20 13 July 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113Technique
Tiree Dawson
Tiree is a self-taught photographer who has
now been a professional for over 10 years.
She currently shoots around 80 weddings a
year and produces images for over 40 clients.
Go to http://www.tireedawson.co.uk or follow
her on Instagram at @tireedawson.Wedding portraits
Tiree Dawson shares her six top
tips for capturing cracking shots on
a couple’s special dayLook for the
best light
Posed wedding portraits
of the bride and groom
are one of the few parts
of the day where you have
a choice over the lighting
and location of the shots
you are taking. Make the
most of this freedom by
picking an area where the
light is fl attering and suits
the mood of the couple
and the wedding. It could
be soft, playful or dramatic
but you should have a
sense of what will work
well for them and for you.
Use quieter times of the
day to effi ciently scope
out locations and light
(these may change at any
time, so keep this at the
back of your mind). Even
if you are quite familiar
with a venue and work at it
frequently, it’s important to
do this as conditions can
change dramatically from
one day to the next, so
be fully prepared to keep
adapting to the conditions.Study composition and colour
Invest time in gaining an understanding of the rules
of composition and colour theory – even if it’s just
to play around with breaking them! When you see
an image you should note how the photographer
used form and colour and to what effect.Experiment
For each section of the wedding day I will always get the
‘safe’ shots fi rst, as these are essential in documenting
the event. If I do this effi ciently, however, I know that
I’ll get to use any remaining time to up the creativity
levels. Don’t be afraid to tell your client when you’re
experimenting. If you’re behaving oddly holding things
up in front of the lens or rolling around on the fl oor then
it’s much better to communicate why rather than to lose
their trust. If they know you’ve got the safe shots in the
bag then they are usually happy to play along in the
name of creativity and the chance of something unique.ALL PICTURES ON PAGES 20 -21 © TIREE DAWSON