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The Art of Romance - part 2 of 1 2 3

by Rick Ferro Published 01/11/2004

In planning the environmental family portrait it is important to have your location sites predetermined whether at the family's home prior to the ceremony or at the reception location. You will want to keep in mind which area has the best possible lighting for the time of day you will be photographing. If possible you may want to check out the location before the day of the wedding at the same time of day that the wedding is scheduled. Environmental props like a park bench, rocks or a row of flowers can all contribute to producing an exquisite image. Be sure to carry with you two posing stools and a drop cloth for anyone that needs to sit on a wet grassy spot. Because the environmental portrait is more casual than the formal portrait at the altar, be prepared to change your style of posing as well. Instead of sitting the bride and groom as your focal point, have the parents sit and be the focal point and have the bride and groom stand behind them. Keep in mind your time constraint but still remaining creative in your approach!

Lighting is crucial and without a doubt, time of day is a major factor. Do we have control over Mother Nature, absolutely not, but the professional should always have alternative locations and options. Be flexible and try to move, if possible, to a spot with a back sunlight position. Fill flash is a useful technique when making outdoor portraits, especially when the sun is high and shadows fall on the faces, particularly in the eye sockets and under the chin. With a combination of fill flash and a correct shutter speed, the background can be balanced.

Shallow depth of field and selective focus techniques can create a painterly effect. Meter readings are critical for outdoors. Be careful not to underexpose, as this will result in a loss of detail and your colour saturation will diminish. Finding the proper lighting location will diminish contrast.

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1st Published 01/11/2004
last update 09/12/2022 14:51:16

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