Day of Timing for the Best Photos Ever
Is timing everything? In a word, yes. Timing brought the two of you together on the perfect day, at the perfect time, and under the perfect circumstances. Timing can also bring you perfect photos on your perfect day because well, you are the perfect couple and you deserve them! You’ve probably noticed from our blog that we are primarily natural light photographers. This means that in a nutshell, we don’t turn on the flash until the last speck of light has faded away. Shooting like this gives our photos the playful, romantic, dreamy look that is our Snap! style. If you love looking playful, romantic, and dreamy {and who doesn’t?} then you should take the timing of your photos under serious consideration. The very best time of day to achieve photos like the shots featured below is approximately 60 to 90 minutes before the sun goes down.
Now, we realize that arranging this can be tricky because you are working around the timing for your ceremony {oh, that small detail!}. Say for instance the sun sets at 7:30 on your wedding day. Scenario number one would have your ceremony starting at either 5:30 or 6pm. You could be photo-ing by 6:30 and have a whole hour of gorgeous wrinkle erasing light to play in. If you have your heart set on a sunset ceremony then you might consider scenario number two, which would involve doing your photos prior to the ceremony. In this case, you could take your photos from 5:30pm to 6:30pm and get married at 7pm. Either way, you are sure to have beautiful photos in the perfect light.
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Location, Location, Location of the Light …For the Best Photos Ever
Next to the time of day, the location for your photos is the biggest factor to consider. Some people make the mistake of looking for the most dramatic or interesting backdrop for their subject first, when what they should actually be looking for is the best light to place their subjects in. Rarely does it work out that the coolest background also has the best light. This accounts for the puzzled looks from bridal party members and uncle/photo hobbyists who can’t believe we are standing under a tree for photos instead of taking photos with the “water in the background”. I thought I’d post a little about this so that on the wedding day you will say to yourself… “Oh yeah, right, open shade!” and you’ll feel confident under that tree knowing that you are going to … that’s right….have the best photos ever! Open shade is a photographers best friend. Open shade is also your best friend, it gives you creamy skin, bright sparkly eyes, and doesn’t produce glare off balding heads or sweaty foreheads. We also love open shade because there are no hot spots, shadows, or other photo ruining elements. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that you will have to stand under a tree for the entire day. Open shade can be found on a porch, next to a building, in an alley, down a wooded path, under an arch…and yes under a tree, just to name a few. Open shade is not dark and gloomy, it is bright and airy but not glare-y. Glare-ishness is the reason we don’t want you to stand with the water in the background… at least not until the sun goes down {see above}. Look around the next time you are outside and see if you can find the open shade. If you do, stick someone you love in it and snap a picutre. You’ll be glad you did!
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