When it comes to wedding photography, there are a few things that are absolutely essential to get right. The bride’s dress, the groom’s tuxedo, and the cake all have to be captured perfectly. But what about the photos that aren’t so obvious? Photos of the guests, the flowers, and even the rings can be just as important. And one of the best ways to make sure all these photos turn out great is by using flash photography. Here are our tips on mastering flash photography for wedding photos.
Flash Photography for Weddings: Use Your Flash to Balance the Exposure of Your Photos
Sometimes, depending on the wedding, you’ll have to photograph the couple, or guests, during the middle of the day.
This can be due to the ceremony and reception scheduling that cannot be changed.
Using your flash during this time may help you to fill in light. That way you’ll get more even exposures. This is helpful when you are photographing people outside.
If the light in the background is brighter than your foreground, a flash can help pop light back onto your subjects. It’ll keep you from over-exposing the background.
If you are competing with midday sunlight, try and pose your couple with the sun behind them. Use the flash to compete with the sun to fill in light.
If you’re using flash in ETTL, that means that the flash will meter the light. It will output the amount of light it thinks it will need for the scene.
If you are photographing with the flash in manual mode, then I would suggest setting your flash, to begin with, at 1/4 power. Adjust from there depending on your scene.
Also, make sure that in manual, you are using the high sync function. That way you can photograph the scene with a faster shutter than 1/200th of a second.
Use a bounce or some type of diffuser if you have one. The light that you’re using from the flash won’t be too harsh or create harsh shadows on your clients’ faces.
It’s not required. But it will soften the light and create more uniformity in the exposure as well.
Use Flash for Drama or Lighting Effects
Flash isn’t only to fill light. You can use a flash to add a more creative flair to your photos.
During getting ready photos, for example, you can point your flash at an adjacent wall rather than the ceiling or at your client. It will give you a creative and beautiful side light.
This will create shadows and add depth in your portrait. You can make it dramatic by making the shadows more prominent.
Placing the flash behind the couple can give you interesting sunbursts and creative lighting during the day.
During the night or when there is less available light, use the flash behind the couple. This can give you lots of bright light behind the couple.
It will flood forward and create ethereal looking lighting behind the couple.
If you have more than one flash available to you, use them in opposite corners of the frame. This will create more than one sunburst in the same image.
You can use a flash to create drama indoors as well.
In dark buildings or venues, flash can come in handy. It’ll light the space a specific way so that you can create unique photos for your clients.
Use Flash for Better Group Photos
It’s best to use flash on a flash pole for group photos. You can place the flash in a strategic way so that the light hits all in the group photo.
If you don’t have a flash pole, don’t worry. You can still light your group with the flash on the camera.
Using the flash at an angle with the bounce card can help to disperse the light across the whole frame. This is essential for group photos with 5 or more people.
You can also use two flashes one on your flash and one off camera. This will create even lighting within the group photo.
Using this method, it can also help to use one flash to light the group and the other to light the scene in the event that ambient lighting is scarce.
Should You Use a Flash During the Ceremony?
These are the two most important portions of a wedding day. It’s important to keep in mind what you’ll need for each.
Church / Indoor Ceremony
If you find yourself indoors for the ceremony, make sure to speak to the person in charge of the venue. That way you’ll be clear on the guidelines for flash photography.
Some churches allow flash for the processional and recessional but not for the ceremony portion. Some will allow you to use flash at your discretion as long as it’s not distracting.
Others may limit your flash photography to the exterior of the building. While others, although rare, may not want flash at all.
If you’re allowed to use flash in the building, try and figure out if you will be lighting the place with the flash on camera or off camera.
If it’s on camera, is there a ceiling you’ll bounce light off of to create even lighting? Will you be using a diffuser?
Check your shutter speeds as well. While flash stops action, it can also create a light dragging effect if you’re using a slow shutter speed.
It can be a little tricky as each ceremony is different. Take a few test shots while you’re waiting for the processional to begin. That way you can have the right lighting before people begin walking toward the altar.
Outdoor Ceremony
This can be even more complicated. You might be competing with the sun, a sunset, or just harsh afternoon sunlight.
If you are able to arrive at the ceremony location before it beings, think about what the best lighting situation may be.
That might mean you keep the flash on your camera. That way, you’re able to control the angle of lighting at all times.
Or, if available, you can place the flash on a flash pole. Your light will stay consistent throughout the location.
If you have more than one flash, set them up off to the side and behind the guests so that the light is hitting the altar.
This way, you can move around the altar and still get great lighting. For this, you’ll need slaves or remote triggers/transmitters for your flashes and camera.
Flash During Receptions
Receptions are fun and a lot more relaxed than the ceremony. The same rules apply to the reception as the ceremony setups.
You’ll most likely be taking more portraits of the couple with their guests during this time. For that, I suggest you choose a location in the venue where a nice background is. Photograph all portraits there when asked.
This way, the photos are consistent. You can test your flash lighting beforehand so you know what settings create the best results for the photos.
You can also place your flash beside the DJ booth and light the entire dancefloor from that one flash.
Use two flashes to add more depth and dimension to the photos on the dance floor. Keep one on camera and one in the corner or next to the DJ booth.
If you’re using one flash on camera only, use the DJ lights behind the couple or guests. It’ll help you to get an interesting mix of color temperatures in your photos.
Dragging the shutter means using a slow shutter speed with flash. This can also create interesting photos of the guests dancing. It can give the illusion of movement within the photo.
Use the Flash to Light Details
During the wedding day, there are many details that you need to photograph. Sometimes ambient light isn’t enough to make the detail look its best.
For example, using flash to light rings can help the stone shine a little more than if it were left to just ambient light.
The getting ready details like the dress and shoes most likely will be photographed indoors. You may need extra fill light to bring out the details.
During the reception, use your flash angled at 45 degrees. You’ll get great photos of the cake, centerpieces, and other details.
You can use flash at an angle or perpendicular to your object. That way you can create nice depth within the photo and highlight details that were selected by the couple.
Once you feel you have a great photo of the detail, try angling the light a different way. See if you can get something a little more creative and experimental.
This can also help you to practice different types of lighting with objects. You can later apply them to photos of people.
Conclusion
Flash can seem cumbersome at a wedding. But it can be useful to fill in light during the midday sun, add light to an otherwise dark venue, and create interesting and fun images during the reception.
Do you have any interesting or useful ways to use flash at a wedding?
Check out our Profoto A1 or Profoto B10 reviews if you’re considering buying flash equipment!
