Hello, friends! I am SO excited to introduce our Artist’s Series here on the blog! The Artist’s Series is all about fabulous and talented creatives that love all things weddings! My goal is to have other creatives write up something they are passionate about and share some tips to help all future couples on their big day! Today,  I have invited Indianapolis Wedding Photographer, Emma of EmmaLeigh Photography, to chat today about all things details and details photos for your big day! Today we are also featuring some work from the fab Kaitlyn DeSpain as well!

Hey Brides! I’m Emma from EmmaLeigh Photography, I’m so excited to be a guest writer on Design the Day’s page! I’m so excited to be sharing some wedding day knowledge with you all to make your wedding photos really sparkle!

I’m sure you’re all wondering, what’s that special little bit of magic that you can give to your photographer to really make your wedding gallery swoon worthy? Well, I’ve got it for you right here.. your wedding day details!

You’ve spent so much time planning your dream wedding, and I’m sure think that every little detail selected is pinterest worthy! So why not cultivate a details box to give your photographer to capture for you? My favorite way to get started on a wedding day is with bride and groom details. This puts me in such a giddy mood to shoot the rest of your wedding day when I start out with all of your pretty little things! Here are a few things that I LOVE to capture on wedding days that set the stage for your wedding gallery.

I ask all of my brides to have a box ready to go for me when I arrive. This takes stress of you trying to find everything on the day of. I always recommend filling a box up with everything you want me to photograph, that way I can come say hello, grab your box, and start capturing your magic. This is important because your details set the stage for the story of your wedding day. These pieces give me cues as to what elements, textures, and colors I should pay attention to as I am shooting throughout the day.

Here is a list of some of the things I ask my brides to set aside for me! I always keep in mind that each bride will have elements in her detail box that may be different from another. I tell brides to fill their boxes with as much or as little as they want, but the more details, the more fun!

Here, I have styled a piece of rock crystal, an invitation RSVP card designed by Kaitlyn DeSpain, and her ring with a mystic inspired match box.

Sometimes I will use elements like your shoes in detail photos to help draw colors from different elements in your wedding. This helps create a thread in your photos from start to finish.

Your pretty little details are also so much fun to capture! Be sure to include things like your wedding ring and bands to shoot! Any jewelry that you plan to wear on the day of is also important to keep in this box. Earrings, necklaces, and family heirlooms are perfect examples of this!

Perfume and lip color is a great way to capture girly details!

Include your invitation suite to your detail box so you can remember every sweet detail. Custom designed invitation suites like this one by Kaitlyn DeSpain are my favorite to capture!

Not only do I encourage hand written letters to one another on the wedding day (all the heart eyes to the tears your husband will have when he reads his!!) But they are so sweet to include in your detail box as well!

I hope that you found this list helpful! I know that you will love seeing photos like this in your wedding gallery, and that your photographer will love you forever for having these things ready for them! Check out the full list below that I send to my own brides!

Bride detail suggestions:

Flowers, left over floral stems, wedding bands, engagement ring, earrings, bracelet, family heirlooms,  necklace, shoes, perfume, lipstick, garter, veil, wedding dress, ornate hanger to hang your dress, full invitation suite, letters/sifts between bride and groom, champagne bottles, bridesmaids dresses, silk ribbons, + any additional personal/meaningful items