Lighting
Wedding photography lighting
Wedding lighting is eight scenarios stitched into one day — dark ceremonies, overcast formals, golden-hour portraits, mixed reception, dance floor. Each has settings you can dial in ahead of time. Combine with the classic portrait lighting patterns for anything staged.
| Scenario | Settings | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Dark ceremony (chapel, barn) | ISO 3200–6400, f/2.8, 1/125s. Meter for the couple's faces; let stained glass blow. | Never use flash in a ceremony without written permission. |
| Bright outdoor ceremony | ISO 100–400, f/4, 1/500s+. Fill card on the couple if sun is behind them. | Backlight is your friend at 3pm; front-light is squinting. |
| Formals in overcast | ISO 200–400, f/5.6, 1/250s. Perfect soft light — turn the group away from the brightest patch of sky. | Watch tree shadows on faces. |
| Golden-hour portraits | ISO 200–800, f/2.8, 1/200s. Backlit, expose for the face. | 40 minutes before sunset. Book it as a fixed appointment. |
| Reception details | ISO 800–3200, f/2.8, 1/125s. Off-camera flash on a stand behind a table for rim. | Shoot every detail before guests enter. |
| Speeches | ISO 1600–6400, f/2.8, 1/200s. Bounce flash off the ceiling if it's white and low. | Two-body: 24-70 on speaker, 70-200 on couple's reaction. |
| First dance | ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/125s. Off-camera flash rim-lit from opposite corner + on-camera fill. | Ask the DJ to keep the smoke machine to a cameo. |
| Sparkler exit | ISO 3200–6400, f/2.8, 1/125s. On-camera flash at −1 stop. Drag shutter 1/15s for trails. | Rehearse the run — one take usually. |
FAQ
What ISO should I shoot a wedding ceremony at?
Modern full-frame cameras handle ISO 3200–6400 cleanly. In a dark church, don't be afraid to push — sharp and slightly noisy beats blurred and clean.
Do I need off-camera flash for weddings?
For dance-floor and sparkler exits, yes — a single OCF on a stand transforms low-light reception frames. Everywhere else you can survive on natural light + on-camera bounce.
How do you shoot sparkler exits?
ISO 3200, f/2.8, 1/125s with on-camera flash at −1 stop. Or drag shutter to 1/15s for light trails. Rehearse the run so guests know when to light the sparklers.
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