How to Photograph Wedding Rings

Wedding ring shots are important, but I wouldn’t say they are necessary for every wedding, it depends on your couple.

I do think it’s an easy and creatively fun shot because it allows you to story tell or capture the wedding in a unique way. My second shooter Amy loves taking the rings and doing something fun, but I have to admit – I like taking them as well and seeing what I can come up with.  Here’s what we’ve learned about nailing that ring shot.

Wedding ring shot tips:

• Don’t put rings anywhere you could potentially drop them and never be able to find them again – like a bridge over water, a drain close by, or anywhere it can roll away and never be seen again.
• Look for fun textures and or color – shadows too.
• Consider using natural elements that showcase where the wedding is taking place (desert plant if it’s a destination wedding in AZ and couple is from another part of the country, or seashell if in Hawaii)
• Clean the rings including if moving in a flower bouquet, pollen will show up using that macro, I’ve seen it!
• Consider using wedding details that are around (see straw shot).
• Shoot at F3.5 or higher (I never use F2.8, I want all the rings in focus)
• Always check to make sure you have all rings in focus.
• Watch your reflection in his ring, especially (you can fix this in post since most times you can’t avoid it)
• Ask for help – for the rings that hang on a flower, my assistant holds the flower steadily if necessary, with her hand under the rings incase they drop.

On another note – since Wednesdays were primarily my photography post days (I decided to go back to the themed days of the week) I need ideas on what to write about.  So if there’s anything in particular you want me to write about please email me or leave a comment or else some Wednesday posts may not happen.

I love to help so if you have questions, let me know.  Thanks for reading!