HOW i SHOT THiS

  • Back light
  • natural frames
  • Walking
  • Sunset
  • Sun flare
  • Playful
  • Outdoor
  • Natural Light
  • Natural
  • Back lit
  • Harsh Light
  • full body
  • Field
  • Center Framed
  • calm
  • Bright
  • Wide

The story behind the image

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Joy and Logan wanted to share their vows with one another privately after the official ceremony with their closest family and friends was over. We found this little hidden spot on the mountainside with a perfect single-track trail leading to this spot that was drenched in golden light. They walked out and exchanged vows, hugging and crying while I stayed far back so they could have their moment. It was beautiful and perfect timing.
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Directions

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

I told them to follow the trail until I hollered at them to stop and then to just take their time reading vows and not rushing anything, letting them know I was going to stay really far back to give them space.

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What did you say?

Follow the trail to that spot where the light is hitting the hill and face one another there. Take your time and I’ll stay back here so you two can have your moment and just be present.

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Tone of Directions

Calm

Composition

I made sure the couple was placed in between the pines so their silhouettes wouldn’t be lost with the bright sun coming in from behind! It’s important to do this in these strong backlit situations as the contrasts can be so strong that your subjects actually get lost.

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framing

Center Framed

Focusing

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

It was tough with the light coming into my lens directly (I really wanted that intense flare!) so I focused it in the shade of the tree, then stepped out with the focus locked into the sunlight so I knew they were in focus!

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Focus Mode

Single Shot Autofocus

Focus POints

Single Point

Focused on

The couple

Equipment &
Exif

Camera
Canon 5D Mark IV
Lens
Canon 35mm f/1.4 L II
Flash
None
Filter
None
1/2500 @ f/2.5 ISO125 WB-6700k

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 couple was backlit and the sun was still really strong but giving off perfect flares into my lens. I focused in the shade and then would step out into the light to capture this shot with the strong flare without losing focus on the couple!

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Light Type

Natural Light

Time of day

Sunset

Editing Workflow

How did you edit this image?

I used my Honey preset and Photoshop Actions to edit this! I wanted lots of warmth since this was right in between summer and fall, without it appearing overly yellow or green. I pulled the yellow saturation back pretty far so that way I could warm it up as much as I want without it being too saturated. I also pulled back the vibrance and the highlights so the cloud details were present!

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Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Preset Used

Challenges

I wanted to make sure the image was perfectly sharp and detailed with the flare but that can be challenging when sunlight is coming directly into your lens. The shaded version of the photo was beautiful but I wanted that extra light magic without missing focus.

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Solutions

I stood in the shade of the pine tree, locked in my focus on the couple, then took a step out into the light moving back and forth to create different flares while keeping detail!

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Location

Location Name

Alta Ski Resort

Location aDDRESS

Alta Ski Resort, Salt Lake City, Utah

Loation Type

Mountains

Country

United States

Let your clients have special private moments at a distance, don’t interfere and make yourself invisible. Wide shots of emotional moments for them are just as special as those close-ups!

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