HOW i SHOT THiS

  • Backlit
  • Dark
  • Dinner
  • Evening
  • fog
  • hazy
  • holding each other
  • Moody
  • night
  • Outdoor
  • silhouette
  • String Lights
  • Warm

The story behind the image

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This wedding took place in August in the mountains of the French Riviera. The reception was outside with fairy lights where the couple had a big barbecue and the atmosphere was so chilled and fun. As soon as the sun set, and it got dark, fog settled in all around the guests and the reception space. I took a few steps back to admire the whole setting and it was absolutely stunning just like a movie!

Naturally, I am quite a shy person but I saw this shot in my mind and I just had to get my couple to come for the moment. I built up the courage to do so, and the couple was of course totally keen.
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Directions

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

I asked the couple to stand in front of their table and to kiss as if they were in a romantic comedy.

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What did you say?

Okay guys, just take a few steps in front of your chairs and kiss like you were in a movie

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Tone of Directions

Calm

Composition

For this composition, I wanted to fill the frame with the dinner setup but still leave enough breathing room above and below it. This allowed me to also capture the full body of my couple as they were silhouetted against the backlight. By having the couple in the center of the image, I immediately gave the couple the most amount of attention.

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framing

Center Framed

Focusing

Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)

Since there was a strong contrast between the couple and the background, focusing was relatively easy. Even if it was during the evening. I simply moved my focus point over the heads of the couple and let the camera find its focus.

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Focus Mode

Single Shot Autofocus

Focus POints

Single Point

Focused on

the couples heads

Equipment &
Exif

Camera
Canon 5D Mark III
Lens
Canon 35mm f/1.4 L II
Flash
None
Filter
None
1/320 @ f/2 ISO1600 WB-3950

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 fog and the fairy lights created this natural atmosphere, I didn’t have to do much. I never use an external flash when there was enough lighting so it was taken without flash, just natural light. With the light coming from behind the couple, it creates this “backlit” feeling. Having the couple silhouetted against this light meant that I was able to keep details from blowing out and brought a lot more interest to the whole image.

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Light Type

Natural Light

Editing Workflow

How did you edit this image?

I used my own preset which is based on G-Preset pack 1 that I’ve tweaked a lot over the years. I applied the preset and then adjusted the exposure sliders as well as the contrast sliders to get the tones I was after. I did have to tweak the white balance slightly as the colors needed that little bit of help to get to where I wanted them.

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Editing Software
Preset Used

Challenges

I asked the couple many times to take a photo out in front of the party, but they were so busy and kept putting it off for later in the night.

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Solutions

But I kept insisting while I was taking photos of the beautiful scenery. Eventually, I was finally able to gather them both after showing them how cool the shot would look. That’s when the magic happened.

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Location

Location Name

Domaine des Courmettes

Location aDDRESS

Route de Courmettes, 06140 Tourrettes-sur-Loup

Loation Type

Garden / Field

Country

France

My advice as a photographer is if you see the opportunity for an epic photo, don’t hesitate to insist and try! This couple was truly so happy, overwhelmed, and grateful that I got this photo.

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