How you respond to email inquiries translates into the number of inquiries that then convert to clients. Your initial response to a wedding inquiry is vital, because it sets the tone on a variety of levels -- from how your client can expect you to communicate in the future, your level of expertise, and the overall experience that is unique to you and your studio.

I am so excited to be sharing exactly how I respond to a wedding inquiry in my inbox! I struggled finding my professional voice but over the years I have refined my style to reflect the experience my clients can expect.  

This e-mail template is the initial reply to send out when you receive a wedding inquiry. This template will guide you in the questions you should be asking to get as much personal client information as possible. Having this information is paramount, as it will guide you in whether or not each bride is your ideal client. Not every inquiry is a good fit, and your goal should be to find events that are a perfect fit for you and the bride inquiring. These questions will also serve as a guide when you set up your consultation so you will be able to anticipate your clients wants and needs, showcasing your skill, expertise and personal touch! 

Click here to grab your digital copy from The Bloom Workshop's Resource Room! 

Wedding ring detail shots are one of my favorite things to shoot! It took me a few years to refine and decide what my style was when it comes to wedding day details, and today I want to pass what I have learned along the way on to you! Below are just a few of the things I consider, and some steps I take to get the kind of ring shots you see in this post!

Gather Inspiration From Your Surroundings | One of the first things I do is gather all of the wedding day details when I arrive at an event. I love shooting the rings atop a wedding invitation or program. It is a great and easy way to tell the story of the day. After photographing the rings in this way, I shoot them in another location to ensure I have a variety of images to deliver to my client.  It is important to gather inspiration in line with the aesthetic of the event. If the wedding is rustic (at a winery or in a barn) I might choose to shoot rings on a textured and distressed piece of wood, or in the grapes of a vineyard vine. On the other hand, if the wedding is at a ballroom I might choose to shoot on the marble steps or somewhere more reflective of the event. This is to ensure that when the entire wedding day gallery is delivered, each photo has the same heart and tells the authentic story of the day.

Shoot Several Variations | Be sure to shoot several variations, including rings in boxes, out of boxes, styled, and lay out flat. It is never a bad idea to have several images to choose from, and its great to give your clients a variety of options. 

Use A Macro Lens | For so long I tried shooting these details with a 50, 85 or 35 mm lens. While I got some pretty good results, nothing compared to the images I took once I started using a 100mm macro f/2.8L IS lens. Man, talk about night and day difference! If you are a wedding photographer, it is definitely worth the investment to add this beauty to your gear. And yes, the IS version is worth it, trust me! When I am shooting on my Contax 645 I pop on a Hoya up close filter and get the same stunning results.

Play With Your Aperture | This one was huge for me. I was so concerned with my "style" being blown out, creamy- bokeh goodness that I never wanted to go past a 2.8 aperture when shooting. Finally I realized that in order to capture every single sparkly prong on a diamond, you have GOT to go up to a 4.5 or 5.0.  Now, I shoot all my up close details at a higher aperture to capture every crevice. And because I am using a 100mm, I don't have to give up the background creaminess that I was so worried about. 

Some Additional Tips 

• Bring a bag of things to help style your photo at a wedding. I like to bring a small slab of marble, ribbon in various shades to match the bride's colors and a few Mrs. Boxes.  
• Look for natural light when photographing your details. Place object near an area with the most natural light to ensure you can increase your aperture without having to bump up your ISO too much (and remember to keep that shutter speed no lower than 1/125th to avoid camera shake).
• Bring glue dots. If you've ever had clients with a groom who has a much larger ring than the bride and you can't get the rings to stand up, you'll know why I suggest bringing glue dots! You can simply glue dot the bands and manipulate them to stand or angle any direction you'd like. These glue dots are also especially helpful to tack down paper products and ribbon pieces on windy days. 

Today I'm talking a little bit about what gear I typically carry on a wedding day. I get questions about my gear all the time, and to be quite honest most work you see here and Facebook was shot with my Mark 3 and 50 f/1.2 lens or my Contax645. They are my little dream team and produce images in line with my style and aesthetic. However, it is quite impossible to shoot certain things, like an entire wedding day, without changing out lenses, so let’s get started….

Bodies:

-Canon 5D Mark II

-Canon 5D Mark III

Although I have a personal vendetta against the Mark 2 (seriously, I thought I had an issue with focusing, when really it was the camera) I always have it on wedding day. It’s so important to have backup gear and a back up camera in case your equipment fails, or you accidentally trip and fall into a large body of water (hey, I have heard it has happened!) The worst thing you could ever do is have something go wrong and be stuck staring at your bride and groom, unable to shoot. You don’t have to have the same camera on stand-by, and most of the time a lesser model will be fine. Just make sure you have something!

Primes: 

50 f/1.2 This lens is my baby. I call him Stephan. (Not really, I just made that up). I love this lens so much, I rarely take it off. In fact, at engagement sessions I usually don’t take it off. I have used it so much, I know where I need to stand and what I need to do to get the shot I want without thinking much. Plus, the glass on this guy is dreamy when it comes to bokeh. 

50 f/1.4  This was my first lens ever and I still carry it with me. Sometimes I will give it to my second shooter if we are in low-light situations. Otherwise, it is a nice backup.

35 f/1.4  I have been loving this lens more and more. Perfect for large bridal parties and families. I also like to pop this on to get some reception shots. It’s a winner.

Everyone has their own reasons for why they love certain lenses. I have been drawn to primes not only because of the quality and the glass, but also because I really like being an active part in creating the photo. Primes force you to move, and engage with your subject and surroundings. It constantly keeps me thinking and aware of my environment instead of standing in one spot and twisting my lens in and out, in and out.  

Zoomy Zooms:

70-200 f/2.8 IS:  This is a must-have for weddings. I use this during every ceremony so I can stay back in the middle of the aisle without having to get too close. We are there to capture the moment, but in the most unobtrusive way possible. The best compliment to me is when someone says “Wow, I didn’t even notice you!” in reference to a ceremony. Only bad thing? This is one heavy bad boy. Talk about a sore arm if you carry this around for more than an hour or so! The pictures you get from it are nothing short of amazing! Also, I think the image stabilization is a key. This lens is so heavy, it is easy to get "camera shake" when you aren’t on a tripod. 

24-105: I hate this lens, the end ;) Not really, but I do hate this lens. My photos always look like they have come from a point and shoot when I use this, because there is no dimension. The glass isn’t as nice, even though it is an l-series.  I keep it just in case we need it, and sometimes my second shooter uses it. I’ve used it for very large extended family portraits, but in general I run screaming in the other direction before mounting this on my mark. 

Other Stuff:

Macro 100mm f/2.8 IS: This lens has been such an amazing addition. It’s has added new dimension and variety in my detail photos and I don’t know what I did without it. I know some photographers who get really great detail shots without this, but I wasn’t getting anything worth anything, until I invested in the macro! I have even used it on portrait and engagement sessions from a distance and I love the photos I get when I shoot wide open with it in those situations. Very cool lens!

580 EX II: Flash. Necessary evil for the dark months and low-light receptions. Some days we get along great, other days I feel like I need to re-read the manual all over again. However, it is essential you know how to use off-camera lighting and flash so if the situation calls for it, you don’t miss any moments! 

Film:

Contax 645: I am in love with my latest addition. It has been so fun getting to know this camera, and trying something new. I am finding myself putting down my digital and trusting this guy more and more. The grain, the inimitable colors, the depth, the emotion and timelessness are just a few of the reasons I love it so much. I also love the fact that I can send rolls off to my lab, get scans back, and have photos ready to go out to clients just like that!

Sekonic L-358 Light Meter:  A must have for a film camera! I started out using it incorrectly (another post for another day) but figured it out quickly, and now I rely on my meter to choose what shutter speed to shoot at in order to get as close to the correct exposure as possible.

A few other things you'll find in my bag: batteries, memory cards, tripod, eneloop batteries. For large bridal parties or families, I always mount my camera on a tripod. Chances are your aperture will need to be high so your shutter speed will be as low as you can go (I try and avoid going below 125) so I always mount it to avoid camera shake! I also am obsessed with my eneloop rechargeable batteries for my flash. I can charge these and use them for up to 3 reception events without needing to recharge or replace them. 

I hope this was insightful, if you have any questions please leave them in the comments and I am happy to share with you! Photographers, what's in YOUR camera bag?!