Hey there! It’s Katie, the female half of Katie & Alec Photography! I am so excited to be sharing about one of my all time favorite things to photograph on a wedding day: the rings! We have had our ring shots shared again and again on Instagram feeds such as Loverly, NearlyWeds, and there’s a reason why…. People LOVE seeing a bride’s ring! Seriously, we get more likes on ring shots than anything else because every girl wants to picture herself with one & they’re just fun to look at.
When I first got my macro lens I hoped that one day I would be able to take phenomenal images like I saw other photographers take. I dreamed of the days I could capture something “pinterest” worthy. It’s taken a lot of practice and then some more practice to be able to capture amazing shots of the rings on a wedding day (and even the other details like shoes, earrings, and perfume!). If you’re where I was wishing I could get a decent ring shot then you’re in the right place. It’s an art & I want to help you grow into a ring shot expert. So, today I am sharing my top 5 tips to help you learn to take your best detail shots ever!
Use a Macro Lens
Alec & I use a Canon L Series 2.8 100 mm macro lens and it makes a world of difference! It’s made specifically for shots like this and captures every detail beautifully! Before we could afford it though we used a macro ring and it helped hold us over until we saved up for it! This lens is Katie’s “baby” and we wouldn’t go to a wedding or engagement session without it.
Shoot at a Decent Aperature
You’ll probably hear a lot of different opinions on this one. We’ve seen some photographers who capture jaw-droppingly beautiful images at 2.8 without missing a detail. Others say you can’t possibly shoot ring shots at an aperature less than 5.0 or you’ll miss the details. For us, we shoot somewhere in the middle.
We love the beautiful bokeh effect that 2.8 gives us, and we can still get that at 3.5 PLUS we get more of those details we love. It also honors our couples who love every little detail about their rings & who put so much time into picking them.
Get Creative
You don’t just have to shoot a ring straight on, or in a ring box, or any particular way. Our brides love it when we get creative with our shots. The one below was taken on our bride’s necklace and it provided the coolest affect. Other times we shoot the side details of the ring, or from above, or we even start using the grooms ring to hold the bride’s rings up. have fun with it! You’ll love your photos so much more when you do 🙂
Use other Items
Ring boxes, the wedding dress, a pair of sparkly shoes, invitiations, etc. There are SO many unique options to shoot ring shots on. Think up some fun new ways to create images that stand apart from the crowd!
Take Multiple Shots
Getting your focus to be perfect with such a tiny object can be difficult. To make sure we get the perfect shot sometimes that means we take a couple different shots to ensure we get at least one “perfect” one. It may add to your photo count for the day but it’s better than not getting the shot you wanted. A Bonus tip is to also focus on the prong closest to the camera! It will make the whole ring look more in focus 🙂
We hope this article helps you rock your ring shots so your clients will love them! If you’re looking for more tips for shooting details, check out this article: How to Get Phenomenal Detail Shots.
Blessings,
Katie & Alec
