Jana Williams' Tips for Shooting the Wedding Ring [RF Video of the Week]

October 17, 2014

By Laura Brauer

One of the first things Jana Williams does on a client’s big day is takes some time to photograph the bride’s wedding ring. Because it’s a shot most every client wants, the SoCal-based destination wedding photographer explains in one of her instructional videos that she gets it out of the way at the beginning of the day—when the craziness of the events to come haven’t quite begun.

Shooting photos of the bride’s ring sounds simple enough, but there’s actually more to consider than one might think. A macro lens is a must to catch those finite details, Williams says, especially if the ring is engraved. She uses a 100mm f/2.8 lens, always, for just the right depth-of-field.

Williams takes a resourceful approach to propping and complementing the wedding ring; she shoots with materials she finds around the room (the couple’s invitations, the bride’s ribbons, flowers, etc.), which lets her get creative and create photographs that will be sentimental in more ways than one.

Using what’s there also means that she can implement the couple’s chosen color palette for the day, an especially helpful aspect considering the items will already be color-coordinated.

See how Williams poses the ring in her tip-filled video:

Check out more Videos of the Week, and email Libby Peterson with submissions.

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