- Barn
- Light Beam
- Window Light
- Wide
- Wedding Dress
- symmetry
- streak of light
- Natural Light
- Leading lines
- Center Framed
- Indoors
- Indoor
- hanging dress
- Dress
- dinner room
- Detail
- Wood
The story behind the image
Composition
When I saw the light pouring in from the side I knew I had to line up my shot to compliment it. Hanging the dress in a central location allowed for me to not only create a symmetrical image, but also to capture the light rays coming in from the side.
framing
Center Framed
Focusing
Describe how you spoke to your subject(s)
Focus for this image was easy. I actually used the LCD screen to focus in on the dress using the touch screen. I had to hold the camera up higher, so the viewfinder was not an option.
Focus Mode
Live View Single Shot
Focus POints
Single Point
Focused on
Front of the dress
Equipment &
Exif
Camera
Lens
Flash
Filter
1/2000 @ f/1.4 ISO1600 WB-Cloudy
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
You can only nail this shot at this location if you arrive early enough. The light only appeared for a short window of time. Once we see good lighting, we don’t wait to come back to it, we shoot with it immediately! This was definitely a day I was racing against the clock as the light was changing rapidly. The direct light through the barn window was perfect for the atmosphere to illuminate.
Light Type
Natural Light
Weather
Indoor
Editing Workflow
How did you edit this image?
I wanted to make sure all of the attention was on Amanda’s stunning dress. I started off with using a preset called “West” out of the preset package called “Cascade 02” because it is very versatile while at the same time not completely washing out the colors of the image. The shadows all around it were perfect for making a central subject. I used a radial filter to bring attention direction to her dress by inverting It and bringing down exposure, clarity, and sharpness. I then used a regular radial filter to increase the clarity and texture on the dress. Lastly, I added even more texture, clarity, and sharpness using a brush directly on the dress. I also used the healing tool to get rid of the exit signs hanging out in the shadows. They drew too much attention to themselves for sure.
Editing Software
Adobe Lightroom Classic
Preset Used
Challenges
This image was a little challenging because I didn’t have a ton of time for the dress shot. I had to think fast and on my feet. I also ran into the issue of having people in my shot. I was shooting in the reception venue (on the grounds) during some of the setup.
Solutions
I usually go into a wedding day already looking ahead a places we can shoot a dress or even the couple. I ALWAYS keep my eyes open on the way in. In fact, I usually like showing up 30-45 minutes early just to get my bearings. For the issue with the people in my shot, I pretty much had to be patient and wait. Thankfully the staff was familiar with what I had to accomplish and tried to stay out of my way.
Location
Location Name
The Barn at Hamner Ridge
Location aDDRESS
6315 W Hucklebuck Ln, Edinburgh, IN 46124, United States
Loation Type
Barn
Country
United States
If you’re looking to nail a dress shot, buy atmosphere aerosol and bring it everywhere you go. The way it illuminates light is absolutely stunning and it can transform an image faster than just about anything else.
