Winter is a magical time of year. The sight of morning dew provides a unique, ethereal effect, whereas the snow and frost makes for a captivating backdrop for almost any subject. This, in combination with the excitement and romance of a winter wedding, is a recipe for potentially capturing your best work.
This time of year can present lots of challenges when it comes to photography, as the colder seasons bring about early evenings and fickle weather that can thwart a good photo opportunity. Despite this, with the right skills and know-how, you can use the winter weather to your advantage and capture some truly special photography.
If you’re fortunate enough to have the chance to capture a winter wedding, here are some useful tips to help you make the most of the big day.
Make the most of natural light
On the shortest day of the year the sun can set as early as 4pm, so careful planning is needed to make sure you can utilise the natural lighting on the big day.
To do this, it’s best to check sunrise and sunset times in your area and see how they match up with the wedding day schedule. This information can be found well in advance, using websites such as TimeandDate.com to find accurate timings.
This allows you to plan your day accordingly and coerce with the bride and groom, to get great shots whilst the sun is still out to play.
Don’t forget to wrap up warm
Weddings on the whole usually involve a lot of waiting around. As the photographer, you’ll have to comply with all the waiting as well as taking extra time to make sure you get the best shots.
If you’re shooting an outdoor wedding, it’s crucial that you wrap up and keep yourself warm and toasty amidst the waiting around and during the photoshoots. This can also help you to stay focused on the task hand, rather than thinking about when you’ll next be cosy and warm inside!
Be prepared
Whilst this may seem a little bit vague, ‘be prepared’ applies to all aspects of the big day. Some of the main ways that you can prepare includes:
- Visiting the venue in advance to assess the lighting
- Shooting test photos
- Communicating with the bride and groom to see what they want from you and what you’ll need from them to make that happen
- Bringing your whole kit, plus spares (e.g. batteries, lens hoods, lenses, flash etc)
- Relax and enjoy the day
Being prepared allows you to enjoy the day without fretting about what could go wrong. This is essential as a happy photographer, makes for a happy married couple which of course, results in sensational photos!
Look after your equipment
In winter, especially in the UK, it’s difficult to predict the weather conditions that will get thrown your way. Cold temperatures, rain, sleet, hail and snow can all damage your equipment in one way or another.
A custom-foam insert case from The Case Farm, can give your kit the ultimate protection from the harsh weather that winter can sometimes bring.
Be sure to take this on your wedding shoot, as well as any other outdoor photography sessions to keep your camera equipment protected at all times.
