The wedding and engagement rings are considered the jewel and centerpiece to any wedding and thus needs to ensure it holds that same mantle on the wedding day.
The Engagement ring symbolises the beginning of the journey between the couple. Generally a token of love that was hard earned, thoroughly thought out and vigorously viewed and discussed over the weeks, month and even years leading to the wedding day by friends and family.
So its a no brainer that as wedding photographers that it’s ever so important that we capture this shining memento in all its glory, and why this small token of love and appreciation with its rich beginnings can be so easily overlooked and almost forgotten amongst the chaos of a wedding.
We will go over some of the tried and true methods that we have used to photograph the wedding and engagement rings, from why it works and what you will need to achieve it to ensure that when it comes for you to photograph, you are well ahead of the game!
Before we get started we definitely have some top tips for shooting wedding and engagement ring photos;
- Write it down in your shotlist. Trust us, it is so easily forgotten on the day, so make sure you write it down!
- Before the wedding, tell the bride that you will be shooting the rings in the morning, so she can have them prepare the rings with the ring box, stationary and any other accessories she may have.
- Shoot the engagement and wedding rings at serving of the entree. This is the first opportunity you will get to have all 3 rings.
- Use a macro lens. We can’t stress enough how important it is to pack this lens, if only for the rings.
MACRO
First off the rank is getting that macro shot of the engagement ring in the morning.
Macro photography produces an image in which the subject is depicted on the digital sensor in its actual size, meaning the image you see is 1:1.
Macro photography is truely amazing when it comes to capturing the rings as not only does it isolate it from the background, it also bring the ring front and centre and up close which really shows off the beauty if the ring.
When deciding what to shoot the rings on, look to shoot it on the bride and grooms wedding stationary or surface that reflects the wedding theme or bring along a few items with you like we did this slate to make the shot a little more interesting, again, just ensure to be inline with their wedding theme.
ENGAGEMENT BOXES
Another shot that is always a winner which doesn’t need a macro lens, is to shoot the engagement ring in an engagement ring box, especially if that box is a Mrs Box! These beautifully crafted velvet ring boxes are forever timeless, partner this up with their wedding stationary and you have yourself a stunning photo for their album.
WITH THE BRIDE
Other photos of the ring are with the bride herself when she is all made up. These photos are endless, so use your imagination, just make sure that every photo you take of the bride that you are always conscious of her ring finger.
The photo below of our bride Mimi running her fingers through her veil is more impactful with her diamond ring at the forefront of this captured moment.
AT THE RECEPTION
Once the happy couple are finally married and you have taken all your key photographs, there is one more opportunity to capture all the rings together.
We prefer to capture these photos during the couples first meal together, this being the entrees. The reason being, is generally the photographers do not receive this meal and secondly the bride and groom are sitting down far too distracted by their hunger while none of the guests are asking to see their rings.
This moment is perfect to ask the couple for their rings, plus the likelihood of some fading light from the sun maybe still around to help make the photo perfect.
Again, we would go for the macro lens first, preferably a 100mm lens so not to cast a shadow and use a surface that means something to the couple, like this oversized button we used to show off Emma and Mark’s rings that was themed throughout the reception tables.
IN THE BOUQUET
Other options is to use the brides bouquet, this options is a favourite of ours and is a fantastic way to capture two important moments in one. The stunning arrangement of flowers which make for a delicate platform to nestle the rings within and the petals.
The above are both shot with the canon 100mm macro lens, but it’s not always necessary. If the bouquet in its entirety doesn’t quite work for you, you can always use the stems instead. Just select a flower from one of the table arrangement or use the stems from the end of a bouquet.
ON THE CAKE
Other notable places to photography the rings can be the wedding cake itself. Just ensure to be extra careful, you don’t want to cause any indentations to that stunning cake!
USE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Lastly is getting creative in your environment, maybe using the sand to tell a story or a pine cone within the forest they married. At the end of the day there are a million ideas you can use to showoff those rings.
Our recommendations is to always try to shoot wedding rings with what the bride and groom have brought to the wedding day and try to use a macro lens were possible to really showoff those ring which will inevitably look amazing in their wedding album.
