- calm
- Center Framed
- full body
- holding each other
- kissing
- Leading lines
- Moody
- Natural Light
- Rainy
- Rule of thirds
- Sitting
- Soft Light
- Wide
The story behind the image
1. Take amazing photos (obviously)
2. Give the couple an amazing experience
The couple in this photo flew all the way from China to experience the Scottish Highlands together and asked me to document their story. It was the bride’s dream to be photographed in the rugged landscape of Glencoe so I wanted to make sure I could make this the most unforgettable experience possible for them both.
It’s always a win when a couple can love their photos but also remember what an amazing experience they had having them taken.
We hadn’t had the chance to Skype and meet each other so I arranged to meet them in a nearby hotel carpark and carpool together in my car while we drove around Glencoe. I usually find that this is a great way to get to know one another in a short period of time in between driving to different nearby locations.
I got to show them some of the most beautiful locations Glencoe has to offer and by the end of the shoot we had an amazing connection. After receiving their photos a few weeks later when they had returned to Chine, they emailed to say how much they love their photos and what and unforgettable time they had.
Mission accomplished!
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I asked them to sit on this particular spot on the wall, him sitting behind her with his arms holding her. It was cold so I asked him to hold her tight to keep her warm. I then asked them to simply close their eyes.
What did you say?
While you’re sitting in this position, could you put your arms around her and hold her tight to keep her warm. If you could then both close your eyes and give her some kisses on the side of her face.
Tone of Directions
Calm
Composition
I liked the way the wall leads the eye from the bottom right of the frame to the top left. I positioned the couple in the middle so that the line of the wall would intersect with them in the middle of the photo.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I used single point autofocus (centre frame) with the viewfinder, focused on the bride’s face, locked the focus and then recomposed the shot to achieve the exact framing I wanted.
Focus Mode
Single Shot Autofocus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
The Brides face
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/2500 @ f/2.0 ISO100 WB-5600
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
It was an overcast and cloudy day so the light was mostly diffused however if you look at the outline of the groom’s suit you can see that the sun was positioned to the top right of the frame. I positioned the couple this way because the outline of light (hair light) around the groom’s head and body provides some great background separation which makes the couple ‘pop’.
Light Type
Natural Light
Weather
Rainy
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
This photo was edited with our very own colour preset as our base. Various brush adjustments were made to the couple and background to even out the exposure.
Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Preset Used
Challenges
The main challenge was the cold weather.
Solutions
Before the shoot I always ask my couples to come prepared with an extra layer they can wear over the top of the dress in the event that it is cold.
Location
Location Name
Glencoe
Location aDDRESS
Glencoe Mountains, Scotland
Loation Type
Mountains
Country
United Kingdom
Taking amazing photos is one thing but giving the couple an unforgettable experience is a major part of our job and crucial to longterm business.
