South Wales Wedding Photography: How to Capture Details and Decorations

As a wedding photographer in South Wales, capturing the intricate details and decorations of a wedding day is one of the most important aspects of my job. These details are often overlooked, but they play an important role in telling the story of the wedding day and reflecting the couple's unique style and personality. In this article, I will discuss my tips and techniques for capturing these details, including the use of a macro lens and props such as mirrors for reflection shots. I will also provide recommendations for three sharp macro lenses, one for Sony, one for Nikon, and one for Canon.

Using a Macro Lens One of the most important tools for capturing details and decorations is a macro lens. A macro lens allows you to get up close and personal with the details, capturing them in stunning detail and clarity. When selecting a macro lens, it is important to choose one with a focal length that will allow you to get close enough to capture the details without getting in the way of other important elements of the scene.One of my favorite macro lenses for Sony cameras is the Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro G OSS Lens. This lens is incredibly sharp and produces stunning images with beautiful bokeh. The 90mm focal length allows me to get close enough to capture the details without getting too close and casting a shadow.

Below: Wedding rings and perfume on a glass table

As per the images above; For Nikon cameras and my personal favourite being a Nikon shooter, the Nikon AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Lens is a fantastic option. This lens produces incredibly sharp images with beautiful bokeh and the 105mm focal length allows me to get close enough to capture the details without getting in the way of other elements in the scene. The rings were shot during groom preparations by my second wedding photographer on a recent wedding in Cardiff.

Finally, for Canon cameras, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens is an excellent choice. This lens is incredibly sharp and produces stunning images with beautiful bokeh. The 100mm focal length allows me to get close enough to capture the details without getting in the way of other elements in the scene.

Props

Using Props for Reflection Shots In addition to using a macro lens, props such as mirrors can be incredibly helpful when capturing details and decorations. Mirrors can be used to create stunning reflection shots of rings and other jewellery, adding depth and dimension to the images. When using a mirror for reflection shots, it is important to position the mirror in a way that allows you to capture the reflection without casting your own reflection in the shot. I often use a small handheld mirror for these shots, positioning it in a way that allows me to capture the reflection from a low angle. I will also quite often re shoot some details if I am not happy with my original photos, this is normally due to me seeing a different angle or spot for an item such as the wedding shoes during bridal prep.

Another tip for using mirrors is to experiment with different angles and compositions. By tilting the mirror or moving it slightly, you can create different angles of reflection and capture unique and creative images. Incorporating details and decorations into the story of the day when capturing details and decorations, it is important to think about how these images will fit into the overall story of the wedding day. These images should not just be standalone shots, but should also help to tell the story of the day and reflect the couple's unique style and personality.

The props below are a Perfume bottle and a champagne bottle

One way to do this is to incorporate the details into the wider context of the wedding day. For example, I might capture a shot of the bride's shoes next to a shot of her getting ready, or a shot of the groom's cufflinks next to a shot of him putting on his suit. Another way to incorporate details and decorations into the story of the day is to capture images of them being used or interacted with by the couple or their guests. For example, I might capture a shot of the wedding rings being exchanged during the ceremony, or a shot of the guests signing the guestbook.

But its not just during bridal and groom preparations there are details to be photographed. The wedding reception gives me another chance to use my macro lens. Capturing the details such as wedding favours, wedding cake details, flower decorations and archways and everything else that you see in the reception room.

Confetti bags are another details and decoration item usually photographed with a macro lens.