Wedding Photography - Getting the lighting right
Most wedding days will encounter several types of ambient lighting and require extra help after dusk. I love to take photographs in the changing light—it adds so much variety to the body of work.
Making the best of the available light is key. When getting-ready consider the room, if you have a choice pick a room with lots of windows, try and keep it tidy and keep in mind the possibility of faking some getting ready shots if necessary.
The ceremony can be tricky for the photographer. A church poses a problem as often they lack natural light, always check with the vicar that flash photography is allowed before the big day. If you are not marrying in a church, the best possible lighting scenario involves bright open shade, waning day light, or even artificial light, it's not just more flattering, but you are likely to be much less camera aware than if your photographer needs to use a flash.
Making your formal group portraits picture perfect is relatively straightforward, providing you have chosen a trained photographer. Stick to shaded uncluttered locations. If you are dead-set on having a certain type of scenery in the background, make sure the light is good. If it’s not, ditch it. It’s just not worth it and never stand directly facing the sun, squinting will not be your best look!
Photographs taken during the evening hours can be a challenge, but anything you can do to lessen the need for flash will dramatically improve the photographs. You‘ll be able to, for instance, see the guests behind you while you cut the cake or do your first dance. If there’s enough light to read by, your photographer should be fine to photograph the goings on. But sometimes exciting parts of action happen where there’s little light. If you can, prepare for this in the decorations, add candles, lanterns or strings of light, after all a lot of thought has gone into choosing a beautiful location, don't let it get lost in the dark.
I hope this helps
Keira