Photographing wedding details used to completely stress me out! It involves alot of thinking on your feet and working with your surrounds - not to mention you are usually on a time schedule and need to move quickly.
Over the years, I've come up with a few simple things that I incorporate into my detail shots that have made a world of difference. I hope these help get your creativity flowing a little before your next wedding!
Using a veil helps create depth and brings a more feminine ethereal feel to your details.
When in doubt, have someone hold the accessories. Tuxes + bridesmaid gowns make for some wonderful backdrops.
The bouquet is often my saving grace. I use bouquets to hang earings, display invitations, and to add a little color and depth to the other details shots.
Chairs are the perfect way to show off the bouquet! If the chair isn't the prettiest I dress it up by laying the veil or a bridesmaid dress over it to the create a more beautiful backdrop.
Depth can make or break details. If you are photographing multiple objects in a photo, your focus really starts to matter. Make sure the most important objects are in the forefront and let the less important ones fade into the distance.
Texture brings an extra pop to your wedding details. Often times the best source of texture comes from table linens, clutches, and bridal belts.
If your surrounding are not as lovely as you'd like for them to be, use the invitation to create a simple and elegant backdrop for the smaller details.
Negative space creates breathing room. Photographing decadent details against a simple backdrop with lots of negative space helps highlight the beauty of the details.