I have an unwritten policy regarding my wedding photography. If Mother Nature rears her ugly head and we're not able to get the gorgeous portraits we had hoped for on my clients' wedding day, I do a bridal portrait session with them within a week or two of their wedding at no cost. If they caused the issues with their timeline decisions or whatever, then it's on them.
In my most recent wedding, the Chicago frigid winter wreaked its havoc, and their wedding day had a high of 15 degrees with a wind chill around 0. It was really just not fun, so we got together two weeks after their wedding and these are a few of the shots we got that day.
I really like #1. As I'm looking at these, were they all in available light? Or, did you use any flash/artificial light?
I must confess that I keep going back to your "Cheerleader Senior Portrait" post for inspiration, and overall, it's caused me to think more critically about the issues of light.
I really like #1. As I'm looking at these, were they all in available light? Or, did you use any flash/artificial light?
I must confess that I keep going back to your "Cheerleader Senior Portrait" post for inspiration, and overall, it's caused me to think more critically about the issues of light.
Just wondering about these,
Scott
Thanks, Scott! This is a new location for me that my wife had suggested. I scouted it the day before as it's only on the other side of town from me, and it was gorgeous as the sun was setting. But just as we got there for the shoot the next day, some overcast clouds moved in. I had already planned on how I was going to use the sun, but that went to the wayside.
Still, the overcast clouds were a nice filter for me. In No. 2, they're both facing the sun (modified by the clouds) and it worked out pretty nicely.
Nos. 3 and 4 were shot in the same general area, you can see the puddles in No. 4. I had already planned on shooting a shot with the barn behind them, with them lit by an Einstein and softbox, as the shot would have been in the shade even with no clouds in the sky. I didn't include that shot in this set, but I knew I would want to light them through the puddle to help them pop out from the surroundings in the puddle. It worked pretty nicely, I set the light up high shining down on them so it would appear to be the sun.
I appreciate your comments about the cheerleader senior portrait shoot, still my favorite senior portrait shoot of all time.
These are all very nice. Well framed and good use of color and B&W. Is it difficult to keep the bride's dress clean for shoots like this? Do you plan the messiest shots last? Do you have an assistant to help manage your equipment?...one for hair and makeup? Curious how much resources go into a shoot like this.
Thanks, Disaster. Absolutely zero resources here as it was a free reshoot due to weather conditions on their wedding day. I'm sure she did her own hair and makeup. It was a little breezy/windy when we first started and her hair looked a little out of control. By the time we got to these shots, the wind had settled down.
During the wedding day, I have a 2nd shooter or assistant to help. In No. 1, I fluffed her dress but looking at the picture I could have (not surprisingly) done a better job with it. We hit a few areas in this barn compound, and I just used natural light so I just had my camera and four lenses (three being carried in my shoulder-strap lens bag).
I pulled my car around and got my lights out for the shots in 3 and 4 (but didn't use the light for 4). And yes, planned to do the shots around the puddle last just in case things got muddy. Fortunately, we kept her dress pretty clean.
friscoron wrote:
Thanks, Disaster. Absolutely zero resources here as it was a free reshoot due to weather conditions on their wedding day. I'm sure she did her own hair and makeup. It was a little breezy/windy when we first started and her hair looked a little out of control. By the time we got to these shots, the wind had settled down.
During the wedding day, I have a 2nd shooter or assistant to help. In No. 1, I fluffed her dress but looking at the picture I could have (not surprisingly) done a better job with it. We hit a few areas in this barn compound, and I just used natural light so I just had my camera and four lenses (three being carried in my shoulder-strap lens bag).
I pulled my car around and got my lights out for the shots in 3 and 4 (but didn't use the light for 4). And yes, planned to do the shots around the puddle last just in case things got muddy. Fortunately, we kept her dress pretty clean....Show more →
Thanks. Really nice work and appreciate the story behind it.
I've got an Einstein but decided to pick up an Adorma Rovelight instead of the Vagabond battery pack for it. The Rovelight has an integral pack and is smaller and lighter but you do give up TTL (which isn't something I generally use with monolights anyway.) In the past I did all the outdoor stuff with multiple speedlights (4-6) but that was a bit limiting with respect to modifiers and total power and keeping track of all those battery charge levels was a PITA. Now I bring the one light and one speedlight and a reflector and a few modifiers.
Yeah, I don't shoot TTL when I'm outdoors. Actually, I never shoot TTL. Control freak, I am. I use the Einsteins (four of them) because of the short flash duration and how it works with my dancers.
