- afternoon
- minimal
- Soft Light
- Playful
- photoshop
- Natural Light
- Movement
- Minimalistic
- Mid range
- Back lit
- Heavy Edit
- Creative
- Center Framed
- calm
- Bride
- Bridal Portrait
- symmetry
The story behind the image
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I told the couple after finishing their family photos to just take in the scenery since it was on top of an epic roof top overlooking all of Los Angeles at sunset. As I was soaking up the moment I caught a glimpse of her spinning and snapped a pic of her doing so without any directions. I was simply seeing a beautiful moment without needing any direction.
What did you say?
Hey guys, just take in the scenery here while I do my thing. I’ll be around shooting and I’ll reach out if there’s anything I need to you to do.
Tone of Directions
Calm
Composition
When I was composing this shot, I really wanted the viewer’s attention to be directly focused on the bride. I felt such a softness and simple elegance in the way she was twirling in the sunset and I wanted the viewer to be able to feel that in the shot as well. When I began culling the gallery I remember going directly to this shot and knowing I had to make something more artful of this composition. That is when I decided to remove the buildings and floor to remove all distractions and focus solely on making her the center frame and making a more artistic portrait.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
I was in autofocus mode for this shot because I typically shoot in auto at all times unless I am free lensing or using my tilt-shift. Using my viewfinder I used a single point focus on the bride and snapped the picture quickly because this was a fleeting unprompted moment I needed to get quickly. This is also why I love having my camera in autofocus because I can capture a moment quickly and nail the focus on the subject.
Focus Mode
Single Shot Autofocus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
brides head
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/500 @ f/2 ISO1250 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
It was a blue hour (the short period of time following golden hour) and we had just finished taking family photos and I told the couple to take in a few minutes of alone time with their view. I was doing the same myself and I noticed she began spinning on the rooftop beautifully and I loved how the light kissed her and her dress so softly. I didn’t have this pre-planned I just soaked in the moment with her by capturing it through my viewfinder.
Light Type
Natural Light
Time of day
Afternoon
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
As you can see before the image is entirely different than the end results. I first edited the image in Lightroom creating a custom edited preset. I decreased the contrast, highlights, and brought up the exposure. I then had a ton of fun playing with split toning and fine-tuning coloring with the H(hue) S(saturation) L(luminance) sliders. I then brought the image into Photoshop to more accurately remove the buildings in the background as well as the floor. I then used the liquify tool to liquefy her dress in an outward direction to add extra emotion and blended it into the background. I then saved the image back into Lightroom and pulled the image into Alien Skin Exposure 3 to add grain and the side light streak. I was super stoked about the end results and how I let the image really edit itself along the way. My favorite edits are never pre-planned, I just play and have fun with the edit!
Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Preset Used
Challenges
The most challenging part of this shot was the editing process. Getting the dress to blend in with the background seamlessly took a lot of time.
Solutions
I found that using a combo of overlays and the spot healing brush on the edges of the places I liquified allowed the dress to blend nicely!
Location
Location Name
Los Angeles
Location aDDRESS
6250 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
Loation Type
Rooftop
Country
United States
I firmly believe in consistently trying new techniques and being ok with it possibly not working out in the end. That’s how real magic happens in my opinion by learning from past mistakes and always trying to grow by implementing new techniques and stepping outside of the box. Let your imagination lead the edit.
