemstones to commemorate your love of nature
• BIG ON CELEBRATING THE BUBBLY WAY? a mini champagne bottle & two glasses, maybe an orange that I can slice up
• ONE OR BOTH OF YOU ARTISTS? a few sketches – maybe just random nice sketches you like, or maybe you play with drawing elements of your wedding to ease some jitters and relax before the big day.

If you’re in doubt, overwhelmed, or want to figure out something special, don’t worry, I gotchu.