Get Outside

Get outside - Wedding Photography          

         Take advantage of the great outdoors whenever you can. Believe it or not, even shooting on a cloudy is better than shooting indoors (in fact, overcast is an ideal condition).

         Preferably, your photographer should scout out a location one to seven days prior to the wedding. He should go at approximately the same time of day that he will be shooting the photos so that the lighting conditions can be properly gauged. Checking out a location at 11 a.m. when you’ll be taking photos at 4 p.m. will not be helpful; the sun will be in an entirely different position.

         There are many beautiful parks and green spaces in just about every city and town. Think outside the box: Do you have a relative, friend, or neighbour who has a particularly lovely or picturesque yard or garden? If you choose to take photos in a public park, be sure you move away from high-traffic areas. The last thing you want are random strangers “photo bombing” your wedding photos!

         It is your photographer’s job to be particularly mindful of the sun’s position. If he positions you facing the sun, you will most likely be squinting in all of the shots; face you away from the sun and he may end up with too much light entering his lens. Remember that the absolute best time for shooting is late afternoon/early evening because you will get an indirect, soft, glowing light from the sun which is very flattering and can also be used to create some neat glowing effects. If timing the wedding shoot to late afternoon isn’t feasible, seek out a spot where you won’t have to contend with direct sunlight (near trees or other shaded areas).

         Your photographer can work his magic with a soft flash, fill lights, and reflectors. I especially like taking wedding photos in public parks because you can get more bang for your buck. First, the greenery and flowerbeds of a park create an excellent, natural background for formal shots of the wedding party, the families, and the couple alone. Second, public parks are often outfitted with a playground, which is a great background and provides easy props for casual, candid, and fun wedding photos. A keen eye will pick out smart angles to take creative shots (such as framing a shot through a set of monkey bars to get a picture of the bride and groom on a set of swings). You don’t have to spend a lot of time posing the subjects in these environments: The photographer can just keep shooting as everyone has fun!