- black & white
- Bridal Portrait
- Center Framed
- Cinematic
- cloudy skies
- hand movement
- Hands
- Looking down
- mid shot
- Outdoor
- Soft Light
- Veil
- veil over eyes
- veil over face
The story behind the image
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
It was easy for us to guide the bride. She felt very comfortable in front of the camera, especially since we photographed her with her husband before we took her solo portraits. After such a warm-up, it is easier to pose without a partner. We left her a lot of freedom and only briefly told her about the effect we wanted. We asked her to look to the left and brush the veil with her relaxed hands.
What did you say?
Now, turn your head to the left and lower it gently. We want you to slowly brush the veil. Take your time with this. Keep your hands moving all the time.
Tone of Directions
Calm
Composition
The mountains in the background looked beautiful. Although we love majestic landscapes, this time we didn’t want the background to dominate the photo. We opted for a 35mm lens and a medium-framed image. Thanks to this, we brought the attention mainly to the figure, hands, and emotions. We framed the photo so that the hands were more or less at the strong points. We liked them very much and wanted them to play a bigger role. The Bride herself is positioned to the left side of the frame. When we framed the face in the center, the whole picture lost balance and the right side became too heavy. In this version, the photo is more balanced.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
The camera was set to single-shot mode. We aimed at the Bride’s face, but we knew the veil would be the sharpest anyway. That’s what we were hoping for. When we use veils, the most important thing is the feeling of softness. Then we try to keep the face slightly beyond the depth of field. By using a small aperture, we further enhance this effect.
Focus Mode
Single Shot Autofocus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
Bride's face.
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/800 @ f/1.6 ISO160 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
We photographed in an open clearing just before sunset. There were some clouds in the sky, so the light was very diffused. The sun was setting on the right side of the Bride, which is why her figure is not flat, and she feels more dimensional. The rays delicately underlined her face and figure with a harmonious play of highlights and shadows.
Light Type
Natural Light
Weather
Cloudy
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
We used one of our black and white presets. We chose black and white because the colors only took attention away from the bride and introduced chaos to the photo. Strong green grass clashed with the cool sky and mountains. The lack of color made the photo harmonious, and the background became closer to neutral. When we want the soft photos, we lower the “clarity” and “dehaze” options. We use the second slider very often. Before it appeared in Lightroom, we used to lower the contrast or manipulate the curves, but the photos tended to turn gray. “Dehaze” makes the contrast decrease, and at the same time, the photo is more luminous and hazy.
Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Preset Used
Own personal Presets
Challenges
The biggest problem of solo portraits is the placement of hands. When posing with a partner, it is easy to locate them somewhere – put them on your shoulder, hug the other person or grab each other hands. In this case, it wasn’t possible.
Solutions
When the people we photograph have no experience in posing, we always try to keep their hands busy. Brides have many more options – they can catch a bouquet, a fragment of a dress or a veil. As a result, the photos become lighter and more natural.
Location
Location Name
Łapszanka
Location aDDRESS
Kościelna, Łapszanka, Poland
Loation Type
Mountains
Country
Poland
We love portraits, and brides are particularly rewarding subjects to photograph. It is always wise to take at least a few photos of her alone – during the wedding preparations or the couple session. It is always impressive and very often these are the photos that are used as new profile pictures on social media.
If the people you photograph have problems with the natural placement of their hands – use additional accessories or small tasks. Instead of asking your models to place their hands stiffly, ask them to pick up flowers, play with their clothes, or comb their hair.
