One of my favorite ways to start off a wedding day is by photographing your wedding details! Not only does this jumpstart my creativity for the day, these images showcase the colors and aesthetics you’ve decided to showcase throughout your wedding while also putting together all the smaller details in one place.

Overall, wedding details are important to me to include in your wedding gallery because they allow me to show the full story of your wedding day!

How much time do detail photos take?

When planning out your timeline, I recommend scheduling at least 30 minutes for detail photos. This allows your photographer the time to gather all the items you want included, find a location for the photos, and then get to work photographing the details!

I’ve found that detail photos are almost always the first thing I do when I arrive at a wedding after greeting the couple and getting acclimated with the space we’ll be working in. Detail photos usually take place while everyone is still getting ready for the day, and it’s easy to time so you’ll get both detail photos and getting ready photos!

A time saving tip and something I recommend to all my couples is to gather all the detail items they want included in a box before their wedding day. When I arrive, all I have to do is ask for the “details box” and someone can hand it off to me versus the couple running around trying to gather all the items they want included on the day of. You have a lot going on during the morning of your wedding! By preparing this box beforehand, that will be one less thing for you to worry about.

What should I include in my details box?

Here are some items I recommend including (if applicable):

1. Dress and veil
2. Suit
3. Tie
4. Invitation suite (2 copies of the full suite, if possible)
5. Shoes
6. Jewelry
7. Perfume/cologne
8. Something old, new, borrowed, blue
9. ALL 3 rings – if all 3 are with you, your photo team will be able to photograph the full set. We’ll have time to get them to whoever will be holding them afterward.
10. Bouquet and/or loose florals – many florists are great about including a few loose flowers/greenery for styled detail photos. Don’t assume that they will automatically do this if you don’t ask, though.
11. Boutonniere
12. Heirlooms that are included in your wedding day
13. Vow books
14. Any extra ribbon, accents, or items of significance that represent the day
15. Guest Welcome Bags or Favors
16. Any gifts or notes from one another

This is not an exhaustive list, but it covers a lot of the most commonly included items. Your detail photos should be unique to your relationship and your wedding so if you have something you want included that you don’t see on the list, include it!