The One Location Technique for Wedding Photography
This post by Photographer Christina N Dickson is a continuation of her Wedding Photography Survival Tips series. ALSO view Part 1 where she covered Preparation.
You’ve done your homework. You’ve gathered your research. You’ve scouted out your locations.
The big day is here, and the pressure is on.
What now?
Above all else, make it your goal to pace yourself. Your mind will be whirling a million miles an hour thinking through every piece of information you’ve gathered into your mind. How do you perform with intensity and keep yourself from going crazy?
I am going to walk you through one system that will eliminate stress and give you the confidence you need to produce a remarkable “first wedding” portfolio.
Write this down:
One window = Multiple shots
Too often novice wedding photographers operate on the idea that varied shots are captured only by varied locations. This is simply not true! Don’t fall into this trap! One well-lit window can provide a plethora of beautifully varied shots to satisfy both you and the bride.
How can one window be the key to your wedding photography success? One simple word: Light. At the center of a great wedding photographer’s work is his or her ability to find and work with the available light in each venue. With Church’s or community centers being the venue of choice for soft and romantic wedding ceremonies, these locations are also infamous for low lighting challenges. Window light can offer a superb solution to even the worst lit wedding venues.
5 Steps to Lots of Great Shots from One Window Location
Step 1 … The Location
Find a window of choice. You’re looking for a window that is relatively large, preferably with curtains, and has an outlook to a grassy area. If you are deliberate in your selection, you can create up to 8 dynamic and fresh shots with minimal set up.
Step 2 … The Details
Inside, set up your detail shots. You will want a table near the window, and different cloth textures for your background; you can use toile, lace, bridesmaid’s dresses etc. At this time, you can photograph the shoes, the ring, and any other important details on your shot list. Consider a few variables that will affect the outcome of your shots: 1) The available light from the window; 2) The distance your object is from the window, and 3) The angle of your camera to the object. Adjust any of these changeable and your shot will change as well.
Step 3 … The Dress
One of the most important shots you must capture is the special dress of the bride. After you’ve taken appropriate time photographing the bride as she does her hair and makeup, borrow the brides dress. Carefully affix the hanger at the top of the window. If the lip of the window is not wide enough, find a tack to place at the top of the window, suspend the ribbon from the tack, and hang the dress from the ribbon. The window light will create a luminous glow around the dress for beautiful highlighting.
Step 4 … The Portraits Inside
There is nothing more perfect for wedding portraits than window light. A window will provide several options for dynamic portrait backgrounds. Inside you can get a wide-angle shot of the bride in her dress with the window in the background. You can also get a few close up shots of the brides face.
Step 5 … The Portraits Outside
If your window has a lot of variety (ie, panes, curtains, sheers) you can take some beautiful shots from inside the window looking outside. This will ad a lot of artistic interest – just be sure to watch your backgrounds! Also, from the outside, you can use your window as a background for more shots of the bride or bride and groom together.
Take my advice: With the “One window = Stellar shots” equation, you will never again worry about having wedding location define your images. Ready to start shooting? Go!
Look forward to our dynamic conclusion to this Wedding Photography Tips Series with Part III: The Office Work of legalities and post processing!
36 Responses to “The One Location Technique for Wedding Photography” - Add Yours
May 21st, 2008 at 12:23 am
Nice tips. Thanks for providing this information it will help a lot to those learning how to shoot
May 21st, 2008 at 1:43 am
Great incite. Also good advice for any object or portrait shooting.
May 21st, 2008 at 2:35 am
Great tips, but unfortunately, the windows tip doesn’t necessarily apply to all situations. The wedding that I covered last month just didn’t have the sort of windows that was needed =(
Raymond Chan
- http://chanraymond.net
May 21st, 2008 at 6:31 am
Your step 4 picture I wouldn’t be happy with, as a photographer or a client. I mean, the sheet on the floor looks bad, as does the patched hole job on the wall. Maybe you cloned that out and cleaned it up though. Also the white balance on #1 isn’t to my taste, I feel the dress should be…white. :)
Good article though, you’re right about the one area providing a lot of different shots. ;-)
May 21st, 2008 at 6:39 am
I was at wedding last weekend. made some nice shots.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:27 am
nice compositions on those shots, but her dress is blown out in a few, is that ok? I guess I’m not a wedding expert but highlight details matter to me.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Dress details matter in many wedding shots, but I feel like there is always an exception to photography rules (all rules). I think he did a good job focusing exposure and details in the bride’s face, the blown out dress is okay– as long as there are other shots with a properly exposed dress. It’s about balance. Anyways, as always another wonderful article. Thanks for taking the time to share a bit of your expertise with us!
-Aaron Snyder
May 21st, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Great tips. I enjoyed reading the article. The only thing that disturbs me is the shot of the off colored dress with the blurred shoes on a table in the motel. Other than that fantastic shots.
May 21st, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Great ideas when there is a window available. I am not impressed with the exposure on the shots. Also the wedding dress could have been compsed better. As one who has done many, many wedding shoots in the past, I would hope I produced better results than these.
May 22nd, 2008 at 2:21 am
I’m not sure what people are talking bout. I love he shot of the dress hanging on in front of the window. I took a shot that was very similar to this one myself. I think the photos are nice and that you did a nice job. And also every location is different and there for each wedding is not going to look the same. (that goes to the dress the window and your clients)
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Why won’t the dress appear like a silhouette? or dark? because it’s white? or do you need a big window?
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 pm
thanks alot. I have my first wedding this weekend, so I will definitely print these tips out. Your tips have been really helpful
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Not a huge fan of the contrasty pictures, but I love the rest. Really want to go out there and work on this now!
May 24th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Wow! I guess all photographers become critics! Unfortunately I have found myself doing the same thing. I didn’t realize how self centered it sounded until I read it for myself. Thank you for the shots, and the much needed attitude adjustment! I will work harder on my shots and professionalism.
Candace
May 24th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Can anyone offer advice on achieving the golden tones seen above? Would this be done in PS curves?? Or perhaps the colour balance settings?
May 26th, 2008 at 7:54 am
That one in the window sucks bad! Reminds me if we were in the soviet union taking pictures for a wedding. The rest are Stellar! but yuck… do something about that example. It’s terrible and the flas made it even worse. I would have used a long exposure instead.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:48 am
These tips are great and I think the photos are great as well. After reading the comments here one things is clear….everyone has their own taste in photography and it will vary widely!!!
July 15th, 2008 at 3:29 am
I’d love to see the amazing portfolios of these critiquing trolls. No wait, they won’t post them because they are A) cowardly and B) know their port probably sucks if even have one.
Trolls…. Grimm would be happy to see they came back alive in the age of the internet.
September 4th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
thanks for the tips …same here …my first wedding on saturday …i need all the help i can get …anymore tips to save my butt …thanks
September 25th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Good suggestions. I do agree that the dress looks blown out in Step 4. And the coloration looks a bit off too. And while one “prop” can be used to take a variety of shots, why not use many others! There’s always different backdrops to utilize at a wedding.
September 26th, 2008 at 8:01 am
well i did the wedding …omg …night mare …location location location …is all i can say …and to inform over the mike who the photographer is …as soon as i had an open shot …old farts jumping in front of me …with there disposable cameras trying to focus …out of about 400 shots …i was lucky to get 40 good ones ..but i finaly got them outside alone a few minutes …till it started to rain cats and dogs …it was a mess …but they said they loved my pics …so thanks everyone for all the tips you posted here …i did my best …http://www.flickr.com/photos/acierman/sets/72157607164674693/
October 16th, 2008 at 5:11 am
@paul saulnier: make it clear up front (in a loud, firm voice) that you will let them get their point & shoot shots once you are done with the posed shots. Give the reason that their flashes interfere with your’s. Once you get your shots, then hold the party and announce that everyone else can get a shot or two. Do this a couple times to keep them happy.
If they constantly ruin your ability to shoot, tell the maid of honor or the bride that the guests are being obtrusive and if it continues, you will be forced to pack up and leave. She will handle it.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Nice tips and photo’s. Suppose on all the critique luckily beauty is in the eye of the beholder :-)
I am shooting my first wedding on Saturday and thank you for all the advice.
Spike
January 4th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Great article with excellent tips and lovely photos.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Great advice…too often we are all wasting time looking for the perfect location shot. It really is all about great lighting and emotional content. Thanks for sharing this.
February 12th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
wow. such negative comments. I’m not a professional photographer, but as an artist, i look at these and say well done!
February 12th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
and for God sakes…..shoot in RAW people …you will be able to adjust everything later
March 27th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I have never shot from the inside to the bride waiting outside, but often do the reverse. I like to capture the bride looking out the window as she is waiting for her groom. The #1 request of lately is the dress hanging, so being only 5′3″ I stand on a chair to be at mid-bust level of the dress.
Thanks for all the great tips!
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I have to say I don’t quite like step 3 of the dress on hanger up in the window. Definitely could have been composed better. Photo in step 5 is a nice one!
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
thanks …big c#^ck ha ha ….i like it ..ha ha …its a great comment
August 4th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Thank You for the information. I really like this Post.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
All photographers are critics … artists analyze other artist’s work, take from it what works and what doesn’t. Unfortunately the wedding industry has been over run by amateurs with cheap DSLR cameras trying to fund their hobby off ignorant bride and grooms looking to save money. Photography is an art {period} you need to have natural ability and proper education. This article serves as a prime example how you can have the knowledge but not the ability. This is packed with great advice but the photographs are second rate at best. As a profession wedding photographer and someone, has studied photography at one of the top art schools and exhibited extensively these photos make me sad. The detail shots are stock standard and poorly executed and do not actually convey any significant detail – how many of you didn’t even notice the 1st photograph contained rings?! Everything looks heavily altered in photoshop. Every rule of composition is ignored. The step 3 photograph of the dress in the window is an embarrassment – the lighting is wretched, the curtains are haphazard, the table with the shoes in the foreground is unnecessary clutter. Here are some of my professional tricks – one always have a prop bag with you … invest in a nice wood or silk padded hanger {you wouldn’t believe how many gowns are on plastic} always have a hook with you those pull and release ones are fab. Use a window with Northern exposure since the light will be more diffused. Then you can even leave the curtains open so the dress isn’t directly against the curtains – remember that depth and light add interest flat and monotone light is boring. I always bring a nice piece of satin ribbon in white and ivory so that if need be I can hang the dress lower so you don’t get that alien high in the sky dress look. If you want to have the shoes in the photo don’t put them on a table that you can’t fit in the frame like was done here, arrange them nicely on the floor or perhaps there is a nice chair you can move into the frame then you can drape the veil over the back of the chair and arrange the shoes on the seat. Here are some other great places to hang a dress … back of an antique door on hook, from a canopy bed, doorway, etc. be creative! If you are desperate and there is no where to hang the dress arrange the dress nicely on a bed or draped on a chaise lounge and then get up high and take a photo at a downward angle. But never ever ever skip this shot!!!
to address Tyler’s comment – blown out dresses are common. First, thanks to places like David’s Bridal that only use cheap poly fabrics that are over-bleached and often taffeta if you exposed for the dress specifically your photos would be so dark. The best you can do is minimize the light hitting the dress with keeping the light source on the brides face – an assistant with an umbrella works wonders or just a piece of black foam core to shade the light on the gown. You can also use reflectors to light the face to balance out the difference and then expose for the dress – that works well in gardens and outside.
If you are lucky to have a bride with a gown that is made of silk your job will be much easier since it radiates not shines. Also pay VERY close attention to any reflections from jewelry or beading on dresses that cast on the face … the “bling” brides can be a challenge especially outside in direct light.
The blogger is right … you do not need multiple locations or fancy studio lighting to obtain a quality, professional and artistic look. Being a photographer, especially a wedding one, mean being resourceful! Always remember that you are documenting their day … it is a story of one man and one woman becoming one and celebrating that with their family and friends. Don’t get too caught up in trying to photograph everything and everyone … you will not like your results in the end.
September 14th, 2009 at 3:00 am
well….all i can say is that i know so many people that paid 5-8000$ for a photographer …a so called pro that has done beautiful pictures …but one thing …all cheesy ….all over rated …looked at once or twice ,,,then the pics are put away and never looked at again ….when i got married …i took a couple that where cheap…but i loved there style …they where photo buffs …but not pros ….and i loved the pics …they dont look cheesy …they are natural ….people around here loved the result…we got most of them done in black and white ,,,even some are sepia ….the thing is …who the hell cares …its the client that counts …i find that wedding photographers are over priced …over rated …and also …most but not all …are full of themselves …thinking school helps …ahhh maybe …but ….rules are made to be broken …some photographers use one studio light …some up to 6 lights …who is the one to judge …not me …i do what i think is nice …and dont care what others think about it …some like my style …some dont …you cant please everybody all the time …so before bashing pics ….think of this…..if i like a picture …who the hell are you to tell me its wrong …i like one style …you like another …so what …good for you ….if i where to say …a photoshoped picture is not photography …well …some would say yes …some no …i like organic myself …simple …crisp clear …but some times a bit modified and cropped …but if other photographers dont …oh well ..it doesnt do anything different to my life .i and others i know would say the same as me …simple …natural …organic …not cheesy …some others would say …traditional …cheesy …it depends one the way you look at life …so what …its just my way of thinking …i may be wrong …but photography is about what makes you happy …get it.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:07 am
sorry if i pissed some of you off …but its what people tell me also …how they regret paying so much for a photographer …then they dont even look at there pics ….so ya …go out and spend a few thousand on a photographer …..keep a few shots in a book …then a few years later look at them ….was it really worth a few thousand dollars ….tell me the truth …i dare ya
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:20 am
I usually like to look at these help articles and either take the info or leave it, but seeing these comments above I just had to post. Seriously, everyone here on this site is here to LEARN. And, um, to the “mega professional” above with all this education from a top-notch school, etc, why are YOU here? This is Digital Photography School. Didn’t you already learn everything you need to know about photography??? And, I sure as heck wouldn’t hire an arrogant photographer like you if I were needing one. Are the photographs for this article stunning? Maybe not to some, maybe very much to others. Who gives a damn. I just hate to see a person dedicate their time and love for photography to this site and then get it ripped to shreds by people that are supposed to be here learning, not signing up to put other’s work down so they can feel better about their own. I’d like to see any of you jerks post an article or two if you are such gods of photography. It seems to me that the ones that are quick to put another down in such a distasteful way are photographers because of the love of money, NOT the love of photography. ??? I love these articles, and I take what I can from each one written. And it just makes me proud to be such a PROFESSIONAL photographer with a professional attitude for the fact that if I don’t like another’s work in my area, then maybe more clients my way, or that someone else probably loves the person’s work. Good for them. Moving on with life now……..
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:51 am
i so agree with Julie …this so called pro photographer ..well …lets see your portfolio …if your a photography God …why not post your link …im sure you are a great photographer …but at least have the balls to give us your link …and like Julie said …this is a site for learning …so what the hell are you doing here bashing the amatures ..we all start at the bottom …and work our way up …did you forget your first cheesy wedding …the stupid fake poses ….that cheesy bridal pose with the bouquet …and shes looking at the husband with love in her eyes …while hes thinking …crap …im broke after all the crap i just paid ……so what the hell is your problem …if you fell like bashing people …start up a site for just that reason …not here
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