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Today’s Wedding Hint Wednesday will be short and sweet, because I’m going to give just a couple very simple– and I mean very simple–hints that will make a HUGE difference in your detail pictures. Everybody hates “fine print.” Fine print is the “gotcha” statements in a contract, the itty-bitty expiration date on your gift card that you didn’t see until it was too late. Fine print just stinks. There’s a pesky little bit of fine print in photography, too, and many photographers overlook it until it’s too late. It can come in many forms and ruin many shots if you aren’t careful. Maybe the maid of honor’s tag is sticking out the back of her dress, or the bride has lipstick on her teeth. Watch out for missed buttons or unzipped trousers when it comes to the guys! There are two things I run into the most at weddings. It sounds silly to even discuss, but they make a major difference in the photos–Not to mention, they are so, so easily fixed if you are prepared and waiting for them: 1. Messes, and 2. Ugly Hangers.

You’ve read my tips on lighting and the importance of getting ready early on other WHW posts, but today I’m going to be showing you just a few of my favorite details shots, and explain why they worked so well.

I’ve been to very few weddings with pretty hangers. It’s something that no one thinks about, and yet in my opinion, it can make or break the vital wedding dress photo. Most brides bring the dress on the hanger it came with, which is usually the cheap plastic, clear dinky thing. Nothing wrong with this, but as a photographer it’s my job to capture the beauty of that irreplaceable gown, and a cheapo-depot hanger just isn’t going to cut it. I bring my own hangers. Easy fix. (Bonus hint: I bring enough hangers for bridesmaid dresses, groomsmen jackets, and a few extras just in case!) Photographers–bring pretty hangers! Brides–bring pretty hangers(unless you book me, in which case I’ll do it for you)! My favorite, if you want to go all out: This gorgeous little piece, from BHLDN. Notice the photos below. You don’t even notice the hanger, because the dress itself is so beautiful! And that’s the point! Picture those images with a cheap, clear, plastic hanger–not so gorgeous, am I right? Be prepared

Also, notice how clean the room is in the image on the right? That brings me to my next point.

Now let’s discuss the mess that inevitably accumulates as the girls and guys get ready for the wedding day. There will be a mess. And the mess can actually make for some cute photos, but here’s one of the tips I give my brides: Make a mess, get ready, have fun with it, but have all the bridesmaids be completely ready for pictures, and have the whole mess cleaned up BEFORE you get into your dress (If you are getting dressed in the same room). Look around, and pick up anything you don’t want in the pictures. Here’s a list of just a few very typical things we pick up before the getting dressed moment–things that you definitely don’t want in the backdrop keepsaked for all of time: dirty clothes (and undergarments), trash, make-up, boxes of “feminine hygiene products,” etc. You get the point. And, as I’ve stated before, if you allow time in your schedule for the bridesmaids to get ready before you, you can get the shots you need, with the perfect backdrops, capturing your perfect moments. See the shots below? There are flowers on the clean counter, pillows on the sofa (reflected in the mirror), and everything about these photos reads “Still. Peaceful. Perfect.” You’d never know that to get one of these pictures just right, I had to move about 150 stacked chairs out of my way. You’d never look at either of these and know about the big mess just minutes before–as it should be, our little secret!

Photographers–don’t make the bride worry about the clean-up. Do it yourself. Be present throughout the getting ready process and help maintain the environment the pictures need. Brides–think about discussing this with your bridesmaids beforehand. Grooms–you are about to live with a woman for the rest of your life, so try to remember to clean as you go (on your wedding day and beyond!)

See? Simple problems, simple fixes!

With joy, Lizard.