Every wedding photographer get asked this question. Why doesn’t my wedding dresses have more detail in photographs? There are many different causes in play and is probably a combination of several factors. In photo 101 armature photographers learn that a good film exposure has detail in both its highlights and shadows. Digital cameras have a smaller range then traditional film cameras. Digital cameras capture about 4 stops of exposure where as negative film captures about 6 stops.
When I expose, I expose for a bride’s skin tone. If I have a bride that has fair skin and I expose for her skin tone, you will see more detail in the dress. When I’m photographing an bride whose skin is more olive and I expose for her skin tone, her dress will have less detail. If the dress is made out of a synthetic material it will reflect more light then natural materials and will expose lighter and brighter. If the lighting is contrasty (direct overhead sun from clear day) there will be a greater range of exposures which will also cause a brides dress to have less detail when properly exposing for the brides skin tone.
As a professional wedding photographer I can safely say somethings are just out of our hands.