- Bridal Portrait
- Movement
- Sunset
- Soft Light
- Rule of thirds
- Reflection
- Playful
- Natural Light
- Horizon Line
- Bride
- Directional Light
- Colorful Light
- Colorful
- Center Framed
- calm
- Bright
- Wide
The story behind the image
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
Georgia is a very talented model so very little direction was needed on my part. I told her I would be focusing on wide shots and asked her to give me lots of movement. I wanted it to feel ethereal and whimsical.
What did you say?
“Now hold the skirt of your dress in both hands and start twirling around.”
Tone of Directions
Calm
Composition
I generally follow the rule of thirds in most wide shots like this, but here I really wanted to emphasize the point of reflection by placing it right in the center. And to show off this combination of sky and mountains, I really wanted the backdrop to seem grand and imposing so I got low to the ground and backed far away from my subject to keep her small in the frame.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I used autofocus to focus on my subject in this image. As there really was nothing else close to her to compete for focus, it was fairly simple to catch focus.
Focus Mode
Single Shot Autofocus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
the model's face
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/250 @ f/3.4 ISO320 WB-5500K
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
This was taken as the sun was setting with my subject backlit at a side angle. Sunset is always a favorite time to shoot, and it was exciting to watch the sky change so rapidly. As the sunset, it cast its light across the landscape & the model which created beautiful, soft, highlights & shadows. Gently adding dimensions to everything.
Light Type
Natural Light
Time of day
Sunset
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
In Camera Raw, I used TAP presets to mimic Fuji 400 film tones. I adjusted the white balance, brightness, and darken the shadows. I also used HSL and the brush tool to brighten up her skin tone a bit. I did not clone or heal anything.
Editing Software
Camera Raw
Preset Used
Challenges
This biggest challenge that we had was the fact that the sand was incredibly difficult for the model to walk on in her high heels.
Solutions
I had her switch to her boot so she could move more easily to the spot I wanted to be at. And since the dress was long enough to cover the boots, it was pretty easy to have her hide them for the photo.
Location
Location Name
The Great Saltair
Location aDDRESS
12408 W Saltair Dr, Magna, UT 84044
Loation Type
Mountains
Country
United States
As much as I love getting to photograph a fully planned styled shoot, sometimes the rush that comes from a spontaneous shoot can really push you to think creatively and drive you to do something different.
