5 Tips for Taking Photos at a Wedding in the Mountains
Photographing a wedding is a stressful profession. The job becomes even more challenging when the couple chooses a destination wedding. If you’re new to photographing location weddings, here are five tips for taking breathtaking photos at a wedding in the mountains.
Research the Venue Beforehand
Having a plan for the big day is crucial. After all, most couples need ideas and posing directions. As the photographer, you must have a vision beforehand. Visiting the venue and venturing through the mountains allows you to experiment with poses and locations.
Perhaps you spot a gorgeous location that the couple doesn’t know about. For example, there are several stunning waterfalls to visit in the Poconos Mountains. This could make for incredible, breathtaking photos at a wedding in the mountains. It’s a unique landscape and a memory they’ll always cherish.
Experiment With Different Angles
During the wedding ceremony isn’t the time for experimentation. However, when photographing the couple following the ceremony, don’t shy away from trying something new.
Get the shot you’re looking for, then move around the location while the couple stays in position to search for a new angle. It will capture the couple in a different light. You never know when your experimentation may lead to creating the couple’s favorite photo from the day.
Pack Portable and Lightweight Gear
On a typical wedding day, you can bring a lot of gear and store it on location. Photographing a wedding in the mountains is a little different, though.
You’re most likely hiking from location to location. You don’t have outlets available to plug in. It’s important to bring only what you need so that it doesn’t slow you down.
Bring a few lenses, flashes, a tripod, a reflector, backup batteries, and SD cards. Practice using these items ahead of time so that you feel ready for the challenge.
Understand the Time of Day You’re Shooting
The lighting impacts everything about the shoot! The aperture, ISO, and shutter speed are the primary settings that will impact the amount of light entering the lens. Adjusting these settings and positioning the subjects based on the sunlight is an essential part of your job.
When the sun is at its peak around noon, you may experience harsh shadows and contrast. That’s when using a diffuser or shooting the couple in the shade works nicely!
If you’re shooting at a golden-hour sunset, you may have too much backlight. You may need to slightly lower the shutter speed to let in more light or add a flash. However, this is one of the easiest times of the day to shoot at because the sun doesn’t shine too harshly. It’s an effortless time of day that’s perfect for shooting weddings.
Bring Along the Essentials To Protect Yourself
Even though it’s a wedding day, you’re still planning to conduct a hike across tough terrain. There are some items you’ll need to do the job efficiently and safely, including
Hiking boots
Water
Nutritious snacks
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Keeping yourself protected and comfortable is the only way to conduct a successful session. You must withstand the mountainous terrain while taking stunning photos of the gorgeous couple.
Practice your skills beforehand and ensure that you have the proper gear to make the day run smoothly. When it comes time to edit, you’ll feel proud of your incredible work photographing a destination wedding!