Weddings are full of opportunities for stunning portraits, even at night! While shooting in the dark can be tricky, it’s also a great chance to get creative.
Here’s an example: At a San Jose golf course, I had previously shot on a balcony with city views, but the result felt a bit flat. This time, I moved to the side of the building where there was more space. The change made all the difference, letting me experiment and create a portrait the bride and groom absolutely loved.
Sometimes, small adjustments lead to big improvements!
I realized the issue with my earlier shot was my 24-70mm lens. The wide-angle didn’t give me the large, soft bokeh I wanted from the city lights. Switching to a 70-200mm lens at 200mm allowed the background lights to appear larger and more out of focus, creating the effect I envisioned.
Technical Setup:
• Lens: 70-200mm at 200mm
• ISO: 800, f/4.0, shutter speed: 1/6 sec (on a tripod)
• Lighting: One light on a stand with an umbrella, 7 feet high, pointed at the couple.
• Flash froze the couple to avoid blur at the slow shutter speed.
While I liked this image and it gave me the romantic feel I was going for the lighting still didn’t pop enough.
I added a second light to the left of the couple for rim lighting, enhancing dimension and pop. This light was triggered using a PocketWizard FlexTT5, creating a beautiful rim on the bride’s arm.
What do you think of the setup and final result? What help do you need with your nighttime portrait photos? Let me know and let’s chat
