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Wedding Photography Lighting Tips
Wedding Photography Lighting Tips Not every bride can afford a professional photographer so I’ve put together some photography lighting tips that I hope will help whoever you have asked to take your pictures. Proper lighting is key to getting that "great shot" look just right. If your lighting is not correct your photos can be too dark, washed out or hazy.
Outdoor Wedding Photography Lighting Tips
If you’re taking pictures outside and it’s a bright sunny day, use the sun to your advantage by placing the subjects toward you with the sun at your back. Shooting directly into the sun will cause lens flare or a dark subject and ruin your picture. Professional photographers know how to block the sun to get their desired picture by using a flash to fill in the shadows but amateurs shouldn’t try sun blocking unless they have practiced ahead of time.
Use a reflector to fill in the shadows caused by direct sunlight. Reflectors will bounce light up on to the face of your subject thus allowing you to shoot into the sun.
You can get close to the ground and shoot upward which will change the angle of the sun hitting you and your subjects. This will give your picture a completely different look.
If you’re getting lens flare and you don’t have a lens hood, shield your lens from the sun by cupping your hand over your lens. Be certain that your hand doesn’t get in the way of your shot.
Be careful of shadows cast upon your subjects. If you’re shooting the bride and groom under a canopy make certain the subjects are well lit and not in the shadow of the covering.
If you’re taking pictures under a tree, be certain that the sun coming in between the leaves is consistent for everyone in the picture. You don’t want to see dark spots on the faces or clothes of your subjects.
More Wedding Photography Lighting Tips
Watch out for the sun reflecting off the water if you’re taking pictures at a beach, lake or any body of water.
Professional photographers understand the sun’s impact on colors and know the proper time of day to be shooting outside. While the sun evokes blue hues daily, more neutral colors are found closer to midday. Some of the actual definition is taken away by neutral colors; so it is important to understand exactly what image you are trying to obtain.
To achieve the best results, know the correct settings on your digital camera. Using a small aperture will reduce the chances of your picture being underexposed or producing dull images.
Make certain your ISO setting is set to a low level, perhaps 50 or 80 and remember to adjust the white balance. You will also want to be certain your ISO setting is set to daylight.
The above picture was taken by Dupree Studios 732-264-8855, in Hazlet, NJ. Notice how the bride and groom are illuminated with the light in the background.
Indoor Wedding Photography Lighting Tips
Using proper lighting at an indoor ceremony and reception is essential to getting great wedding photos.
- Check with the officiate a few days before the ceremony to determine where your photographer will be permitted to stand and if he/she will be able to use a flash for your picture taking. If flash photography is not permitted, make the best use of ambient lighting from the windows, interior lighting and candles. To get the best results when using ambient lighting your camera ISO setting should be 400 or greater.
- Direct head on lighting can make a subject appear flat or exaggerate any skin imperfections. By using an off camera flash cord you can increase the distance between the light source and the camera thus making the best use of angled lighting.
- In low-light situations it is best to set up mono light strobes on stands and use a large bounce umbrella.
- Check lighting conditions with a light meter to determine the proper settings.
- Work with a reflector to be certain that shadows are kept to a minimum.
- Use a flash diffuser to bounce the flash off the ceiling or a wall.
Ask the person you have chosen to photograph your wedding to take their camera and their back up camera to the places where they will be taking pictures and have them shoot some practice shots at the same time of day that they will be taking your wedding pictures. Review the practice pictures and determine if any adjustments need to be made.
Using my wedding photography lighting tips will help eliminate some of the common errors that most inexperienced photographers encounter.
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