Available light photography at weddings 173
Photographing the bride’s preparation usually involves working
in the small space of a hotel suite or bride’s room at a church. The
room can be overfl owing with moms, grandmas, fl ower girls, and
all their stuff, depending on the size of the bridal party. Seldom
is a long lens, such as the 70–200 mm, needed. A wide lens or
wide-angle zoom and a mid-range lens should suffi ce. The 16–
35 mm f/2.8 L II Canon zoom is a good example for the wide one
and either the Canon 24–70 mm f/2.8 L zoom or a fi xed-focal-
length lens such as the Canon 85 mm f/1.2 L II should cover the
long end. Don’t overlook the detail-shot possibilities here, such
as the bride’s shoes, any special jewelry, heirlooms from a grand-
parent, and her gifts for the bridesmaids. The wedding dress can
generate a beautiful photograph as it hangs or drapes over a chair
or the bed. The photograph of the veil as it lay draped over the
bed at the Grant-Humphries Mansion in Denver is made more
interesting by the light pouring in from the window.
Shooting facial refl ections in mirrors was part of the old-school
wedding photography, but it can still be done—more effectively,
we might add, using the available light around the mirrors. As a
documentary photographer, you’ve got to work quickly to pho-
tograph both the full-length shot of the bridesmaids helping the
bride make fi nal adjustments to her dress and a tight close-up
as they hook buttons. Using two cameras, with a different focal-
length lens on each, is one way to accomplish this. The bride is
always the main subject in wedding photography, but don’t
overlook the images of those around her, because they’re an
important part of the story as well. The little girl passes the time
before the ceremony petting and photographing the dog. Morning
light coming through the window provided the illumination.
It’s a different story with the groom and groomsmen. They often
show up already in tuxedos and it takes more patience to get the
storytelling images as they hang out waiting for the ceremony to
start. Using a second photographer at weddings is quite common,
so that both bride and groom prep can be covered without missing
a beat. Oftentimes colleagues with similar photography styles
will help one another, acting as second shooters when they’re not
booked on the same day with their own wedding. This is a win-
win situation because couples get extra coverage and the second
photographer, without having the pressure of being the primary
photogrpaher, has fun looking for interesting angles.
Tender moments can be photographed as bride and her dad
prepare to walk down the aisle. The same holds true as you
photograph the groom when he sees his bride for the fi rst time,
walking down the aisle. There are only a few precious seconds
to swing the camera from the bride and her dad over to capture
the groom’s expression.
If the church allows the photographer to roam about during the
ceremony, it’s a good idea to get a wide-angle view from the back,