- almost kiss
- calm
- Carry
- Center Framed
- Close up
- holding each other
- Intimate Framing
- Natural Light
- Pick up
- Portrait
- Relaxed
- Rim Light
- romantic
- Soft Light
- Sunset
The story behind the image
When we started, the sun was still a bit too high and strong so we worked our way through shaded areas until we got to this open field as the sun was just about to set. It worked out perfectly and even better was that when we brought our couple back, all the guests celebrated & welcomed their return! It made for some awesome shots too!
Directions
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
We asked our groom to pick up his bride (by forming a “chair” with his crossed arms) and to hold her up high, and close. We also told our bride to try and relax as much as she can and to just rest her arms around his neck. Once they were up, we encouraged them to get in close, lean their foreheads, and slowly turn in a circle; just enjoying the moment together.
What did you say?
Move in closer you guys, and completely forget about us. Just enjoy this moment, and even turn around slowly. As if you were doing a very slow, but beautiful dance. You can even lean your foreheads together, and give each other a gentle smile, a kiss, a whisper… you do you
Tone of Directions
Calm
Composition
Since this moment between our couple was incredibly romantic, we couldn’t help but want to frame this close up. After getting our wide shots, we quickly moved in while not disturbing the moment and filled the frame with our couple – paying close attention to keep their faces in the top third. We did this because it feels a lot more balanced and natural to have the heads higher, and filling what would have been empty space above them.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
Focusing was very straight forward here, and we simply moved our points over the smile of our groom. Since our couple was pretty much at the same focal distance, both of them would equally be sharp. Every few shots we made sure to refocus just to be sure we were getting the focus we wanted.
Focus Mode
Single Shot Autofocus
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
The Grooms face
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/1000 @ f/2.5 ISO800 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
The sun had just set behind some trees out of frame, and we used this low-level sun to backlight our couple. We did this because it was still a bit too strong to use from the sides. We also kept the sun just out of frame since we did try have it flare, but realized it washed out everything a bit too much.
Light Type
Natural Light
Time of day
Sunset
Editing Workflow
How did you edit 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.
Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Preset Used
Challenges
One of the challenges we faced was making sure our bride felt and looked as comfortable as she could while being picked up. It’s very easy for things to start looking a bit too stiff / staged during a pickup.
Solutions
What helped was to first allow them their space by starting to shoot wide and then moving on in closer. We also asked them for movement; turning around slowly, leaning their foreheads together, rubbing their noses together etc… Those little actions help to take the mind off of “the pose” and more on “the moment & action”
Location
Location Name
Gut Dietersberg
Location aDDRESS
Gut Dietersberg, Dietersberg 1, 92539 Schönsee
Loation Type
Wedding / Event Venue
Country
Germany
If you can get your couple shoot to happen an hour or so before dinner, then you’re definitely increasing your chances of getting some amazing light to work with. It also works out great because your couple can be joyfully welcomed by the wedding guests as they arrive at the Dinner (makes for some awesome shots!)
If you can, be on your feet the whole time during the couple shoot. Move-in close, move out back to get wide shots, circle around your couple, and basically, do a little dance with your couple. It really ups your chances of getting some really intimate and diverse photos for your couple.
