Wedding photography provides multiple hurdles, particularly when you are on location and cannot control the venue. Lighting is one of the biggest challenges as the range of shooting situations is so vast, and the images are so valuable. With only one opportunity to capture most moments, a wedding photographer must anticipate the potential lighting problems and know the solution in a high-speed and intense environment
Low-light Situations
Low-light situations provide the biggest and most prevalent challenge for wedding photographers working on location. Many churches and reception areas use low light to create an ambiance, and using the flash is not always an option, particularly if you have to maintain a certain distance from the alter in a church. Using fast lenses, with aperture settings of 1.8 or 2.8, will allow you to compensate for most situations, and using a flash attached to a battery pack will allow you to shoot adequately with flash throughout the event.
Fluctuating Light Scenarios
Another major lighting obstacle occurs when the photographer goes inside frequently for shooting. Most outdoor receptions use a large tented environment for the reception, and until night falls, the photographer will be walking in and out of an indoor environment. The camera exposure settings for these two situations are drastically different and if you forget to adjust when stepping outside, the images will be too bright to capture the subject. A reception with elaborate stage lighting for a band will also encounter a similar situation. If possible, use two cameras, and have one set for indoor exposure and one for outdoor shooting situations, and be prepared for events such as the bridal party entry to the reception.
Harsh Light and Shadows
Navigating the harsh light of an outdoor wedding at noon is a challenge, particularly during the portrait sessions after the ceremony. This situation may be unavoidable, so find a location prior to the wedding that provides ample shade for taking the picture. Harsh overhead lighting will cast shadows and create a high-contrast image with little tonal details and will likely blow out the bride's white dress. Use a fill-flash for portraits if the overhead light is unavoidable, as this will help eliminate the shadows on people's faces.
Changing Light Temperatures
Throughout the course of a wedding and reception, the light temperatures will fluctuate dramatically. Sunlight, florescent bulbs, candle light and incandescence are usually present during an event such as this, and each one requires a different film temperature, or white balance setting if using digital cameras. If the white balance or film temperature is set improperly, the image will have a tint, and all the white or light sections of the image will have a yellow, blue or green tint, depending on the light source. One easy solution is to shoot digitally in a RAW format. This allows you to edit the image in the computer based on the camera settings, and you can correct any wrong settings.
Wedding photography provides multiple hurdles, particularly when you are on location and cannot control the venue. Lighting is one of the biggest challenges as the range of shooting situations is so vast, and the images are so valuable. With only one opportunity to capture most moments, a wedding photographer must anticipate the potential lighting problems and know the solution in a high-speed and intense environment
Low-light Situations
Low-light situations provide the biggest and most prevalent challenge for wedding photographers working on location. Many churches and reception areas use low light to create an ambiance, and using the flash is not always an option, particularly if you have to maintain a certain distance from the alter in a church. Using fast lenses, with aperture settings of 1.8 or 2.8, will allow you to compensate for most situations, and using a flash attached to a battery pack will allow you to shoot adequately with flash throughout the event.
Fluctuating Light Scenarios
Another major lighting obstacle occurs when the photographer goes inside frequently for shooting. Most outdoor receptions use a large tented environment for the reception, and until night falls, the photographer will be walking in and out of an indoor environment. The camera exposure settings for these two situations are drastically different and if you forget to adjust when stepping outside, the images will be too bright to capture the subject. A reception with elaborate stage lighting for a band will also encounter a similar situation. If possible, use two cameras, and have one set for indoor exposure and one for outdoor shooting situations, and be prepared for events such as the bridal party entry to the reception.
Harsh Light and Shadows
Navigating the harsh light of an outdoor wedding at noon is a challenge, particularly during the portrait sessions after the ceremony. This situation may be unavoidable, so find a location prior to the wedding that provides ample shade for taking the picture. Harsh overhead lighting will cast shadows and create a high-contrast image with little tonal details and will likely blow out the bride's white dress. Use a fill-flash for portraits if the overhead light is unavoidable, as this will help eliminate the shadows on people's faces.
Changing Light Temperatures
Throughout the course of a wedding and reception, the light temperatures will fluctuate dramatically. Sunlight, florescent bulbs, candle light and incandescence are usually present during an event such as this, and each one requires a different film temperature, or white balance setting if using digital cameras. If the white balance or film temperature is set improperly, the image will have a tint, and all the white or light sections of the image will have a yellow, blue or green tint, depending on the light source. One easy solution is to shoot digitally in a RAW format. This allows you to edit the image in the computer based on the camera settings, and you can correct any wrong settings.
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