MF01022023 – How I shot This

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Photographed by MONIKA FRIAS

Before
the Shoot

Location Equipment

Right after the ceremony we went to take some portraits around San Giminiano. The light was very harsh but that is something I enjoy more and more lately. At some point I asked Bea, the bride to take her veil off, but minutes after she told me that HUGE veil was made by her and that she wanted more pictures with it. So I said Let’s do it! This was the very first picture we took after that. I saw the contrast of the light and shade and that diagonal line and said: “stop right there”

Location Name

San Giminiano old town

Location aDDRESS

Piazza delle Erbe, 53037 San Gimignano SI, Italy

Country

Italy

Location TYPE

Street

Equipment

Camera

Canon R5

Flash

None

Lens

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2.0

Lens Filter

None

Other Equipment

No additional equipment was used.

During
the Shoot

Directions Composition Focus Light & Exposure

The light was very harsh at that time of the day and for me that’s the best opportunity to find shapes and give the photos a bit more drama, so I was very happy with the light situation. It was a relaxed stroll wondering through the old town and we stopped when I saw a good light/shape scenario. We had a lot of fun and it although it was short, we were very happy with the results.

Tone of Directions

Quiet Calm

Action of Directions

Hand Movements Posed Serious

Description

This photo was a surprise because it was the first one we took after she put her veil back on. I said “Can you please stand there?” and a second after I saw the picture! I said “move you hands a bit, so the veil moves a little” and boom” I had it.

What was said

Bea, move your hands a bit below the veil, I was to see it better

Why I composed the way I did

I saw the door behind me and asked her to step in the middle, but since she had the veil and dress train, I moved my composition a bit to the right to have everything breathe a little. Loved the diagonal line + the triangle her dress and veil made.

Compositional Rules

Leading Lines Off Center Rule of Thirds

Compositional Framing

Wide Full Body Negative Space

Focus

Focus mode

Autofocus

Focus Technology

Single Shot

Focused on

The bride's head

Focus description

not a big story on this. Just point and shoot :)

Shutter Speed

1/2500

Aperture

f/3.2

ISO

100

White Balance

Cloudy

Other Light Sources

No additional light sources were used.

How the light was used

I wanted her and her veil to pop, so being all that white, I wanted the light to hit them and that way the background (shade) would be even dark, making her pop!

Type of light

Natural Light

Time of Day

Midday

Quality of LIght

Harsh Directional

Weather

Sunny

After
the Shoot

Editing & Presets

Editing &
Presets

Editing Software used

Adobe Lightroom CC

Preset Used

Personal Preset

How I edited this image

This was a VERY easy edit. I just selected the subject and lowered the highlights a bit to see the details of the veil.

Conclusion

Challenges Solutions Advice

Challenges & Solutions

Events that were challenging during the shoot

Honestly, not much. It was one of those times where you’re in the right place at the right time and magic happens.

Solutions I found

No challenges at all.

Advice

Don’t be afraid of harsh light, It’s more fun and exciting than you think. use it to create high contrast and shapes.

Photographed by

MONIKA FRIAS

Barcelona Canon R5 Canon RF 28-70mm 2.0

The only thing Mónika Frías loves more than a good story is being the one to tell it.
A videographer, photographer and graphic designer, Mónika has been sharing visual tales for more than 10 years. Drawing from live music, classic photography, Architecture and fashion, her style is timeless, emotional and elegant with an editorial flair.
Mónika thrives on the creative freedom of photography and art direction, and she understands the importance of her role. Whether shooting for a couple or a brand, “I know that my way of telling the story is how it will be remembered, and I try to make the experience appear in frames the way it felt in person. It’s beautiful when a couple or client comes to me and says, ‘It’s better than we even imagined.’”

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