We all know the importance of having an excellent wedding photographer for your wedding (if not, then click here to be enlightened). But even though the wedding photographer and their skills are an integral part to achieving perfect wedding photos, the venue itself will obviously dictate the quality of those photos as well. And one area of focus in particularly can really make or break your wedding photos, regardless of where your venue is, and that is the lighting.
Lighting is an important aspect of any photograph, for a wedding or otherwise, because it directly determines how clear the picture is. There’s a reason that so many phone companies now are working on and marketing cameras for low-light photography and that is because people want to be able to have decent pictures even in the evening when it is relatively dark compared to a daytime photo.
So when it comes to your wedding, which is arguably your most important day in your life, you need to make sure that the lighting is absolutely perfect for the kind of photos you want to achieve. If you are having an outdoor wedding, then there is really no concern, so let’s get that out of the way. As long as the weather is picture perfect, your photos will come out amazing (assuming you have the right wedding photographer).
However, if you have your wedding indoors, then you need to take special precautions. Ideally, there is plenty of outside light coming through to the wedding ceremony, as is the case when you have large windows. But if you don’t have such windows to help bring in enough outside light, then you need to make sure to use enough artificial lighting to help light up everything that you want photographed, including the alter, the aisle and just about everything else to be honest.
And if your wedding is at night, then even more so you will need to ensure that the artificial lighting is not just directed at the right places, but that they are powerful enough to really showcase everything in a clear view that is suitable for picture-taking. Otherwise, your pictures will look muddy and dull, even with the best photographer in the world.
Speaking of your wedding photographer, it would be a good idea to check with him on the camera specs that he will be using for your wedding. Although you don’t have to claim to be an expert, just tell him that you want to put an emphasis on the lighting and that he or she should tell you about any special lighting requirements that he suggests to help make the pictures as perfect as they can be. In many cases, their camera will be specifically chosen for your wedding venue and the lighting that will be present on your special day, but it will not hurt to ask for any other suggestions. After all, the more you help him, the better your wedding photos will turn out.
So never forget how important lighting is at your wedding. As long as you are aware of its significance, you will be well on your way to ensuring that your wedding photos are truly picture-perfect!