Create Epic Wedding Portraits with Flash
I love working with my couples to create stunning portraits on their wedding day. While we do photos during their first look and after the ceremony, I also like to sneak away during the reception for even more bride and groom portraits! In the summer, my couples will steal away right at sunset for some dreamy, glowy portraits. But in the winter, when the ceremony and reception are after sunset, that means we get creative with flash for some epic night shots instead. A little backlight goes a long way!
Technical Breakdown for Stunning Night Portraits
Today I’m breaking down two photos taken at my recent NYE wedding so you can create stunning night portraits as well. Hint - you’re going to want a backlight or two! It takes a bit of practice, but I know as you practice more you’ll create some unforgettable portraits.
Setting Up the Scene
As soon as the party dancing started, around 10pm at this NYE wedding, I started gathering my gear and deciding where to place my couple. Once I had a location and vision in mind, my second shooter joined for a quick test shot as the rain was just starting to pick up. This crazy fast portrait session took less than 3 minutes!
The following technical specifications were used for these shots:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Flash Power | 1/32nd |
| Shutter Speed | 1/200 |
| Aperture | f/2 |
| ISO | 2500 |
Lighting Configurations and Positioning
Scenario 1: Stationary Backlighting
Knowing they would be stationary, I decided to place two lights directly behind the couple for some epic backlighting. I wanted to illuminate as much of the rain as possible! The first light is 13 feet tall and 30 feet away, the second light was right behind them and about 3 feet high.
Scenario 2: Movement and Twirls
For the second pose, we wanted a photo that would showcase more of the venue and have movement, so the couple scooted about 10 feet to the side. I placed the two backlights opposite of each other and had the bride twirl a few times. Both lights were roughly 10 feet tall but the light on the right was much closer, so the shadow is more obvious.
Bonus: Snow Portraits
In fact, the happy couple loved the photos so much that after she changed into her dancing dress an hour later, we snuck outside for a few more night portraits. At this point, the rain had turned to snow so it looked even cooler! For the second set of portraits, I only used one backlight and an on-camera flash.
Practical Tips for Success
- Show your couple a few inspirational photos as you’re finalizing their photography timeline.
- See if they’re up for stealing away from the dance floor for a few minutes to create an epic photo.
- Never stress about flash again; learn how to create light and bright reception images with confidence.