Melanie Nashan invitation still life
Melanie Nashan, our favorite Montana wedding photographer (frankly, one of our favorite wedding photographers, period), has a way of telling a story. Even if you haven’t attended one of the celebrations she’s shot, you can look at her pictures and honestly feel the emotion and delight of the day. One of the tools she employs to create that kind of you-are-there imagery is capturing not just the people, the place, and the surroundings, but the wedding’s smallest details.
Melanie Nashan wedding detail; the shoe shot
Wedding still-lives aren’t simple pictures to grab; often they require finessing the lighting, as well as an eye for composition. It’s something to keep in mind when you’re evaluating photographers’ websites. How are the getting ready shots composed? Are the images created properly technically? Does the photographer know how to use flash and make it look natural? What do you think of how she captured the dress, the shoes, and flowers?
Melanie Nashan still life: The rings
Face it, there are only so many pictures you want of yourself getting ready for the wedding. (Applying foundation? Pulling on your Spanx? Maybe not.) So talk to your photographer ahead of time about using some of that pre-wedding time to capture detail shots. Well thought-out pictures like the rings, above, capture a sense of occasion and of location, which you really want at a destination wedding. If your reception is taking place after dark, she might use the time now to take pictures of how the tables are coming together. And if you’ve seen one too many shoe portrait, speak up and let your photographer know in advance. Nowadays they’re practically considered as important as a portrait of the groom.
Melanie Nashan wedding still-life: blankets
Exactly which details to capture is as important as how the photos are taken. Something as mundane as a few twine-wrapped fleece blankets on a rustic bench might seem unworthy of a wedding picture, but in the right setting–a cool afternoon in the mountains–it’s the kind of detail that can really set the scene. Another great thing about detail shots: In the rush and emotion of the day, you may not notice how those details you obsessed over actually turned out. An album that includes a close-up of a table setting, or your mom’s flowers, or even a tray of cocktails, can give your memory a happy little shake.
Melanie Nashan wedding photos: The Thank-You sign
Finally, as important as details are (and we’ve made it clear that they’re pretty important, right?), nothing can beat a photograph that captures pure emotion. So when you’re looking for a photographer–and later, when you start talking about how she’ll shoot the wedding–pay attention to those close-ups of earrings and cupcakes, but keep your eyes on the big picture: how the photographer has immortalized a wedding couple and the people they love on a transformational day.
