Wedding photography requires you to capture the whole scene of the wedding and this means that you need to use flash to illuminate areas that are dark and/or away from the main light source. There are several ways to achieve this effect; here we have chosen to use a reflector.
Flash is great fun and can produce wonderful results when used properly. It can be an essential part of a wedding photographer’s equipment. It is however, not without its hazards and problems.
We advise you to take note of these guidelines and be aware of the potential dangers.
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Make sure that you know how to use flash indoors
If you are photographing an indoor event, make sure you know how to work with flash. If the venue has windows that are open, you may find the light will pass through and reflect onto your subject, creating unwanted shadows. Also, if the windows are closed, there may be insufficient light inside to illuminate the room and you will need to add artificial light sources such as lamps or torches. This will increase the risk of shadows and reflections.
If you are using flash outdoors
Exposing flash photographs in bright sunlight can cause glare. Be careful when exposing your flash outdoors and ensure that the light does not fall directly on your subject.
Be careful when taking flash photographs at dusk
Flash photos taken at sunset can cause the colors to look unnatural. The sunsets will not naturally appear dark and will appear bright.
If you have a flashgun and want to use it indoors
Make sure that you place your flashgun where it won’t be damaged. For example, it should be placed on a high table or stand. If it is in a low-lying position, it may roll around and fall.
Protect your flashgun from water
Do not leave your flashgun in the rain or expose it to water. Wet flashguns are damaged and can become completely inoperable. If you use your flashgun outdoors and it gets wet, make sure you dry it off carefully.
How to use flash outdoors
There are two main ways that you can use flash outdoors; either to create an ambient light effect, or to use it as a fill light.
Ambient light flash
When using ambient light, the flash is only used to illuminate the background and add a nice glow to the image. You will have to work in a bright environment, to ensure that the flash is producing the correct amount of light. The flash will not be producing any shadows.
Fill light flash
When using fill light, the flash is used to illuminate the subject and produce shadows. There are two ways to do this; either by using the flash as a softbox, or using it to bounce light off a large white wall. You can also use the flash as a harsh light source to lighten the subject.
Flash and reflectors
To produce a softer and more attractive glow, you can use a large, white reflector, or a softbox. A reflector can be attached to the flashhead and you will be able to light the subject from behind. This will give a much softer light, but if the reflector is not correctly aimed, the light will not be as even.
A softbox can be used in a similar way to a reflector, by attaching it to the flashhead and aiming it behind the subject. This is the preferred method for wedding photographers as it allows you to control the direction of the light. The softbox will produce a much softer light than a reflector. However, the light will be more even, so it may be easier to photograph the subject in the same position each time.
Hard light flash
When you want to use the flash as a harsh light source, there are two ways to do this. Either by bouncing the light off a large, white wall, or by using a hard light umbrella.
Bouncing off a wall
A large, white wall can be used to bounce light off. The light will be evenly spread around the wall, so the final light will be fairly even.
Hard light umbrella
A hard light umbrella is a large, white umbrellas that attaches to the flashgun. It will bounce the light into the ceiling and floor, providing a harsher, harder, lighting effect.
Manual settings
It is important to know that most cameras have a manual mode that will allow you to adjust the amount of light produced by the flash. This will allow you to balance the light and exposure between the ambient and flash light. The amount of light produced by the flash will depend on the power of the flashgun and the distance it is from the subject.
You will also need to consider the ISO setting of the camera. The higher the ISO, the greater the sensitivity of the film, which will mean that you will need less light to produce the same amount of exposure. However, the images will be grainier and less sharp. The ideal ISO setting for flash is 400-1600. If you are not sure of your camera’s settings, we recommend asking the camera manufacturer.
Shutter speed
The shutter speed setting will determine how long you have to take a photograph. Generally, it will be set to 1/250 second.
As a rule of thumb, if you want a blurry background, you should use a slow shutter speed. It will make the background appear to blur and add a nice feeling to the image. If you are photographing a couple who are kissing, you will want to use a fast shutter speed. It will ensure that they are in focus.
However, if you are photographing a bride or groom who are not moving, you may want to use a slow shutter speed. It will give a blurred feeling to the photo.
Aperture
The aperture setting determines the size of the opening in the lens. This will control the depth of field, which means the parts of the picture that are in focus. The bigger the aperture, the more of the picture that will be in focus.
Generally, the best setting for a wedding is to use the widest aperture setting. It will give the widest depth of field, meaning that everything in the photo will be in focus. This will ensure that you get a good range of subjects, including the bridal party. However, you may find that you are shooting in bright sunlight and the image may be overexposed. You will therefore need to reduce the exposure.