One of the most important skills I've learned during years of photographing weddings is not only to adapt to the elements and situations that are thrown at me on any given day, but more importantly, to use them, good or bad, to create a unique look and feel for a wedding. I have found that staying true to shooting a wedding as a document can lead me down photographic roads that I could never have reached if I tried to stick to some more consistent technique from wedding to wedding.
Some days take unexpected turns. Take Dani and Jamie’s wedding at Shelburne Farms. The situation could not have sounded more ideal: a beautiful couple, marrying at one of the finest locations in Vermont, during one of the most perfect times of the year. I had met with them a few times before the wedding and we planned how all the events of the day would be captured. Stunning views of Shelburne Farms and its amazing lake-and-mountains backdrops would be a prominent part of the day.
Unfortunately, their wedding day happened to be one of the wettest of the season. I know they were probably feeling the same way most couples do when their hopes of a beautiful, sunny wedding are dashed by temperamental Vermont weather. Rain does make shooting a bit tricky: conditions become wet and muddy, which makes photographing outside difficult, and indoor settings can be very dark. This was certainly not the first time I have been faced with rainy conditions, but I have to admit, I was a little bummed about not being able to take full advantage of such an ideal situation. But I stayed true to my mantra as elements unique to the day began to emerge, and the true story of Dani and Jamie's wedding began to reveal itself.
I started to see the day not as dark and gloomy, but rather rich and dramatic. The pre-ceremony mood was tense because of the weather. But for me, these emotions were so heightened that they enhanced the pictures, making my ultimate shooting goal of catching emotion successful from the start. At one point I was with Dani and her sisters in probably the darkest room at Shelburne Farms, right before the ceremony was to commence. The only light source was a dim illumination coming through a doorway. I thought I'd never get a shot. As I began to capture the situation, the rich lighting created a look that was an amazing enhancement to the dramatic mood that almost always comes right before a ceremony.
I have to say that these are some of my favorite wedding images of all time.
To shoot outside or to not shoot outside...
Definitely shoot outside.
Look Mom, no umbrella.
The sun finally makes its big appearance.
Mission accomplished.
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