One particular thing that makes wedding photography special is that it blends a lot of styles together. A wedding day is full of small events taking place in various locations with very different types of light. As a photographer, you must be up to the challenge and constantly adapt to whatever the situation imposes.
There are a few guidelines when it comes to using light at a wedding that most professionals follow. Ambient light is by far the most preferred, but it won't always be available. The most commonly light source for a wedding photographer is the good old external flash. You can use it in many ways, depending on situation. One of the strongest recommendations is to bounce the light coming from your flash. That means pointing the flash head upwards to the ceiling or to the side so that the light can bounce of the wall. But keep in mind this only works if the wall or ceiling is white or painted in another bright color.
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You can also use an external flash off camera and this is one of the best ways to get creative when photographing the young couple. Have your assistant hold it in various positions or place it between the two lovers for an awesome effect.
Some pros prefer continuous light sources and it's fair to admit they have certain advantages. First of all, you get to see the results before taking the actual photo. They are a lot easier to work with than strobes and they produce an almost natural looking light.
But, as mentioned above, natural light is the number one choice of wedding photographers, and any good shooter knows how to use it in more than one way. Backlighting can create spectacular images and one of the best things about it is that you can use it in broad daylight, which is something you often have to do on a busy wedding day. Shooting against the sun to create silhouettes is another great technique for shooting memorable photos but so is combining natural light with flash.
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Here is a great video from B&H with wedding photographer Ryan Brenizer explaining five awesome techniques.
Learn more about lighting from these recommended books:
- Lighting for Digital Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots
- Understanding Exposure, 3rd Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
- Exposure Mastery: Aperture, Shutter Speed & ISO. The Key to Creative Digital Photography