Akbar Photo

Good lighting can be the difference between really good and really bad wedding photos. While your wedding photographer is likely prepared for any type of lighting situation, there are things that you can do to ensure you get the best photos at the ceremony as well as the wedding reception. This gives the wedding photographer the best chance at delivering perfect photos of your wedding day.

If you are planning on taking most or all of your wedding photo inside, this is something that you need to let your wedding photographer know in advance. You might even need to arrange for the photographer to visit the location of the wedding ahead of time so that he can get an idea of the type of lighting situation he will be dealing with. A place with windows is good for natural lighting, but blinding rays of direct sunlight can be a problem. You might want to bring some light curtains that can cover the windows, yet still allow in some light. If the venue has north facing windows, these are the best for natural light without a direct sunlight problem.

Reception lighting needs can vary depending on the location. For an outdoor reception,  try to get a tent to cover the dance floor. This gives the wedding photographer better lighting when using a flash since the light can bounce off the tent roof. You can also use the tent to create a soft lighting situation by hanging lights from the roof. For an indoor reception, the photographer can bring his own lighting equipment or you can get creative with it. If you want a romantic mood, try using a lot of candles or strings of white Christmas tree lights around the room. Give your wedding photographer a heads up so that he is prepared for the lighting situation.

If you are going to be using a DJ as your reception, this can create a lighting problem for the wedding photographer. Consult with the DJ to determine if moving lights or strobe lights are going to be used as part of his act. If so, you need to either find out exactly what type of lighting the DJ has or put the photographer in touch with the DJ. With the moving lights that DJs commonly use, it is difficult for the wedding photographer to determine the correct exposure when taking photos. To avoid taking bad photos, the photographer usually has to result to using a strong flash in an attempt to overpower the moving DJ lights. This results in the subjects of the photos being kind of bleached out while the background is completely black. These do not make the best wedding reception photos. For the best results, you can request that the DJ use only stationary lights or moving lights that only project on the ceiling or the walls. Neither of these options interfere with the wedding photographer’s lighting. Only when the lights are hitting the guests does it interfere with the wedding photography. 

Brandis Alves is a Minneapolis Wedding Photographer.