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The 48-Shot Wedding - part 2 of 1 2 3 4 5 6

by Mark Cleghorn Published 01/06/2009

Shot 3 - What's Going On

Once the main details are in the bag, I can step back and observe what's going on. This time observing and shooting will create quite a few candid images. I am always looking for any action especially drink preparation, make-up and hair, as well as any real characters who are acting the fool or being a bit of a diva.

Shot 4 - Bride Getting Ready

I try to give the bridal party as much free time as possible so I will move around the house just to give them space and so as not to miss the main action of the bride getting ready. I always ask one of the bridesmaids to let me know when the bride is decent so I can shoot the finishing stages, like tying up the dress. However, I never really trust the bridesmaids to let be know so every five minutes or so I will knock on the door to check the state of play. Where possible I want to shoot both with the light and against the light, as this will give me a variety in style as well as a different lighting effect on the subjects.

Shot 5 - Bride Full Length at Home

Once the bride is ready, I try to position her near to the main light source, usually against the largest window in the room, this is so I can light the whole of the dress from top to bottom with natural light and not just the top half, which is the case with small window apertures. By turning the body slightly away from the light source to maintain detail on the dress, I can also slim the figure. Some times, as with this bride, her figure is so slim, she can be turned a little flatter to the camera position without her looking fuller in figure and fatter to camera, as I say 'Flatter is Fatter'.

Shot 6 - Bride Three-Quarter Length

I usually follow the full-length image straight away with the three-quarter and close-ups, just by stepping closer to the subject or zooming in, as the pose is already correct. Following that little combination of shots, if time is on my side, I will reposition the bride into a different location or pose, just to add a little more spice and variety to the images.

Shot 7 - Bride Close-up

The head and shoulder portraits complete the trio flow of images, at this point we have covered the basics of the bride shots with little or no effort and in a two-minute time slot. Each of this trio should have variety based on looking at the camera, looking away out of the window and looking toward flowers or down to the engagement ring.

Shot 8 - Bride and Bridesmaids

The first grouping of the day is usually the bride and her bridesmaids. Depending on how stylised the wedding is, this shot can either be the simple line-up with all the bodies turned in towards each other for slimming, or a more constructed group arrangement with some, or all, sitting as in this shot. At this stage a touch of flash might have to be used to lighten the shadow areas but the main exposure is always for the ambient and towards the main source of light where possible.

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1st Published 01/06/2009
last update 09/12/2022 14:50:39

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