Moments
#1 Prepare beforehand and recce the location
thoroughly
This one
has a lot of moving parts, so we’ll get right to it. The basic is of course,
while you’re waiting for the bride to get ready – and you know this is a LOT of
time – move around and recce the location for good spots. Keep in mind that the
location you finalise should NOT be too far from where the bride is because if
you have just five minutes, you don’t want to spend all of them walking over to
the location and then getting only a minute for one shot.
The next
thing to figure out is your lightmap based on your location. Are you shooting
in the bride’s room, outside, in the dark at night, in early or harsh
daylight? Whatever the situation is, keep your light set-up ready
beforehand. Place one of your team members as the subject, test the shot and
have it ready before the bride is. Remember, you have only 5-10 minutes to get
some amazing bridal portraits, so don’t waste the time by setting up your light
after the bride comes.
#2 Keep a few go-to poses in your mind
When you
know you don’t have much time in hand, you know it’s also definitely not the
time to experiment with poses. Don’t waste the time you do have to get your
bride into some complicated set-up. With time running out and stress levels
running high, your job is to keep things simple and worry-free for your bride.
You also don’t want to draw up a blank on directing her when she’s ready for
her portraits. A photographer who doesn’t know what to do doesn’t really
inspire confidence. So have a basic list of 4-5 easy-to-do poses burned in your
mind. Of course, if you get your safety shots and are still left with a few
minutes, go ahead and experiment a little. But do get your basics done first.
#3 Be clear and direct with your instructions
We know
we keep emphasising about time, but that’s exactly what this post is about. If
you only have a few minutes, know that the bride will also be in a hurry. So be
clear and precise with your instructions. Tell your bride exactly how to want
her to stand, where to place her hand, which direction to look in and what facial
expression to go for. Be direct, but keep your tone relaxed and friendly. Your
bride will be stressed enough as it is, and you don’t want to add to her
tension. Now if you have #2 from above sorted, you will know how to guide the
bride as well.
#4 When in trouble, keep your bag of tricks handy
If after
going on a recce, you find out that the location is not that gorgeous, then
it’s time to pull some tricks out of your bag. First, see if there are any of
the usual techniques that you can use for a portrait. Are there any trees, tall
plants or flowers around for a shoot-through image? Have you been lucky with
time and there’s an amazing sunset you can use for a silhouette shot? Any water
fountain or reflective body around for a reflection shot? If it’s the middle of
the day and the light is harsh, can you think of an interesting contrast image?
Or how about playing with shadows, or planning high-key shots with a large
blank wall? If nothing in your surroundings inspire you, then fall back on your
bag of trinkets. We have always suggested that photographers keep a few things
handy to add an element into a photograph if the location is not encouraging.
Anything from battery powered fairy lights and shiny pom-poms to mirrors, lens
balls, and prisms can do the trick. Our bag of these little devices has always
saved the day in a hot spot.
So there
you go! Our two cents about shooting a bride when you have just 5 minutes.
Remember to keep a calm exterior first and foremost, even if you’re panicking
on the inside. Your demeanor and calmness will help the bride stay positive and
the session will go much smoother and be more rewarding. Tell us what you think
about our tips and if you think there’s anything else we can add to the list,
do let us know!