As you most probably know, there is no real ‘off-season’ to wedding photography in the UK. Gone are the days where you’d solely rely on being booked from April to September. When I was very first starting out in 1998, working in Pro labs, most wedding photographers were taking five months off a year over winter. How times have changed… last year, I was busier in November than I was in June!
Something I find I get asked more and more is “how do you cope with dark venues?” So, here are my top ten tips to ensure you get the very best for your couples during those dark, winter months.
1) Speak to your couple about the time that they are getting married. There is nothing worse than having to shoot a December wedding at 15:00, knowing you’ve only got, at best, 30 minutes of natural light once the register has been signed. If they have yet to set a time, you want to advise them to arrange the ceremony to be as early as possible, ideally 13:00 during December. Explain the reasons for this, as you’ll be surprised that most couples won’t have even thought about it.
2) Arrange a ‘first-look’ shot. I have offered this at a few of my winter shoots over the years if a later ceremony has already been locked in. This way, you can get the best reaction when the Groom sees his Bride, at a pre-determined location, using your skills in lighting, etc., rather than a grab shot of him from the bottom of the aisle with iPads and iPhones jostling for position. It will also take the pressure off rushing to beat the setting sun.
3) LED lights are your friend – not only for winter weddings, but weddings where the venue is darker than most. Registrars can sometimes get annoyed with the flashgun firing as it can be distracting for the couple, so I set up two LED panels either side of the table, to help with getting the exposures right. It’ll also help the registrar see their notes, so use this to your advantage and tell them the lights are for them really! (It helps them get on side at future weddings you’ll see them at.)
4) Have a solid plan for the shoot. With the light fading fast, the last thing you want to do is be in a flap about where you want to take the portraits after the couple is married. If you’ve been to the venue before, use your experience (and Google Maps) to work out where West is, so you know where the sun will set – this will help you plan your shoot around the locations the light will hit last.
5) Get the venue on your side – this has saved my bacon a few times! After all, it’s also in their best interest to help you as you are showing off just how excellent their venue is in the winter to attract more ‘off-season’ couples. Ask if there are any no-go areas inside, or if there is a location you want to shoot it should rain. Speak to them first; explain your reasoning for doing so.
6) Hire an assistant for winter weddings to help you set up lights and locations. You’ll be busy enough in the limited time you have to worry about setting up off-camera flashes etc., so tell them your plan and let them set everything up so you can walk in calmly and shoot in your chosen locations.
7) If you’re using the FUJIFILM X-H1, you’re already at an advantage. I’ve had the pleasure of using this camera during winter, and it is the perfect camera for dark venues. With the in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) turned on, I was able to achieve a sharp image at just 1/8th, giving me the ability to capture images at night, and without a tripod – it’s the perfect camera for the job!
8) The humble reflector is often overlooked, but I think it’s one of the most powerful tools in any photographer’s arsenal.
9) I always suggest to my Brides (and Grooms) to bring a pair of wellies! Even if it’s dry on the day of the wedding, it might still be wet from the day before, so rather than ruin a pair of £800 Jimmy Choo shoes, it’ll give the bride an excuse to buy a beautiful white pair of Hunters!
10) Having the ability to roll with the punches is vital, as conditions can change at a moment’s notice. Have a plan B, and sometimes C and D, and be prepared to use them if called upon. The last thing you want to appear to your couple is panicky because it’s raining!
