Tips on Shooting Outdoor Weddings
Shooting a wedding might be one of the biggest challenges of your photography career. In addition to having to work outside, with little control over lighting, you will be expected to take photos of a number of people; have to take posed, group and candid photos; and have to work with scenery that might be less than ideal. Tackle as many of these problems in advance to help the wedding day photography run smoothly.
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Visit the Site
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Go to the wedding location at least one week before the wedding. Be sure to visit at the same time of day as the wedding is being held so you can check on light conditions. Take several pictures from different spots and angles, then upload the photos to see which work best with the natural lighting. Ask a friend to pose for photos at the site to see how people will look under the site's particular lighting conditions.
Plan for Posed Shots
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While at the wedding location, seek out the best backdrops for group photos, as well as posed photos of the couples. Since wedding parties and families can be large, look for areas that offer a pleasing horizontal background. This could be an extended flower bed at a garden or windswept dunes at a beach. Try to imagine the wedding couple in the location, as well. Look for structures that could frame them, such as a gazebo or tree-lined walkway, or for places to take seated photos, such as a tree trunk or low stone wall. You will want to make use of the character of the location as best you can in your photos.
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Know Your Equipment
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Be very learned in your photo equipment and how it behaves in different lighting conditions. Use the proper lenses and flashes for the location and time of day. Write down which exposure settings work the best beforehand so you don't forget in the rush that is the wedding day. Be sure to carry back-up and extra equipment, as well. Extra batteries and memory cards, for digital shooting, are especially important.
Hire an Assistant
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You will have your hands busy taking photos, analyzing the light and positioning your subject, so bring an assistant along to help with the rest. She can adjust windswept hair and gowns, round up photo subjects, fetch equipment and rearrange errant plant life from the pictures. You may also want to give your assistant a second camera to take backup photos, just in case.
Use the Lighting
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Lighting is both an advantage and a concern with shooting outdoor weddings. A sunset can make for a dramatic low-light shot, but if done poorly can also drench the bride and groom's faces in shadows. Midday light can be harsh and make photos overexposed, not to mention cause people to squint, but with the right lenses and exposure, the light can accentuate the crisp white of the bride's dress. Use reflectors, shady areas and fill flash to create the lighting conditions that will produce the best photos.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
