HOW i SHOT THiS

  • black & white
  • Moody
  • Upper Thirds
  • Sunset
  • Soft Light
  • simple
  • Rule of thirds
  • Posed
  • Natural Light
  • Mid range
  • broken rules
  • lying down
  • intimate
  • Energetic
  • emotional
  • Directional Light
  • Dark
  • Creative
  • Cinematic
  • Water

The story behind the image

Show more
I love to end my couples photoshoots by taking a few shots in the water, if the spot allows us to. I love the vaporous and magic vibes they create. It’s quite challenging because I have to be quick : the water in Brittany is not known to be warm, and those pictures are taken at the very end of the photoshoot, when the sun is almost down.
Show more

Directions

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

I told my couple to lay down in the water and float with spread arms. I wanted to create a magical vibe, as if the couple was flying. I asked them to put their heads as close as they could, in order to have a feeling of intimacy between them. It was quite simple to direct my couple in the water, as there is no current in the lake.

Show more
What did you say?

Okay guys, I want you to lay down in the water and float. Try to put your heads as close as you can. Once it’s done, spread your ams and stay still for a few seconds.

Show more

Composition

The unedited photo was upside down : the couple was on the bottom of the image first. They were almost under my feet when I took the picture. I flipped the image in post-production, so the couple could be on the top of the image. I wanted to create a feeling of intimacy and calmness, added to a dreamy vibe, as if the couple was flying.

Show more

Focusing

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

I used the manual mode and focused on their heads. I chose that mode because they were moving their arms, trying to stay on the surface and float. It would have been harder with the autofocus mode : the focus would have probably be on their arms.

Show more
Focus Mode

Manual Focus

Focus POints

Single Point

Focused on

The couple heads

Equipment &
Exif

Camera
Canon 5D Mark IV
Lens
Canon 35mm f/1.4
Flash
None
Filter
None
1/160 @ f/2.2 ISO5000 WB-Auto

The way the EXIF is written out follows the common photographic method (with the inclusion of White Balance at the end). Here it is broken down:

Shutter Speed @ Aperture ISO White Balance.

Light & Weather

The sun was almost down on my right and I had no artificial light. I was standing on a dock with a small staircase leading to the water. I didn’t want my couple to be too far from it because the water was cold. I didn’t have many options regarding the light.

Show more
Light Type

Natural Light

Time of day

Sunset

Weather

Overcast

Editing Workflow

How did you edit this image?

I used the fade black and white preset by Beloved Wedding Presets. First, I inverted the image so the couple could be on the top of the image, in order to accentuate the feeling of flying. Their heads were at the bottom at first, when the image was not inverted yet. It wasn’t enough magical for me. I adjusted the highlights and shadows, as I was aiming for something darker and more contrasted. I adjusted the luminance too because I didn’t want the image to be grainy. I wanted a smooth aspect.

Show more

Challenges

The major challenge was to be quick : I didn’t have much time to shoot that special image, as the sun was almost down that day. I always do the water pictures at the very end of the photoshoot, so my couples can dry off and put comfy clothes right after. The first part of the photoshoot took longer than expected, so I only had a few minutes left. Moreover, the water was pretty cold that day : I didn’t want them to get sick !

Show more

Solutions

I told my couples the directions they would have to follow before going into the water.

Show more

Location

Location Name

Rennes

Location aDDRESS

Rennes, Brittany, France

Loation Type

Lake

Country

France

Before the shoot, ask your clients if they are confortable with going in the water. Ask them to wear white clothes so the outfit will contrast with the environment.

Read More

Login to your account

Oh no :(

This content has been marked as Premium and requires an active subscription in order to access it. We’re so sorry about that. But hey, here’s what you can do:

Join the
family

Get access to everything on the site as well as a ton of perks & benefits.

Have an account?

Well then, let’s get you logged in and hide this annoying thingy-ma-jig.