If you struggle with efficiency and speed when documenting a couple’s wedding day details, I’ve just updated last year’s wedding day flat lay course to include soooo many new extras! I break down exactly how I approach the day, including the four styles of flat lays I use the most, my go to lighting…even editing! There’s also a new section on matching the color story and aesthetic of the wedding day.
After mentoring other photographers and seeing a ton of flat lays on my social media feeds, I’m sharing tips to make sure you’re putting together the most elevated design possible.
You can get the full guide here, but here are some tips to get you thinking…
1. Pay attention to the aesthetic of the day. A historic NYC hotel that has mahogany furniture with dark wallpaper and rich textures will look much different than a yacht club with lots of natural light and white walls. Similarly, a couple that hosts a black tie event in a ballroom with gold tablecloths and black satin bridesmaids’ dresses will be an entirely different vibe than a barn wedding with the groomsmen in linen and the wedding party in pastels. The images from the day should reflect that aesthetic. Most weddings have a color story, it’s up to us to showcase and align with those tones.
2. The absolute biggest mistake I see in wedding day flat lays is featuring ALL-THE-THINGS in one single image. Trying to showcase large items like shoes and perfume bottles, then combining them with small things like earrings and rings, and then adding invitation cards along with it…the photo quickly becomes a confusing mixture of random items. Unless there aren’t a lot of details on a wedding day, I typically stick to three groupings:
a. Paper goods (invite, menus, place cards)
b. Small wearable items (jewelry)
c. Larger items (purse, shoes, perfume, hair piece)
3. Avoid any items that the couple doesn’t have a connection to. Flat lay styling props have become ubiquitous in wedding photography, and it seems we are heading toward a sea of sameness. Vintage little hand mirrors, mini scissors and opera glasses keep appearing everywhere (maybe I just have a touch of Baader Meinhof phenomenon) yet they have nothing to do with the couple or venue.
I love introducing heirlooms for styling purposes, but only if they make sense to the storytelling of the day. That said, I’ve found some pretty cool soap dishes, vintage books and postcards in various hotels. Bonus if you document the getting ready portion of the day in the couple’s own home (or their childhood home), there are always personalized things to incorporate their personal taste and style!
4. Hanging a wedding dress on a chandelier or putting high heels in a tree may be artistic, but, it doesn’t feel natural to me. I place the items in a spot that feels organically like they’re waiting to be put on. Photographs should be about the items, not a certain photo trend. I like the idea of a dress looking like it could have been placed their organically by someone in the wedding party (someone who obviously knows good light, ha ha!).
5. A human element is immensely more meaningful than items styled alone. While I do photograph all of the bride’s things in the morning, I also try to get a secondary photo of a V.I.P. interacting with the item.
If this kind of deep dive is your thing, and you want even more, I have an extensive video along with a 23 page guide that explains all of this and more! From composition, style, mood and aesthetic, I go on (and on!) about what makes an image impactful as it pertains to wedding day details. I also just added an entire section on what to do if the room you’re in has the worst light you’ve ever seen (we’ve all been there!) I show you how to create beautiful light every single time, even in a church basement with no windows. You can also check out other offerings to help with workflow here. Welcome to wedding season, my friend!
