Your wedding flat lay photos are so much more than just photographing your shoes, rings, and your wedding invitations – these photos go much deeper and consist of all the special, sentimental details that make your wedding day uniquely yours and tell your beautiful story.
Keep reading to discover more about what wedding flat lay photos are and why they should be a part of your day!
What Are Wedding Flat Lay Photos and How Can You Prepare for Them?
Wedding flat lay photos are styled photographs that feature essential details from your wedding day, such as your rings, vow books, wedding invitation suite, bouquet/boutonnieres, etc. All of your details that you include are then thoughtfully arranged together and then are photographed from above.
Your wedding flat lay photos are a beautiful way to support the story of your wedding day and your personal style – you don’t have to have them, but I always recommend them.
After all, leading up to your wedding, you’re going to be so busy organizing everything down to the last detail, from what perfume/ cologne you’ll use, your cake toppers, every flower in your bouquet/boutonniere, etc, and all of these seemingly small details matter and deserve to be photographed and remembered.
As a documentary-style photographer with an editorial eye, I like to incorporate a bit of styling and attention to detail to complement the more candid approach I take to most of your day. It really just allows for a more well-rounded gallery that tells the whole story of your day.
To make your wedding flat lay detail photos as easy as possible, the best way you can prepare is to set aside a box with your flat lay details ready and in one spot for me to start photographing right when I first arrive.
Trust me on this: you’ll save yourself so much time and overwhelm by getting all your details ready beforehand. By doing this, you won’t have to worry about forgetting anything.
What Items Should Be a Part of Your Wedding Flat Lay Photos?
Here are some details to include in your photos – be sure to bookmark this page or screenshot this list for easy reference later:
- Engagement ring and wedding bands
- Custom ring boxes
- Vow books
- Any wedding stationery (invites, RSVP cards, envelopes, save the date cards, programs, menus, unique stationery details, etc.)
- Shoes
- Any additional jewelry you plan to wear on the day
- Your signature perfume/ cologne
- Loose florals (If we work together, what I like to do is touch base with your florist beforehand to see if they can set aside some blooms for me to use, or I can just use your bouquets or boutonnieres if they’re available/nearby)
- Purse
- Lipstick
- Sunglasses
- Family heirlooms
- Handwritten notes
- Cake toppers
- Wedding favors
- Ties/Bowties
- Cufflinks
Remember, this list is just a suggestion of items you could include – you could include everything mentioned above or only a couple of elements! What’s most important when it comes to your wedding flat lay photos is that we are including elements/ details that are significant and personal to you and your partner.
No two wedding detail flat lays have to look exactly the same. Also, you can always consult with me too on what items to include in your flat lay photos – I’m happy to help.
When Are Wedding Flat Lay Photos Taken?
I like to take your flat-lay photos during the getting-ready portion of your day so we can get them done and out of the way. I typically need at least 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted time to style and shoot them.
How Should Wedding Flat Lay Photos Be Styled?
Every photographer has a different method for how they like to style their flat lay photos, but your opinion matters too! If there’s a specific flat-lay photo style you like, be sure to share it with me so I can use it as inspiration. Here are some different types of flat lay styles:
- Flat lay with just your invitation suite
- Flat lay with just your ring boxes
- Vow book flat lay
- Napkin flat lay
- Wedding stationery flat lay
- Wedding flat lay with props
You don’t have to put all of your details into a single photograph; we can style your flat lays in a few different ways so that your images don’t look overcrowded or too busy.
As you start getting everything together for your wedding details photos, I would personally suggest starting with your wedding invitation suite, along with your envelopes and stamps. Pro tip: You can address your wedding invites to your wedding venue, and I suggest bringing along two copies of your invitations.
After you have everything ready from your wedding invitation suite, the next thing I recommend thinking about is your wedding color palette and how your wedding details complement your palette.
The best wedding detail flat lay photos are the ones that blend well and are cohesive, where nothing noticeably stands apart from the rest of the elements in the flat lay. Also, if you want, you can add textures to your flat lays – think ribbons, lace, or a fabric swatch. Texture is a creative way to add more dimension and depth to your images!
Excited to See Your Own Flat-Lays?
I hope you found all this info about wedding flat lay photos helpful. Your wedding flat lay photos contribute so much to your wedding story and add depth and richness to your final wedding gallery!
And… if you’re still looking for a San Francisco wedding photographer with a documentary-style approach who values inclusivity and authenticity, let’s connect! Your love story is a one-of-a-kind celebration of authenticity and connection that deserves to be captured on camera.
You can learn more about my wedding services here or get in touch with me here.
Read these next:
What You Need to Know About Planning a 4th Floor San Francisco City Hall Wedding
Best Spots in Golden Gate Park for Engagement Photos (From a Wedding Photographer)
