Photo Tip #8 It’s the little things…

TGIF! It's Friday again, time for another weekly photo tip.  This week's tip is another one of the obvious tips but definitely worth mentioning.

It's the little things...

Since many of us are not blessed with photographic memory (in most short-term cases, myself included), 99% of us have relied on images and photographs to remember things in our lives.  Today's tip is about details.  To me, details are what ultimately define the bigger picture.  Whether you're shooting an event, a portrait, or an inanimate object, capturing the details will not only help you have a better, clearer recollection of your subject matter, but you'll find that remembering the small details will help activate your senses and take you right back to the moment. It's pretty common for people to overlook the little things.  Life rushes by so fast and sometimes it's really hard to slow down.  Monumental events like your wedding days flies by.  Babies and pets grow up.  You move into a new house.  Your vacation is suddenly over and you're on a plane going back home.  Even simple things like baking a fancy cake and then cutting it up and eating it.  Or setting up your Christmas tree and then taking it down again.  The only thing you have left to remember these moments are a) your memory, b) photographs c) videos. When I shoot weddings and any other event for that matter (baptism, bday party, fundraiser, etc), I always treat them the same.  They are a  once in a lifetime experience that should be documented as thoroughly as possible, which to me - means snapping away at all the details. So my tip for today - don't forget the details.  Take a few seconds to really look around you and when you have your camera in hand, snap away at everything - not just wide angle shots, but zoom in and focus on the little things that help make up the bigger picture.  Total randomness.  Stuff only you would remember.  You'll be glad you did! Here are some of my favorite examples (with explanations). This is one of my all time favorite ring shots from Amy & Roger's wedding that I shot back in 2008.  It was a Chinese wedding and there was a traditional tea ceremony.  If you're not familiar with Chinese Tea Ceremonies, there is a tradition of gift giving between the bride and grooms families, which includes different fruits, jewelry and money.  There were bowls of cherries all around the room where the tea ceremony took place, so I found it pretty fitting to take a pic of their wedding rings on top of the cherries. Here's a photo of 7-day old baby Lennox's feet.  He was a mere week old in this pic - I can't even imagine how big he is now! Here's a pic of little Red, an 8 week old Shih-Tzu puppy.  He is so cute and he weighted about 3lbs. Here is a salad from Dana & Bob's wedding.  This sounds crazy but I will never forget this salad - it was one of the best wedding salads I've ever had!  The cheese was a crumbled mild blue cheese, with sliced almonds, oranges, onions and a citrus vinaigrette.  Sooo tasty!