WEDDING PLANNING RESOURCES

WEDDING

LIGHTING

EXPLAINED

situations

Lighting

Mid- day light

Early Afternoon

Golden Hour

SOFTER - GREAT FOR BRIGHT COLORS

VERY BIGHT, OFTEN HARSH

AKA SUNSET & THE BEST LIGHT

So why don’t you just leave it all up to your photographer? Well, we always ask our clients to describe their relationship (so as to get an idea of their aesthetic), but also suggest that couples book an engagement shoot with their photographer, so that the images end up truly matching your vibe. But as photographers, we can’t change the weather or the venue. We can adapt our gear to enhance the lighting under certain scenarios. Flashes, although my least favorite piece of equipment (gotta love that natural light!!!), are useful in illuminating dark scenes once the sun goes down, but beware— not all venues allow the use of flashes, and there’s nothing quite like seeing spots after staring right into a camera flash! I much prefer continuous lighting, such as spotlights, or light panels, but the downside here is that some guests may not like having a constant bright light shining in their faces (trade-offs, always a trade-off). Regardless of your lighting situation, we usually bring along all our lighting equipment, especially for toasts, cake cutting, and dances (which usually are after the sun goes down).

flash

PHOTOGRAPHY

First dance photo at Hawaii Wedding Reception

While planning your own wedding, venue choice is obviously an important decision. In terms of lighting, so many great weddings can be unintentionally altered by venues with poor light. Do a walk-through of your venue (if possible) at the same time of your ceremony (we’ll even go with you to understand your vision). Try to avoid rooms illuminated by a single giant window (this creates back-lighting issues where only your silhouette is visible, chapels are notorious for this— and usually don’t allow flashes). Make sure you know where the sun will be setting. See whether or not you will be standing in direct sunlight, under shaded trees, or even worse, a mixture of both (shadowy groom and sunlit bride won’t turn out well)!

Back-lit venues lead to dark silhouettes

Before

After

GET IN TOUCH WITH US

ambiance

Uplighting &

So we have our venue, can we decorate to enhance the lighting? Absolutely! This should be a top priority for rentals. Yeah, you need tables and chairs. But you also need lighting, and plenty of it! Chances are, even if your venue is well-lit, it’s not the type of light you want (Kualoa Ranch, I’m talking to you with your fluorescent bulbs everywhere). If you ask me, my favorite types of lights are generally the cheapest— candles and sparklers! Kelsi bought over 300 candles in bulk for our wedding (you can rent them from us for way cheaper), and we had no need for those icky fluorescent lights. Plus, the summer ambiance with candlelit everything made the mood so magical! We’ve seen everything from paper lanterns and tent chandeliers, to colorful up-lighting that syncs to the music. If you’re having a DJ, dance floor lights, lasers, and effects are a fun add-on (plus they’ll make your dancing photos that much more epic). Your budget is ultimately your choice, but too many times have we seen weddings that have prioritized other decorative aspects, while cutting some corners by not having enough lighting. I strongly suggest that each couple evaluates their lighting budget, working with your wedding coordinator and photographers to ensure that the lighting is perfect!