Weddings Wedding Photography - How to achieve amazing images

[Colman]

Here's another photo at the same wedding shot by my second photographer who likes to use one light on a pole for his lighting. He aimed the light at the couple using one hand while shooting with his other hand. He also shoots at ISO 3200 or 6400 to achieve his results. His style makes the couple the focus of attention and lets the background go darker. Different styles but both types of lighting can work just fine.

Same wedding but this is one of my images using three lights as opposed to one light. I used the same technique as explained in my previous post.

For wide shots, using three lights is the best way to go for my tastes. One light would struggle to light the entire room.

Finally here's a bridal portrait using two lights. Key light was fired thru a medium shoot thru umbrella while a back light is fired thru a grid.

 

[Colman]

An outdoor venue presents other challenges. For these weddings, I often use three lights, one fired thru an umbrella or soft box and the other two in the background, aimed at the center of the venue to give the shot some depth.

The "zooming lights" effect was achieved by zooming the lens during the shot and using a slow shutter speed. The strobe lights freeze the action while the slow shutter blurs the string of lights at the venue.

 

[Colman]

In this particular venue, there is a balcony that I can set my lights on. I use three lights again, One key light fired thru an umbrella and the other two aimed at the center of the floor with grids.

In this photo, I turned off my lights so you can get an idea of what it might look like if you were to just use all ambient light. You can see my key light in the balcony on the right.

And here's the results with my lights turned on. It's easy enough to move my lights around as needed or to make a different light the "key" light by putting an umbrella on it. Remember, an umbrella will give you a nice spread of soft light while gridded or un-gridded direct flash will create hard shadows.

 

[Colman]

Finally, I'll close out this thread with some basic couple / bridal photos. You should by now be able to figure out how each one was lit.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Great additions to the thread, Jim!

 

[ChuckMiller]

So far I have read post 1-9. VERY VERY excellent.

 

[peteraustralia2023]

I always admire your work, Colman! Thank for sharing!

 

[2cruise]

I have only started to use flash in the last 5 months so it's still a lot of learning to do. So far only on camera flash with a Magmod Magsphere.

First Dance by Clyde Cornett

 

[2cruise]

Second shooter for a small Catholic wedding today. R6 and Canon 85mm 1.4 L IS

Another One Bites the Dust by Clyde Cornett

 

[Colman]

Lets keep this thread going. I pulled some more of my favorite photos that I shot over the past 10 years.

Sometimes natural light is the best light.

This photo was chosen for a magazine cover.

More natural light

Capturing the right moment

Framing the shot just right

 

[Colman]

More natural light

Perfect time of day evening

Perfect time of day sunrise

 

[Colman]

But sometimes you just have to add some light.

Looks like natural light but I added some fill light

Same with this pic

Sunlight on the left, my light on the right

 

[Colman]

How about some night time shots?

This was shot in the rain. The couple was kept dry by standing in the entrance to the church. I placed a light behind them (covered with a white plastic bag) and then bounced a light behind me off the church wall. I set my camera to 3200k and put a warming gel on my bounced light. The light in the rain was not gelled so it looked "blue".

Two lights. One inside the building and one outside on the far left

Two lights again

One light behind the couple

 

[Colman]

One more night time shot. Setting the camera to 3200k will turn your flash "blue"

Gelling your flashes with warming gel will help to keep the ambient light from becoming too warm

Bounced and direct flash. Three lights used

See the light on the far right? Looks like the sun peeking through. It's not the sun. It's one of my flashes.

 

[Colman]

As I mentioned in my first post, I'm retired from shooting weddings, so I have taken my website down. However if anyone would like to see more examples of my approach to shooting weddings, pm me and I'll direct you to my facebook page where I have a number of wedding photos posted.

Please note that there are many different approaches to photographing weddings. There is no "right or wrong" way for the most part. However, I was quite successful in just a few years by using my methods. I hope that perhaps I might help others to become a success in the competitive arena of wedding photography.

 

[2cruise]

5X2A1717 by Clyde Cornett

 

[2cruise]

5X2A3442 by Clyde Cornett

 

[2cruise]

DK7A1658-Enhanced-NR by Clyde Cornett

 

[2cruise]

Backyard Nuptials

A New Beginning by Clyde Cornett

 

[2cruise]

What Have I Done by Clyde Cornett