Before
the Shoot

Location Equipment
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What happens when your couple turns around and asks for photos that are not mega romantic? That this just wouldn’t represent them. They’re more the cool, chilled couple who of course love each other but aren’t the type that jumps into each other’s arms and passionately kiss in front of a crowd.

Well, the answer is pretty simple. Shoot them the way they are. If they’re a cool couple who aren’t into too much romance – don’t force them into it. Our couple was just this – an amazing couple with the biggest hearts, but their relationship wasn’t all about deep passionate kisses and closed eyes. They were more about fun and easy-going-ness.

When we walked through the olive tree field, we would have normally asked our couple to walk hand-in-hand or arm over the shoulder. Something like that. But for them, we told them to be themselves. Walk as they would. Talk as they would. Have fun with each other as they would.
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Location

Location Name

Masseria San Nicola

Location aDDRESS

Strada Provinciale, SP3, 72015 Fasano BR, Italy

Country

Italy

Location TYPE

Garden / Field

Equipment

Camera

Canon 5D Mark IV

Flash

None

Lens

Canon 50mm f/1.2 L

Lens Filter

None

Other Equipment
No additional equipment was used.

During
the Shoot

Directions Composition Focus Light & Exposure
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Directions

Tags

Energetic Playful Dancing

Description

While our couple was walking, we asked them to forget about us and just be themselves. We then noticed that the dress was dragging a little bit too much in the ground so we simply asked our bride to pick up her dress, but while doing so, to spin it around. We wanted to not only “clean” the dress but to get even more movement in it.

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What was said

“[Bride], can you pick up your dress off the ground. In fact, while you’re picking it up go ahead and spin it around! Have fun with it, and even let it catch some air so it floats and sways”

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Composition

Why I composed the way I did

With the sunset peeking over the roofs of the Masseria, we wanted to capture part of the sun flare in the frame without it becomes too overwhelming. We framed it so the sun was just peaking in from the top right of our frame, while also paying attention to how our couple was positioned in the image.

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Tags

Center Framed Broken Rules Full Body

Focus

Focus mode

Single point auto focus

Focus Technology

Single Shot Autofocus

Focused on

The Brides dress

Focus description

Since the main action in this image was coming from our bride, we chose to focus on her rather than our groom. We moved our single point over our bride and let the camera lock-on. Our groom did fall slightly out of focus but since he isn’t the main subject of the image, it’s not a problem.

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Shutter Speed

1/1600

Aperture

f/1.6

ISO

500

White Balance

Auto

Other Light Sources
No additional light sources were used.
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Light &
Exposure

How the light was used

This was taken during sunset when the sun was just about to drop below a building. We wanted the sun to be an element in this image simply because it adds a bit more life to the photograph. We positioned ourselves so the sun only peaked in from the side letting in a golden flare.

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Tags

Back lit Rim Light Bright Natural Light Sunset

After
the Shoot

Editing & Presets
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Editing &
Presets

Editing Software used

Adobe Lightroom Classic

Preset Used
How I edited this image

The edits are made to be warmer with a big focus on skin tones and light play with shadows and highlights. A few minor local adjustments were made (Gradient and Brush) as well as finishing off with a fine layer of grain. The whites are not blown out nor are the blacks 100% crunched.

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Conclusion

Challenges Solutions Advice

Challenges & Solutions

Events that were challenging during the shoot

The main challenge was getting our composition just right. It’s always a fine balance between how much sun to let in to get the desired flare and how little. Keeping in mind that also paying attention to what our bride was doing so we didn’t lose the moment also added to the challenge.

Solutions I found

When we move around our subject with our camera’s up to our face, we find that we can better find our composition while still tracking the moment. If we had our camera down and tried to look for that composition and then raise the camera to shoot, we’d have missed everything.

Advice

People are different. Couples are different. They’re different individually and as a couple. As a wedding photographer – capturing your couple for who they are is an absolute key. Even if it turns out to not be your “standard” type. It makes for such a fresh challenge and turns out of images.

If a couple is not so much the romantic type – focus more on them having fun together with movement, games, and even teasing. You can of course try and get those beautiful gentle movements but pay attention to when it’s the right moment and whether your couple has warmed up to the idea.

Never force them to be something they’re not. They will never love those images as much as they should.
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Photographed by

Melli & Shayne

Germany Canon 5D Mark IV Canon 50mm f/1.2 L
We are Melli & Shayne, a couple coming from vastly different worlds but have been inseparable ever since we met in Zanzibar. We have been passionately capturing love stories since 2014 and have loved every step of the way. We love to meet fellow photographers, to share our knowledge amongst a bottle (or two) of wine and support every one wherever we can.
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