Fireworks aren’t just for the Fourth of July! You’ll find them regularly at theme parks, sporting events, and maybe more surprisingly, at weddings. For the latter, fireworks offer photographers a wonderful opportunity to capture epic couples portraits with a truly unique backdrop. Of course, if you’re not familiar with how to photograph fireworks, there are some basic tips you’ll want to keep in mind, all on top of what it already takes to create incredible couples portraits. In this article, we’ve put together a list of tips and ideas for how to capture fireworks during a couples session in a way that will give your photos all the flash and excitement of a grand finale.

All of the images in this article are provided by the photographers at Wedding Maps and used with their permission.

How to Photograph Fireworks for Couples Portraits

If you consider how long, or rather how short the window of time is for photographing fireworks (typically 5-8 minutes, if not shorter), you can see that you’ll have to work efficiently to get set up and capture your portraits. The best way to make it happen is to plan ahead and know exactly where you need to be and what you need to do when the time comes. To make sure you’re ready, follow these tips.

Find the Best Location

If you’re photographing a wedding that includes fireworks on the timeline, you’ll want to find out as soon as possible where the fireworks will appear so that you can scout locations for the best angle. Go-to resources for getting this information include the couple, the planner, and even the venue.

Of course, in terms of finding the “best” angle, it will vary based on what you’re looking for. For example, you might look for a wide-open area if you want to capture an epic shot of fireworks filling the sky while your couple looks on in the frame. On the other hand, you might also look for a spot with foreground elements like trees or buildings that you can use to help frame the shot. Composition is key to successfully capturing fireworks for couples portraits, so make sure you check scouting off of your to-do list.

Maximize Dynamic Range with RAW Files and Exposure Settings

Photographing fireworks brings with it the demand of capturing photos in a challenging lighting situation. The ambient light is going to be dark while the fireworks themselves can potentially blow out your highlights, depending on your exposure settings. For that reason, and to ensure you have the best chance possible of retaining details in your portraits, it’s imperative that you capture RAW files and dial in your exposure settings to maximize dynamic range.

Raw Files vs. JPEG

RAW files will give you more flexibility when it comes to recovering details in the shadows and highlights during post-production. The dynamic range of the details you capture will be significantly reduced if you opt for compressed JPEG files rather than RAW files.

Exposure Settings

Here’s a starting point that you can use to set your exposure when photographing fireworks for couples portraits.

• Aperture: f8
• Shutter Speed: 5-10 seconds (using a tripod is highly recommended)
• ISO: 200 (adjust ISO to increase or decrease the brightness)

Also, be sure to review your camera’s histogram to see where the data is being represented on the graph. You don’t want the data to hit too heavily on the right side, which would mean that you’re blowing out your highlights and losing details in the fireworks. At the same time, you don’t want to go too far the other way either.

Manage White Balance

When it comes to setting your white balance for photographing fireworks, Tungsten is a great place to start. If you’re adding light to the couple via flash or constant light, you can include a CTO (color temperature orange) gel to the light source and set your white balance to somewhere around 3200 Kelvin. Adjust as needed to match your vision of what the portraits should look like.

Choose the “Right” Lens

The lens you use to photograph fireworks for couples portraits will depend on a couple of things. First, the field of view you want to include for your composition will dictate whether you shoot wide or tight. Keep in mind that these are couples portraits, so using a zoom lens to capture a wide angle shot will make it virtually impossible to communicate with your couple. The space you’re in might also be limited, making a zoom lens a non-option. If you opt for a tighter shot, however, a zoom lens will do a great job of compressing the scene and making the fireworks appear larger in the frame. Beyond that, using a wide-angle lens will make it easier to capture epic shots of the couple and all of the fireworks in their grandeur. Remember, it’s okay to shoot wide and crop the shot a bit during post, if necessary.

Try a Long Exposure

You’ll likely need to set your shutter speed to a slower setting in order to capture better firework portraits. The longer the exposure, the more fireworks you’ll see. Long exposures, which might fall somewhere between 5-10 seconds, also give the fireworks motion as the light traces a path across the sky. Shorter exposures, somewhere in the 2-5 second range, will reveal less detail in the fireworks.

Regardless, you’ll need to use a tripod to minimize camera shake while capturing portraits with long exposures. It can also help to use a cable, remote control button, or delay timer (a two-second delay should suffice) to press the shutter button and further eliminate any unwanted motion.

Light Your Subjects

Typically, when photographing fireworks, we don’t need to worry much about lighting any subjects in the frame. In fact, most of the focus usually falls on the fireworks and subjects are either left in the dark or cropped out completely. For couples portraits with fireworks, however, that is not the case. The way we light our subjects should be intentional and well-executed. The good news is, when time permits, you can set up your shot and dial in your flash power and exposure settings before the fireworks begin.

To start, you will light the couple the way you would even if fireworks were not part of the equation. Dial in your flash power and exposure settings to get the balance you need between flash and ambient lighting. Set the light source off to the side at roughly a 45-degree angle (relative to the couple and the camera), and place it at a somewhat top-down angle facing the couple. You can add a backlight to further define your subjects, or consider using a snoot or grid to control light spill and focus the light directly (or exclusively) on the couple. The particular details of your setup will depend on your own creative direction.

Use Manual Focus

Fireworks can cause havoc on autofocus, so make sure you set your lens to manual focus. If your camera has live view, use that dial to focus on the couple (you can use autofocus for this before the fireworks start) and then double check that manual focus is selected and leave it there.

Create a Composite

You always have the option to create a composite when you photograph fireworks for couples portraits. If you choose this route, you’ll definitely want to use a tripod. The trick here is to first capture a solid portrait of your couple, in which they’re perfectly lit and posed. Then, you can capture several separate photos of the fireworks.

Lightroom

After the shoot, when you’re ready to create the composite, start in Lightroom (or whatever photo editing software that you prefer). Be sure to edit the batch of photos that you plan to use for the composite in the same way so that they are consistent. To do this quickly and easily, edit the photo with the couple first, and then run a batch edit to apply the changes you’ve made to the remaining photos.

Photoshop

Next, move the photos into Photoshop and stack them in a single tab so that you can combine them. Set the blend mode to “Lighten” in order to reveal the brightest parts (the fireworks) of the top layers. From here, just create masks to edit out the parts of each layer that you don’t want to keep.

How to Photograph Sparklers

While not technically “fireworks,” sparklers show up often at weddings, especially as part of a grand exit. For that reason, and because they fall under the umbrella, we’ve included a few basic tips for photographing sparklers as part of a couples session.

Use Big Sparklers

Hopefully, if the bride and groom haven’t already purchased sparklers for their wedding photos, you can recommend that they go with the 36-inch sparklers instead of the 10-inch sparklers. The longer sparklers will give you more time to pose everyone and capture additional photos.

Boost ISO and Wide Aperture

As a light source, sparklers don’t offer too much. For this reason, you can choose to add a light source or dial in the appropriate settings to capture the photos in dim lighting. It also matters whether or not your subjects are moving or standing still. Either way, you’ll want to boost your ISO and go with a wider aperture to start off with a brighter exposure.

Here are some basic settings you can use as a reference when determining the best exposure for your situation.

Moving Subjects

• Shutter Speed: 1/125, Aperture: f/2.8, ISO 3200, Aperture: F2.8, Shutter Speed: 1/125.

Static Subjects

Lower your shutter speeds and adjust the other exposure settings accordingly.

Have a Safety Bucket Handy

When handling sparklers, you’re handling fire. After you capture the shots, you’ll need a safe place to put the sparklers. For this, have a good size bucket of water nearby. Problem solved.

Conclusion + More Inspiration

We hope you found these tips on how to photograph fireworks (and sparklers) for couples portraits helpful. Check out the images below for more inspiration that you can draw from when it comes time to photograph your own couples portraits under a sky full of fireworks.

The post How to Photograph Fireworks for Couples Portraits appeared first on Rangefinder.

Yellowstone and other national parks are getting a lot of attention over the last five years – especially when it comes to couples getting married. Could it be the hit TV show, the fact that they just celebrated their 150th birthday, or the remnants of the pandemic where Yellowstone National Park saw record-breaking tourists visiting the park once they were allowed to open? Whatever it is, it’s easy to see the allure of a national park wedding. There are 63 parks across the country to choose from–each offering different experiences and views, endless amenities, and paved pathways making it accessible for most guests while still being in the beauty of nature. If you are an interested in national park wedding and elopement photography, and are wondering if adding it to your offerings is worth the trouble, read on for the pros and cons.

Preparing for National Park Wedding and Elopement Photography

My first national park elopement was back in 2018 when I got hired by an Oregon couple to document their micro-wedding in Joshua Tree National Park and since then I’ve been all over visiting 11 of the parks for weddings and elopements, with Yellowstone being the number one park.

I have been visiting Yellowstone since I was a child and never thought I would be trekking all over the park in some of the most beautiful and enigmatic locations for couples on their wedding day. After getting to document my first Yellowstone elopement in 2020, I started collecting locations on a detailed map of the park, noting everything, from time of day at a location to how many park visitors were there and time of year. It was this that allowed me to start to understand the park less as a tourist and more concerning weddings. This allowed me to start serving my Yellowstone couples on another level.

Though we, the photographer, are most often are not also the wedding planner or day-of-coordinator, when it comes to couples getting married in these national parks, planning assistance becomes indispensable. National park wedding and elopement photography, though gaining popularity, is still a fairly new concept and couples are struggling to plan not only a wedding but also navigate the intricate details of park permits, transportation, experiences, and more to make their national park wedding visions a reality. This is where elopement photographers really can come into play and serve their couples on that higher level.

Unlike typical wedding venues or high-in-demand destination wedding locations such as Italy or Iceland, most National Parks don’t come with an onsite officiant or preferred vendor lists.

Though I have worked with a handful of park-based wedding planners, more often than not a couple will only hire a photographer for their elopement or micro-wedding. Because of this, it is up to the couple’s photographer to truly know a national park or be able to research to help create something ultimately bespoke for their couple that is also doable and keeps within the regulations of the specific park.

Though Yellowstone used to require photographers to obtain a CUA, Commercial Use Authorization, which was an extensive and costly process, they have recently moved away from this and now only require couples to obtain a SUP, Special Use Permit, for elopements, which also doubles as the photographer’s photo permit.

Yellowstone is not only the next seemingly hot spot to get married but also one of the most visited parks in the United States. This means couples and their photographers will really need to pay close attention to the time of year the couple wants to get married and alternative locations within the park for the ceremony and photos to avoid being surrounded by literally hundreds of park visitors. This frequently happens at popular tourist locations such as Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic, and Mammoth Hot Springs.

Pros and Cons

So, is it worth all the trouble to get into national park wedding and elopement photography? Let’s dive into this.

1. National parks provide an outdoor experience for couples who want their elopement to be nature-based but not hike-heavy or extreme-adventure based.
2. Getting married in a national park allows couples to invite guests who may be ADA or need paved pathways to reach ceremony locations.
3. Each national park offers site-specific amenities and experiences that can help couples create a bespoke elopement or micro-wedding.
4. The SUP process is fairly simple and rather inexpensive in the grand scheme of wedding costs, allowing couples to focus their money and attention on experiences for their wedding.

However, things to consider when planning a national park-based elopement include:

1. You are getting married in a public place and can’t guarantee that park visitors won’t walk by, take your photos, or watch your ceremony.
2. National parks are 95% outdoors with minimal indoor spaces. If the weather turns, you have to be comfortable with a plan B.

3. Though the permit is inexpensive, couples most often don’t save money by opting to elope in a national park as other costs such as lodging, transportation, and photography end up costing in the end roughly the same amount as a traditional wedding.
4. Couples need to hire vendors who are well acquainted with the specific park and region and not just hire any photographer or vendor to avoid issues with park regulations.

Ultimately, call me biased, but I believe getting married in a national park is worth the planning. It offers couples endless opportunities and options to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience for their wedding day that is tailored to who they are all while being in some of the most stunning and diverse landscapes the United States has to offer.

Heather Woolery is a Northwest-based photojournalist known for her earthy, nostalgic approach to documenting weddings and elopements around the world with both digital and analog film. She is currently creating a series of digital guides for engaged couples launching in early 2025. Follow her on Instagram, YouTube, Patreon, and Pinterest.

The post National Park Wedding and Elopement Photography: Is it Worth the Trouble? appeared first on Rangefinder.

“Posing-wise, movement is key,” says Rangefinder 30 Rising Star Rune Havn while describing his favorite image from the wedding of Fatima Mekdad and Eligijus Sukarevicius, which was in July 2024 in Stavanger, Norway. While Rune shoots 90% documentary, he does rely on some gentle posing, especially when it comes to portraits, to capture images with a cinematic feel. He says, “I want my photos to be from a ‘scene,’ and I am documenting a scene I created.” The key to creating these natural, relaxed wedding photography poses is to incorporate gentle movement. 

Guiding Movement in the Hands 

For the shot above, Rune simply asked the bride, Fatima, to use her hand to play with the veil. He says that directing gentle movements like this is crucial to achieving a relaxed pose. If he had asked her to simply hold the hand there without moving it, she would have been concentrated on her hand. “She would have looked more focused and the photo more staged. Small things like her eye movement would have been different.” However, where there’s movement, “the focus evolves into a moment.” 

Achieve Natural, Relaxed Wedding Photography Poses 

For Rune, preparing the ground for beautiful wedding photos happens well in advance of the wedding day. He says, “I want to be a friend they can trust at the same time as a professional photographer. The more work I do in my meeting pre-wedding, the more I am rewarded with amazing photos.”   

To accomplish this, Rune tells his clients well in advance of their first meeting how he works and what is helpful for him to know in advance. He likes to learn about their “interests, ideas, and stories” and “which love language they have.” He also wants to know if they “get emotional if someone speaks nice words to [them], or if [they] think it’s silly to dance in front of everyone.” Having an awareness of how his clients think and feel helps him know where to be when moments like this happen at the wedding.

During the day, Rune also likes to make his clients feel cared for by speaking with them while he shoots. He says, “I always ask my clients if they are feeling good when we are shooting” as well as if they need breaks for water or snacks. This helps them feel taken care of. Rune says, “When people are relaxed and feeling safe, they open up easier, and they do things they didn’t think they could do.” 

Lastly, Rune encourages photographers to give their clients lots of positive feedback. Saying small things like, “Love it,” “You’re killing it,” and “This is so nice,” helps build their confidence. When posing his clients, Rune also keeps his feedback brief, saying things like, “Look that way,” “Focus on each other,” and “Move your hands.” By being quiet and unobtrusive, Rune opens the way for the couple to “be themselves in front of me.”  

Relaxed, Safe, and Cozy 

Rune says, “I work a lot to make my couples feel relaxed and feel safe. I want them to be cozy with each other and make them forget that I’m there.” By creating this atmosphere of safety and comfort, Rune makes way for those aspects of a wedding that he really loves to document to come to the forefront. He says, “I love real, raw feelings – tears, laughter, sorrow, and love.” 

In addition to capturing these poignant feelings from the day, other hallmarks of Rune’s wedding photography include “the light hitting the correct places, making the subject pop,” and the image looking like a true cinematic moment. Rune’s attention to this beautiful aesthetic has made him stand out as a Rangefinder Rising Star of wedding photography after only two and half years in the business. 

Follow Rune Havn’s work on Instagram and Facebook. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024 here.

The post Tips for Natural, Relaxed Wedding Photography Poses appeared first on Rangefinder.

As the bride and groom walked onto the balcony after cocktail hour, photographer Yana Petrova suddenly saw a moment that encapsulated her aesthetic—an image both modern and timeless, where her wedding photography storytelling would naturally shine. Thinking quickly, she managed the strong outdoor lighting by setting her aperture at f1.2 and her shutter speed at 1/15. She also employed an ND filter to get the perfect exposure, overcoming the hurdles to capturing a gorgeous image that would remind her wedding couple of the beautiful day they said, “I do.” 

A Cinematic Flair 

Yana, a photographer with John & Joseph Photography based in Los Angeles, is one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography for 2024. She describes her photography style as “a mix of editorial, fine art, and photojournalistic influence, with a touch of cinematic flair.” A student of film and television production, her passion for storytelling is evident across her portfolio, which is full of “natural, candid moments, especially those with dramatic lighting and unique, unposed elements.” 

Yana leans toward images that are atmospheric and dramatic with moody and dark undertones, which add depth and emotion. Her primary aim is for her images to “feel both artistic and genuine.” 

Yana’s Tips for Wedding Storytelling  

Yana Petrova is “deeply focused on capturing the essence of the moment through a blend of spontaneous and styled elements.” For other photographers wishing to nurture spontaneous storytelling, she offers these tips: 

1. Pay attention to the lighting, especially when shooting outdoors.  Use a fast shutter speed to freeze motion effectively, ensuring sharp images even when your subjects are moving. Work with a narrow aperture or employ ND filters to manage the bright conditions. 

2. Encourage genuine interactions between your subjects. Candid shots often capture the most heartfelt emotions and create memorable images. 

3. Pay attention to your surroundings and how they can complement the couple and the theme of the wedding. 

Dynamic Narratives – Emotional and Alive 

Storytelling is all about paying attention to moments that resonate with emotion. To do this, Yana Petrova relies on “a commitment to not just documenting an event but creating a narrative that feels alive and dynamic.” By combining artistic composition and emotional depth, she offers a fresh perspective on weddings that is both classical and contemporary. 

Follow Yana Petrova’s work on Instagram. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024 here.  

The post Classic and Contemporary Wedding Photography Storytelling  appeared first on Rangefinder.

“It was one of those wedding days that fell behind schedule – no surprise there! With guests from 13 different countries, my couple had a lot on their minds,” says Kim Wilfriedsson, setting the scene for a magical, timeless wedding shoot she recently photographed in Istanbul. Kim is one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography for 2024. The images she shares with us exemplify her ability to create moments of calm connection for her couples—even during a busy wedding day that is running behind schedule! 

Space and Room to Create Memories 

Weddings are full of activity, people, strong emotions, and timetables. They can be chaotic and stressful. But Kim Wilfriedsson prides herself on “making the couple feel comfortable, finding that balance between focus and spontaneity.” She is a rare person who thrives in stress and chaos. For her, thinking on her feet and adapting quickly “keeps things exciting and often leads to unexpected, great shots.”  

In these images, Kim wanted to create space for her couple – Negar and Nick – to have moments together to enjoy their special day and their love for each other. So, when guests started arriving, she led them into the interior of the venue for some privacy. She had already scouted it, and knew it was gorgeous.  

She began with some simple poses, adding in a touch of creativity where she could. To help them loosen up and have fun, she began with some poses that involved movement. They wrapped up in the hallway, giving the pair “a quiet, intimate moment before the craziness kicked back in.” 

Kim’s Tips to Create Calm in Chaos 

Kim notes that it is typical for weddings to be chaotic, “and when things run late, we photographers often have our time cut short.” Here are her tips to create a sense of beautiful stillness and calm in the midst of all that action. 

1. Always do a quick scout of the venue beforehand, so you’re not wasting time looking for spots. 

2. Start with a few reliable poses you know will work. This helps avoid getting stuck or overwhelmed. 

3. Even if time is tight, don’t be afraid to try something new when a creative idea pops up. Sometimes those spontaneous moments turn out to be the best shots! 

Support and Ease 

The mission of a wedding photographer is to create gorgeous images for their clients. However, Kim Wilfriedsson is careful to not allow photographs to take over the day. Her artistic style for creating a timeless wedding shoot is to be “a calm presence for the couple,” helping them to feel “supported and at ease so that their wedding isn’t overshadowed by the photography process.” She’s mindful that many people are not used to being photographed, and she wants to help create “those special moments with as little stress for them as possible—even when it feels like everything around them is falling apart.” 

Follow Kim Wilfriedsson’s work Instagram. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024 here.  

The post Create Calm in Chaos: A Timeless Wedding Shoot in Istanbul  appeared first on Rangefinder.

All the exuberance of the wedding reception is expressed on the dance floor. Rangefinder 30 Rising Star of 2024, Robin Goodlad has pioneered a flash technique for capturing all that joyful energy and amplifying it by projecting the dancers’ shadows on the walls and ceilings. Today he shares some of his favorite dance floor images and his tips for how other photographers can get similar shots. 

Moments, Portraits, and Place 

Robin, who is based in Dorset, UK, began his photography journey with a passion for photographing nature. The influence of the landscapes, light, and shadows of nature permeate his work. He says, “whether capturing a bride’s bouquet placed in low sunlight to mimic the long evening shadow of a tree on land, placing couples as small focal points in a wider scene, bringing in the ceiling of a church as though the sky above, or painting shadows with flash on the dance floor, all are drawn from my landscape background.”  

While Robin doesn’t see the landscape in the dance floor so much, he is very inspired by the shadows of nature as a feature that adds extra impact to an image. He says, “The shadows of trees or mountains are another version of the subject, and seeing that other version–seeing it’s outline as a silhouette–allows you also to get a clearer feel for the three-dimensional structure that is within a scene, which is then being conveyed in a two-dimensional image, the photograph. So, it’s a great way of adding scale and depth, too.” 

Robin’s dance floor images also embody his passion for capturing portraits of the truly authentic moments that tell the story of a wedding day. His unique perspective, inspired by long shadows and wild winds, perfectly captures the revelers embraced in the glory of love and music. 

Tips for Painting Shadows with Flash 

For photographers who wish to capture shots like these, Robin advises that the angle of the flash is key. His technique involves a flash at the end of a monopod held nearly at floor level, pointed up at the subject from below. Robin uses manual focus with a wide-angle lens between 14-20mm. He puts the f-stop at f10, and focuses on the hyperfocal point, which means both subject and background will be in focus without focusing at all. Robin says having the ISO at 1000 and the shutter speed at 1/10 second is “a great starting point–and easy to remember, too!” Flash power can be around 1/32, but adjust that according to how large or small your flash is. Goodlad uses the Godox AD100, which works great at the end of monopod because it doesn’t articulate and doesn’t need a hot shoe mount.  

He says, “Shoot in continuous burst. Then, as you shoot, as well as keeping an eye on the composition on your screen, watch how the shadows appear on the wall or ceiling and adjust your flash angle to project the shadows where you want them. It’s great fun!” 

Double the Impact 

Robin says, “My photography style is one where I am always looking for the highlights and shadows, and reflections of the subject in water or mirrors as a means of adding impact to the image by duplication.” A shadow is second version of his subject, which amplifies its impact and its meaning.  

However, natural shadows and reflections don’t often occur on the dance floor of a wedding reception, so Robin “decided it was up to me to make them.”  With his unique method of creating dance-floor shadows, he has found a way to both capture an amazing moment and to accentuate its shape and form. 

Follow Robin Goodlad’s work on Instagram and Facebook. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024 here. 

The post Create Dramatic Shadows with Flash on the Wedding Dance Floor  appeared first on Rangefinder.

“People fall in love again and again looking at their images. This is my biggest reward,” says Timi Oshin, one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of 2024. The images he shares with us today from his fine art wedding photography collection are from Taf and Chinedu’s destination wedding in Bordeaux, France. His favorite image from the shoot (below) happened directly after the ceremony. A beautiful beam of light came through the pew. Spotting it, Timi requested the wedding planner to give them five to ten minutes to take some images.  

“Timing had to be spot on,” Timi says, “as we know light changes direction and texture very fast.” Upon seeing the light streaming into the cathedral, Timi placed the couple into his desired frame. As the bride soaked up the light, the groom looked up with his face lit. Timi knew he had captured something he would be very happy about. 

Weaving Together Memorable Moments 

Timi describes his fine art wedding photography style as documentary and editorial. He prides himself on capturing core memories while his clients are relaxed and “having the best day of their lives.” Timi views each wedding day as being full of core moments from which he weaves together a tapestry of images that tell the story of the day. These moments are made of “people, places, expressions, fashion, and details.” Each one contributes to his clients’ unique stories, which he carefully attends to with a keen artistic sensibility.  

Sensitivity to Light and Skillful Framing 

Timi says that one of the key things a wedding photographer must recognize is good lighting and how to use it effectively and artistically. He advises photographers that combining a sensitivity to light with skillful framing can bring an artistic cohesiveness to a wedding photo gallery that elevates it to the level of fine art. 

For this shoot, Timi relied on the Inkee Fold Crow 60W as a continuous light for the after-party portraits. 

Fine Art Storytelling 

From the magical to the mundane, Timi views every part of his couples’ weddings as part of their love story. He views his camera as an extension of his heart that he uses to capture his “love of art and the art of love.” 

As soon as he began pursuing photography as a hobby in 2019, Timi was enraptured. Eventually, he pursued his passion professionally as an assistant and second shooter before the pandemic hit. The pandemic gave him an opportunity to go deep into photography education online and to also experiment with portraiture.  

After the pandemic and a move from Nigeria to the UK, Timi took the opportunity of a new start to rethink his business and recreate his brand, soon becoming one the Top 50 UK Wedding Photographers and one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars worldwide. But Timi’s biggest reward, he says, is the way he touches his clients’ lives. 

Follow Timi Oshin’s work on Instagram. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024 here.  

The post Fine Art Wedding Photography: The Art of Love  appeared first on Rangefinder.

“New York City experienced incredible rain and flooding the day before,” says Autumn Jordan, one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Star of 2024. That fated day, she was documenting Cat and Joe Cohen’s wedding at the iconic River Cafe in Brooklyn. Fortunately, the weather broke, travel was not impeded, the waterfront looked divine, and the wedding party was treated to a gorgeous sunset over Manhattan. So as not to disturb its romantic, candlelit atmosphere, Autumn chose to lean into natural light wedding photography, using minimal flash.

Documentary and Dreamy 

Autumn’s favorite image from the day (above) was taken on 35mm with a Contax G2 and was developed and scanned at Indie Film Lab in Birmingham, Alabama. Autumn says it is “equal parts love letter to the life [the couple has] built together and their home in NYC.” Taken from the patio of the River Cafe, which is tucked beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, it features the stunning Manhattan skyline and the close embrace of the newlywed Cohens.  

Autumn, who has BA in film photography and shoots almost exclusively on film, considers her natural light wedding photography style to be both documentary and dreamy. She is thoughtful and deliberate about her shots, wanting her images to both look and feel like her client’s wedding day, reflecting the colors, the emotions, and the weather.  For Autumn, being documentary means “letting the day unfold naturally with low to no intervention.” She comes prepared with as much information about the day as possible, and then leaves “space to notice – to be delighted, to be in awe, to connect, and to capture those moments on camera authentically as they play out.” 

Tender and Technical Tips 

From a technical point of view, Autumn was tasked with documenting this wedding day at the River Cafe on film. Because of its dim, candlelit atmosphere, she knew that if she was not going to distract the wedding party from enjoying its low-light ambiance, she would need to lean into higher ISO films. She used Portra 800, Cinestill 800T, and Delta 3200. 

To prepare for situations like this, Autumn offers the following tips: 

1. Get comfortable pushing your cameras to their boundaries and then continue to push those boundaries. 

2. Learn to photograph in dark spaces – both with and without additional lighting. 

3. Learn what it means to shoot and edit at a higher ISO. Push your film and communicate this to your lab. 

The other side of shooting weddings involves more “tender tips.” Autumn offers this advice for getting into the right emotional space to beautifully capture documentary wedding photography: 

1. Stay present. Do whatever you need to do to clear your head before a wedding day or session. 

2. Create space for your couple to be present. Advocate for them. 

3. Spend time connecting with guests. 

4. Create room to go off script/off list throughout the day. 

5. Make anyone in front of your lens feel good.  

6. Be kind. Always offer to jump in to give a zhuzh to hair or wardrobe if you notice something! 

Love, Place, and History 

For Autumn, each wedding day is primarily about the couple she is photographing – celebrating their love and this moment of central importance in their lives. At the same time, she says, “I am highly aware of how large of a role both place and history play. I always look for subtle and not-so-subtle ways to weave this into my work. . . While the skyline will inevitably shift, my couples will age, and new generations will be born, I hope that this quiet moment frozen in time is able to bring people back to this day and all that comes from it and was part of it, myself included.” 

Follow Autumn Jordan’s work on Instagram. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024 here. 

The post Natural Light Wedding Photography at the River Cafe in NYC  appeared first on Rangefinder.

Documentary wedding photography skips the traditional poses and instead frames the couple’s wedding day as it unfolds. But, while documentary images capture emotion, the style gives the photographer less control over the final result, making factors like composition and timing key. This week, we are featuring five photographers who captured stunning documentary wedding photography. Find inspiration in these shots by Kristian Leven, Steven Vinces, Chelsea Cannar, Kate Godfrey, and Diana Elizabeth and Carlos Moreno.

Kristian Leven, Kristian Leven Photography

Noticing the details and anticipating the action was what helped Kristian Leven of Kristian Leven Photography capture this documentary-style shot of the wedding toasts. The photographer explained that he noticed how the maid of honor was perfectly centered on the floral arrangement during her speech. He positioned himself at the end of the table then waited for the guests to raise their glasses, further drawing the eye in to the maid of honor. He captured the shot with the Fujifilm X-T3 and a Fujifilm 56mm lens.

“Be quick to react,” Leven advises. “Guests can quickly change their demeanor when they feel photographed, and the best natural pictures happen when people are comfortable and being normal, rather than ‘acting normal.’ Have your camera down initially, and quickly fire some frames off when the right moment presents itself.”

Steven Vinces, SAGE Studios Photography

One of the things that Steven Vinces of SAGE Studios Photography loves about weddings is the environment they create for both children and adults to simply play. When he spotted these three guests all dressed up in similar attire, but ‘playing’ in entirely different ways, he was inspired to capture a black-and-white shot of the moment. He used a Canon 5D Mark III and a Canon EF 85mm f1.2L II lens for this photograph.

“Shoot more than you think you need,” Vinces says. “Those moments won’t happen in the same way ever again, and even the time spent looking at the back of your camera might hold a missed opportunity. Better to keep your camera up and ready, and sort it all out later in the culling process. Beyond the practical advice of shooting more, you’ll learn to develop a sensitivity to moments. If you can’t be present and mindful of the happenings around you, you will find yourself lacking in things to shoot. Develop empathy. You may think you have seen something similar before, but your subjects are experiencing something unique to them, and you don’t know how the moment will unfold. Shoot first, ask questions later.”

[Read: Candid Wedding Photos in the Moments in Between: Love in a Puddle]

Chelsea Cannar, Chelsea Cannar Photography

The decision to focus on the audience rather than the couple highlights the emotions of the guests and the packed ceremony attendance in this shot by Chelsea Cannar of Chelsea Cannar Photography. The photographer says she was inspired by how full the room was and the rich colors on the walls. This shot portrays the feeling of how full the room was. She captured the shot with the Sony a7R III and a Sony 50mm f1.2 lens.

Cannar says, “Hone your ability to anticipate what will happen next in almost any given situation; documentary photography is primarily about your people-watching skills and ability to recognize patterns in human behavior without interrupting that natural flow. When you anticipate these moments, you can compose with clarity instead of taking reactionary images.” 

Kate Godfrey, Kate Godfrey Photo

As the couple laughed while photographing each other with Polaroid cameras, Kate Godfrey of Kate Godfrey Photo knew it would be a great memory for the newlyweds. As the two giggled together, she captured their interactions, using a Godox V1 as direct flash to give the final images a feel not unlike the instant film they were busy playing with at the time. She also used a Sony A7 IV with a Sigma 24-70mm Art lens.

“The best way to get into the right headspace for documentary photography is to look around you,” she says. “Take time to slow down, stay quiet and observe. Once you begin watching how people move and interact, you’ll see little moments happening that make for great photographs. And let go of perfection. As a documentary-style wedding photographer, you’re there to capture it as it is, in all its coordinated chaos. Practice finding art in mundane places and messy spaces. Real life is beautiful, and it is art.” 

[Read: Polaroid Wedding Moments: After the Champagne Tower]

Diana Elizabeth and Carlos Moreno, Enfoque 21 Fotografía

Husband-and-wife photography duo Diana Elizabeth and Carlos Moreno of Enfoque 21 Fotografía found inspiration in the energy of this couple and their guests. The photographers captured this shot during the wedding day toasts as the newlyweds reacted to their friends’ kind words. They used a Canon EOS R6 and a 35mm lens.

“Never put down your camera; there’s always something happening around you—something that won’t happen again,” the photographers say. “Stay connected to your surroundings. These moments can’t be staged—they’re fleeting. The only thing you can do is observe and capture them as they unfold.” 

[Read: The Newlyweds’ Kiss: 3 Tips for Capturing Candid Wedding Photos]

Dig into our Photos of the Day Archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching portraits and wedding photos. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to five images at a time) to: hillary.grigonis@emeraldx.com.

The post Photos of the Week September 16: Documentary Wedding Photography appeared first on Rangefinder.

Elegant simplicity and delicate sensitivity come together in the cinematic wedding photos of Marie Thibault, a Tours, France-based photographer and one of Rangefinder’s 30 Rising Stars of 2024. Today, Marie shares with us some of her favorite images of a beautiful bride and her groom with a backdrop of the grand architecture of Paris. 

Harsh Afternoon Sunlight with Flash 

For the image above (her favorite in the series), Marie used black and white to simplify the image, highlight the dress, and emphasize her subject, the bride. Throughout the shoot she faced the challenge of harsh afternoon sunlight–one of the many difficult lighting situations wedding photographers must become accustomed to working with. This harsh light did not dissuade Marie from using flash – which she loves to use because it brings more impact to her images. In this case, she used her flash to fill in shadows on her subject, which had the effect of bringing more contrast to the scene. Without the flash, it would have looked flat and gray.  

Incorporating Movement for A Cinematic Feeling 

Marie says, “I enjoy positioning bodies in relation to the background, creating harmony, and directing the gaze to find the expression I’m looking for.” In working with clients, Marie’s approach is to be guided by the couple and her intuition. She takes a playful approach to a shoot – playing with figures, the scene, and eyes, looking at the process as though creating a film.  

For other photographers who would like to create cinematic wedding photos, she encourages them to incorporate movement in their direction to their clients. While Marie does guide her couples into certain poses that she thinks will look beautiful, she also keeps them moving. This helps them to not look stiff or static and adds a natural feel to her images. 

Fashion, Architecture, and Love 

Marie’s approach combines photojournalism with editorial as she draws from various inspirations, including architecture, fashion, and travel. She shot her first wedding in 2012 while studying photography in Paris but left the field behind when she became a full-time studio manager. After a time, she felt the call to return to shooting weddings, and in 2022 became a full-time wedding photographer.  

Marie says, “documenting the love stories that unfold before my lens is what truly sets my soul on fire!” 

Follow Marie Thibault on Instagram. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024.

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