***This post was written specifically for other photographers, but these tips are definitely useful for couples planning their weddings as well!
#1) Thrift Store Finds
Specifically silver trays, glass trays, wooden trays, trinket dishes, cool textured placemats or runners. Basically anything you can use to add some layers and interest to your flatlays.
(This photo is an example using items #1, 2 and 3!!!)
#2 Chiffon Ribbon and Tulle.
You never know what you will have available to add interest to your flatlay detail shots so I like to come prepared with as much of my own extras as possible. I got a small box of chiffon ribbon from amazon and some rolls of tulle at Hobby Lobby to carry in my bag. If the bride has a veil, use that for sure, but that isn’t always the case and it’s nice to add a soft fabric of some kind.
#3 Ring Boxes
Sometimes couples have gorgeous custom ring boxes of some kind or maybe their jeweler provided one with their rings, but often they just have a standard cardboard box. I ordered a few ring boxes in fairly neutral colors to keep in my bag in case I needed a ring box for the detail shots. I purchased the 3 slot boxes but they are also available in 2 slot as well.
#4 An extendable hook/pole
I’m vertically challenged, so I may need this even more often than others who have been more blessed in the height department but I think everyone could use this item at some point. I purchased this extendable hook/pole off of Amazon because so often when looking for the perfect place to hang the wedding dress for detail shots of it, I couldn’t reach and had to find someone to help and even then often needed a ladder or chair to stand on. I absolutely love having this handy-dandy item on hand and how it gives me so much more creative freedom when it comes to the “dress shots”!
#5 Emergency Kit
Aside from the wedding party and a few immediate family members, the photographer is the one who spends the most time with the couple throughout the day. After a while they tend to also become experts in “all things wedding” so it only makes sense to use that expertise and be ready pitch in and help whenever needed. I have become a boutonniere pinner, marriage license consultant, cake cutting director and so much more at multiple weddings. I also make sure to have an “emergency kit” in my camera bag that includes safety pins, bobby pins, band aids, hem tape, little scissors and a crochet hook (for buttoning the back of tricky dresses). If a problem arises, I’m likely to be somewhere nearby and want to be able to help if I can. I got this little kit at the ‘dollar area” at Target and then stocked it with some extras of everything but you can find kits on Amazon as well.
#6 OOFOS
I realize that a large part of the reason that these made my list is because I’m not getting any younger, but even after my very first couple of weddings my feet were killing me and I don’t think there has been a single event that they weren’t extremely tired at the very least. I have tried many different shoes through the years and some have been better than others but balancing comfort and style for weddings is HARD. I am NOT recommending you wear the Oofos slides throughout an entire wedding, but I have found the best balance for me is wearing whatever shoes are somewhat working for me at the moment and then at some point during the reception when the lights are down for dancing and my feet are sore and exhausted, I slip these babies on. Oofos slides are considered “recovery” shoes and while I would never wear them all day (your feet will still get sore and the rubbery material will rub when your feet get a little warm or sweaty), they are WONDERFUL to slide tired/aching feet into. The extra arch support feels amazing at the end of a long day and get me through many receptions.
#7 Phone Holder Attachment
I guess technically this one is photo/camera related, but you NEED this so I’m giving myself permission to break my own rules for it. This phone holder has become a GAME CHANGER not only for weddings, but also for family and senior sessions…or really any session. I upload everything from wedding day timelines, pose/prompt ideas and anything else I might need to have right at my fingertips throughout the day and then place them in folders to make them easy to find. I also sometimes take little video snippets while photographing to make a montage for the couple/client. This holder attaches to the shoe mount on top, but I have another that attaches to the thread-hole in the bottom of the camera and holds the phone to the side in case I am using a flash or transmitter on top or need a second phone handy.
