Portraits of Objects is our topic of the week. Our topic recently has revolved around tips for brides who are planning a wedding. From blog to blog over the last few weeks, we have been discussing tips for various aspects of your wedding plans. We’ve talked about flowers and about venues. We’ve even outlined some tips for choosing your wedding photographer.
A Classic Detail Shot Filled With Memories of the Moment Before Vows.
In fact, given the nature of our business, we plan to stick with this area of bridal planning for a few more of our blogs. There is simply a great deal to know about a photographer and photography before you choose a photographic artist for your wedding. (That’s why we create this blog.)
Portraits of Details are more than Shots of Objects:
In this article, we are bringing you some information and a Tips sheet in a specialized area of wedding photography. Some wedding photographers completely miss creating these magical images: The Detail Shots or portraits. Often called Scene Setters by Sterling. These are the bold, close-up shots of special objects you make, borrow or buy, during your wedding day. Beware, brides. Some photographers might not have trained for these stylish photos. …Particularly, the symbolic objects that are interwoven throughout your day.
And that’s okay if you don’t care about this type of shot. But most 21st century most brides do care. The sleek elegance of scene-setter-style shots has helped make the work of Orlando-based Sterling of Sterling Photography International stand out artistically from among hundreds of photographer’s wedding images.
The Origin and Use of Scene-setters
Brides have renewed interest in wedding albums. We often see these images used as the background when a collection of photos hosts a page of images, expressing facets of a moment in your special day. According to the experts, “These may not end up as the main focus of any given page in the album. But they can make fantastic backgrounds on which to layer your more people-centric shots.”
For example, Sterling might choose to replace the plain white or black mounting background of a wedding party shot with a misty enlargement of the bride’s roses in the bouquet.
We have mentioned this type of photography previously in one of our favorite blogs. Please discover the fine points behind the popularity of these commercial-style wedding images by reading or review the insights in the older article before reading this blog.
The Bride’s Ultimate Scene Setter Has to be Her Personalized Bouquet.
Definition of Scene-setters
By definition, scene-setters or detail shots are essentially close up or macro shots of the small symbolic details you buy or create for your wedding. The common ones are easy to spot, like the wedding rings and the bride’s shoes. Seen close-up, they allow human eyes to see details they never before perceived. Likewise, such shots have the power to conjure up memories of very special moments
Portraits of the Little Things that Individualize Your Wedding
During a wedding, the photographer must focus on many moments, both posed and journalistic. Sterling himself will tell you it’s easy to sometimes miss the wedding detail shots. The tiny details you worked so hard to select or create could be lost forever in the rush of the day. These small details are often things that you and your groom have planned. They are created, borrowed or bought to enhance the experience of the wedding day.
Scene Setter Shots Stimulate the Memories
Moreover, these shots stimulate memories when you, your family or friends look at your photographs. That’s why we think this special style of photography is worth mentioning. And of course, we have a list for you.
The Official List of Close Up Details to Set the Scene
Because of the popularity of our Storybook or Cinematographic Wedding Albums, we usually think chronologically, but detail shots can be arranged differently once they have been shot.
Before the Wedding Scene-Setters
While Bride and Groom Prepare we create shots of shoes and Accessories
The Exchange of Rings is a Special Moment. This kind of Detail is One of Sterling’s Specialty.
Sterling wants to get photographs of the shoes and accessories as soon as he arrives at the venue. At first, we only took shots like these of the brides things: her jewelry, garter, shoes, bouquet, gifts, and make-up. Shortly after we added these shots to our itinerary, we realized the groom had amazing accessories too. So we equalize the situation with shots of his jewelry, his lapels, collar, tie and cuffs, shoes, gifts, shaving equipment. …Any objects that happen to be his in honor of the couple’s special day.
Chances are, in case you’re technically interested, that’s when you’ll see Sterling use a 50mm, f/1.8 lens for this close-up work. In a time crunch, he might use a zoom lens, or you might see him flipping back and forth between two cameras. …One for people and one for close-up portraits of objects.
You’ll notice in these photos, part of style often requires soft focus in the background. Thus he will use a wide aperture to accomplish this. This will throw the background flowers out of focus. But, this will bring the attention and sharp focus to the roses and orchids in the foreground.
Portraits of The Flowers
In between his busy before-the-ceremony shots, Sterling delights in capturing details of flowers and decorations within the church or venue. We want your bouquets to look as fresh and unbruised as possible. So Sterling does this as quickly as he can after arriving in the room of the ceremony.
Ceremony Details and Scene Setters:
- In this part of the list, we include the pianist’s, sheet music or the cover of the CD selected by the couple.
- Pew decorations, ribbons or flowers,
- The ceremony program
- The décor of the room and its unique architectural elements.
Cutting the Wedding Cake is Usually One of the Top Memories of The Reception. The Cake and Closeup Details May Be Vital.
Wedding Reception Setters
The party presents numerous opportunities for these types of shots.
- Table decorations, centerpieces and chair ornaments also.
- Rose petals, bubble bottles or birdseed packages, are often hand decorated.
- Favors of little gifts for the guests. The bride and groom might have packed them in little boxes or bags. They are special.
- The food and the cake—oh yes many shots of the cake, the Champaign, the china and anything else on the cake table.
- Personalized Place-settings and an invitation. (Sometimes, Sterling asks for a pristine invitation which he keeps in his bag.)
- Then, without Photoshop, but standing right there in real time, he adds it to the wedding cake table. Then he shoots — and people are always surprised.
Creating these wedding detail shots requires careful attention to the events of the day. Of course, this list is not complete, but now that you are thinking about it, you have the basic ideas. From the frosted sugar roses on the edges of the cake to the lace ruffle on grandmother’s handkerchief, Sterling sees every detail as important.
If you are a bride interviewing photographers, you might have specific thoughts about your own small details for your photographer. However, be sure your photographer knows you expect this type of work if you are a bride.
“Great things come in small packages,” was an old saying. It is also true of photos of small details in a wedding. Sterling packs great memories and great emotions into ever special scene-setters.
