Getting ready with two small dogs

I got to the house at nine and the first thing I photographed was a dog in a tiny tuxedo. That set the mood for the morning: calm, a little silly, and busy with small objects.

Getting ready is the part of the day with the most detail and the least pressure, so I use it to look at things closely.

The bride

She was dressed early and spent the rest of the time in a chair by a dark door, looking at her hands. The lace sleeves and a plain gold ring were all I needed.

Small things

A pair of shoes beside a mirror, an invitation painted with a villa, a pale jacket on its hanger, a watch being fastened. Each is a quick frame, and each is something the couple remembers.

The dogs

The two dogs wore matching wedding outfits, and they behaved for exactly as long as it took me to find the right chair.

They both ended the morning asleep under a table. We took our last frame of the room, collected the dogs and left for the ceremony.

Credits

This is sample content for the Second Shooter template. The story is invented, and the photographs are Pexels photos, listed below with their photographers, so each caption describes only what is in the picture.

• Featured photograph, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• The bride by a dark door in a lace-sleeved dress, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• A gold ring on her hand, held against the lace, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• A diamond choker at the collarbone, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• The bride behind a feather fan lettered with her title, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• Shoes, perfume and a painted invitation on a table by a mirror, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• A pale jacket and black shoes, waiting, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• A watch being fastened on a cuff, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• A small box of cufflinks, held open, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• A small dog in a tuxedo collar, looking up, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence

• The second dog, in a grey tulle skirt, Alexander Mass, Pexels licence