Tuesday Shoesday: Telling a Shoe Story

I'm a big fan of letting your girls choose their own shoes. There's just something about variation on a color theme that I like. For our wedding, it was great getting emails with shoe finds from the girls. Not only did I get to shop for my shoes, I was able to vicariously shop for theirs.

Credits: Dove gray shoes were designed by Jess, the bride, inspired by "Randee" from Badgley Mischka. Groom's shoes are by Salvatore Ferragamo. All shoe shots photographed by Rebecca of Docuvitae. Shoe story found on La Petite Coquin.

On the day of our wedding, I hadn't really thought about the shoe shots I wanted. If you're obsessed with shoes, here are some shots you might want to include on your list:

• Bride's shoes
• Bride's shoes with her maids' shoes
• Bride putting on her shoes
• Bride's feet
• Bride and her attendants' feet
• Bride and groom's feet
• Groom's shoes
• Groom's feet
• Groom and his attendants' feet

Any other shoe shots that should be on a bride's list?

For more #TuesdayShoesday goodness, check out these other blogs:

Bellwether Thoughts, Blush Printables, Brancorpa,

Demoiselle, La Petite Coquin, Landlocked Bride, 

Life in the Super Burbs, Magnolia Rouge, Marry You Me, 

Meant to be Sent, Merci New York, Niche White, 

Peach Bride, Postcards & Pretties, A Realistic Wedding, 

Santa Barbara Chic, Simply & Forever, and Swatchbook Weddings.

Tuesday Shoesday: In Step

This shot (and the photographer's crop) just takes my breath away. The subject is not dead center. It's got space for the women to walk into. It's got contrast - red with black.

StreetSFN via My Daily Style

How neat would this concept be for a shoe shot featuring your maid of honor and bridesmaids? Shoes that are similar or exact with a contrasting color for the maid of honor. And then a on the count of three all stepping out with the right foot? 

If you have a stage or riser in your venue, your photographer could go for a different vantage point - crouching down at step level and catching the feet at a slight angle as they step up onto the step.

Are you thinking about the clothes and accessories your girls and boys are wearing and dreaming up ways to feature them?

Another Take: The Dress Shot

We're all familiar with that stock dress shot. You know the one I'm talking about - where the dress is hung from a fan or chandelier with light streaming through from behind.

Photography Credit: bec+fo via Whimsical Wonderland Weddings

Photography Credit: Kariz Matik Photography via Polka Dot Bride

Other than overall shape little can be seen of the actual dress.In a magazine, I immediately flip the page. On a blog I scroll past scanning the provided text for a clue to what's special about this particular dress.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating that brides skip the dress shot. I'm just asking for a little more creativity. A background that draws out or highlights features of the dress. Say like these two shots. The first is a shot of a dress in front of a window - but look at all that detail!

Photography Credit: Rebekah J Murray Photography via Inspirations & Creations

Photography Credit: Cathie of BG Productions via Emmaline Bride

Creativity does exist - it just seems to be in short supply. Although when unleashed, an unexpected draping or featured detail catches me mid-scroll and has me slamming on the brakes. For example, this reclining dress.

Photography Credit: Maranda of Evoke Images via Glamour and Grace

Without this image, I wouldn't have read that the bride's mother designed and made the dress.

Have you seen dress shots that take your breath away? Did your photographer do something unconventional for your dress shot?

Unexpected Consequences of Photographic Vision

This post should probably be titled "cubes gets his wish! A clean apt before we say I Do." 

Why you ask? Well I just realized that the girls and I are getting ready in our apartment. If we want any photos of us getting ready (and I loved the shots from both Ames and Helen's weddings), our photographers would probably appreciate a space that's uncluttered. 

Remember how we were hiding everything in plain sight? Well that organized space was soon out grown. Plus we packed for and then returned from the playa. As cubes is fond of saying our apartment currently looks as if we were hit by both a Hurricane and a Tornado.  

What got me thinking about de-cluttering? Eye candy. Specifically this dress shot. Well not a "true" dress shot - it's actually a shoe shot - but what a neat idea: hanging your dress on a form. 

Photography Credit: Ever After Photography via A Lucky Orchid Wedding

The composition and framing of the shot caught my eye. Clean lines. Simple background. 

And now you see why the light bulb went on and I realized we need to add unpacking, cleaning and styling our apartment to the Wedding To Do list. I see why brides opt to get ready at a hotel - an uncluttered space.