Features of photography in cloudy weather
Many photographers believe that cloudy weather will only benefit the newlyweds. However, in rainy weather there is a huge risk of damaging the equipment. First of all, you need to provide protection for the lens, otherwise the quality of the photo will suffer greatly. If the photo shoot takes place outdoors, then small umbrellas, special cases and round lens hoods are an excellent way to protect the camera.
Technique. Camera settings are the basics. After the equipment is protected from moisture, it is worth taking care of the technical side of the issue. First of all, pay attention to the shutter speed: a long one is ideal for shooting rain streams, and a short one will capture circles on the water, bubbles and drops.
Almost always, in such conditions, natural lighting deteriorates. Therefore, you should resort to artificial light - the pictures will turn out clear and atmospheric.
Useful tips
- Use reflections in puddles. Shots with this natural effect always look decent. The most important thing is to choose the right camera angle.
- If you get caught in heavy, pouring rain, your photos will turn out as realistic as possible. And a thunderstorm can add drama to your shots. Raindrops will be more clearly visible if you install a flash behind the newlyweds.
- City lights in the rain look mesmerizing in the pictures. Take a photo near beautiful lanterns or creative shop windows in the evening. The result will definitely pleasantly surprise you.
- Focus on the gray sky. Most people associate gray skies with a bad mood. But experienced photographers know that it allows you to reduce the contrast in your pictures. Human figures will look much more impressive under gray clouds than under a clear sky.
- Rainbow. Those who catch this natural phenomenon during their wedding will be lucky. Photos taken against her background turn out magical and mesmerizing.
Lucky omen
Previously, weddings took place after the harvest, that is, in the fall, when rains were a frequent occurrence. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that rain on a wedding day was a good omen. This was associated with a bountiful harvest after the rain, that is, the life of the young was supposed to be rich and happy.
Ideas if you don't want to get wet
These options may be useful for those who are suddenly caught in bad weather. Most often, newlyweds choose different rooms:
- Photo studio. The most obvious option. Rent a room for a few hours with an interesting interior and additional lighting that will highlight important details. Some photographers suggest moving immediately to your photography studio after it starts to rain.
- Palaces of culture, art galleries, antique salons. Massive columns, frescoes, vintage interiors - everything is created for an elegant, magnificent and solemn wedding.
- Cafes, bars and restaurants. A popular option that allows you to create an atmosphere of coziness and comfort. And if it’s summer, you can sit on the veranda or terrace.
- Shopping centers. Today, the architecture of these premises is striking in its originality. The large areas of the shopping center will allow you to arrange a photo shoot on a grand scale, without disturbing strangers.
- Hotel number. Rent a suite for the whole day. It will be useful not only for the first wedding night, but also for a daytime photo shoot.
- Automobile. Quite a winning option in rainy weather. Thanks to wet glass, photographs will be filled with mystery and charm. This is a timeless classic.
The author of this video suggests going to the library or billiards.
What to do if it rains on your wedding day
Are you worried that it will rain on your wedding day and ruin everything? Then you can calm down a little - since you are here, it means you decided to prepare in advance for weather surprises - and this is already 80% of success. Now read our article carefully and no rain can stop your wedding.
After all, we have collected a lot of useful tips and ideas for you on what to do if it rains on your wedding day. They also asked Maria Korpusova, a presenter and organizer who has held and organized many weddings with rain, to share her lifehacks.
To prevent rain on your wedding day from turning into a disaster, you need:
Keep calm and good mood . If you start to panic, cry and get upset, this will immediately affect the mood of the groom and those around him. Nervous guests and assistants are not the best situation for a wedding.
And the photographs will turn out constrained, sad - after all, emotions will appear in the photographs in any case. Therefore, remember the most important rule - no matter what happens, keep a good mood.
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Expert advice:
In general, a bad mood at a wedding is a disaster. This is such a short and exciting day that even in a good mood you don’t have time to enjoy it. And if you focus on the bad, you won’t have time to remember anything.
If the rain suddenly catches you on a walk, this is also not a reason to be upset. Wake up your inner child and walk through the puddles - you’ll get bright photos (of course, this is not the best idea for autumn and spring, but for summer it’s perfect).
Photo: Svetlana (Light Goes Out)
Prepare a backup plan . Even if there is little chance of rain on your wedding day, still discuss:
- with a photographer - alternative places if you plan to shoot outdoors (canopy, room, photo studio)
- with decorators - is it possible to move the decor indoors (if the ceremony is planned in an open area)
- with a restaurant - is it possible to install a canopy or tent in case of rain (if, again, the banquet or buffet will be outdoors)
Expert advice:
We always recommend that the bride make the final decision a couple of days before the wedding - whether to order a tent or move the banquet to the hall or to the veranda. This allows the team not to make spontaneous and sometimes hasty decisions on the wedding day.
Have a set of cosmetics and napkins with you to touch up your makeup if necessary. Also, if you see rain in the forecast a day or two before your wedding, talk to your makeup artist and hairstylist about the longevity of your makeup and hairstyle.
Prepare umbrellas (ideally also for guests, if it is not possible to move the ceremony under a canopy). Transparent umbrellas are ideal - they will protect you from the rain, but at the same time you will get beautiful photos.
A black classic or white umbrella will also look good.
Expert advice:
Indeed, umbrellas are a good plan “B”. The cost of renting them is not so high, and you can hide under them not only in the rain, but also in sunny weather.
Complete your look
(if necessary). For example, if you are going to take photos in the rain and will not cancel your wedding walk, prepare nice rubber boots.
Be flexible and adapt to circumstances. It is unlikely that it will rain all day. Therefore, be ready to change the day’s plan on the fly (ideally, if you have an organizer or coordinator - then all the worries will fall on her shoulders). For example, stay a little longer for a photo shoot or, conversely, leave guests at the banquet for 30-40 minutes and take photos if the rain stopped just then.
However, there is another solution - if it rains on your wedding day, reschedule the photo shoot to another day. Yes, you will have to pay for the services of a makeup artist and hairdresser again. But as a result, you will get beautiful photographs, you will not worry about the condition and appearance of the dress, makeup and hairstyle.
Expert advice:
Being loyal to circumstances, not worrying and accepting the situation with humor is an art. But drinking validol and crying is not the solution. The rain won't stop. There have been cases when rains have drowned restaurants; They cut off the electricity in the neighborhood where the restaurant is located. But this did not upset the couple. One even jumped into the pool at the end - everything was still wet :).
As you can see, rain on your wedding day is not a disaster at all, but a completely solvable weather feature.
Poses for the bride and groom
This moment is perhaps the most important in the entire photo shoot. Of course, a good photographer knows what poses will make for great photos, but you should have several options in your arsenal that you can be 100% confident in.
- Face to face. Some of the most tender wedding shots are those in which the newlyweds look at each other. Such photos are most romantic when taken in a long shot, however, even a close-up will not spoil the shots.
- Holding hands. You can walk in the rain along a beautiful alley, or you can hide under an umbrella - there are many options for this pose. Choose places where there are no large crowds of people, then this pose will look doubly advantageous. As if no one around exists for these two, the Universe belongs only to them. Shots in which hands are captured close-up look great. Such photos look very touching.
- The groom carries the bride in his arms. This option is suitable only for those who are confident in their abilities. Just taking the bride in your arms and not dropping her is not enough. For good photos you need to pose, so you will have to hold your loved one in your arms for a while. For such shots, a long shot would be appropriate. And in the rain, such photographs look much more impressive.
- Embrace. This pose can be played out in different ways. In rainy weather, hugs under an umbrella will look appropriate - this attribute will serve as a kind of shelter for two, creating a “separate world” for them. Usually, in this pose, the eyes of lovers are half-closed - this adds romance to the shots.
- Kisses. They can be modest, romantic, passionate - there is plenty to roam here. A kiss on the bride's forehead or nose looks very sweet and gentle. Kisses in an embrace, with a bride's bouquet or under a veil will look romantic. A close-up will add passion to your photos.
We also suggest that you watch this video and take note of several interesting poses.
Imagine what it will be like
Each wedding has its own characteristics depending on the chosen venue, the number of guests and even the city of the event, so to take into account all possible nuances, visualize the day of the holiday. Will it be convenient for guests to travel from the ceremony area to the banquet location during a thunderstorm? Where can they leave their wet umbrellas? Will they need replacement shoes?
Consider these little things in advance so that you don’t get distracted from the celebration on your wedding day. If you have a wedding planner, discuss these issues with them to find the right solution.
Recommendations for newlyweds
- Use only waterproof cosmetics and strong hair fixatives. Professional makeup artists have long been able to apply makeup in such a way that it not only lasts all day, but also does not run due to the rain.
- Spray your clothes with a moisture-repellent spray before going outside. This will help keep things from getting wet.
- Be sure to take extra pairs of shoes, stockings and socks. Unfortunately, water will definitely get into your shoes, and then your whole day risks being ruined. And if it’s autumn, there’s a risk of catching a cold.
With these simple tips, your looks will be perfect for the rest of the day.
Watch your shutter speed
If you're not using flash to freeze falling drops, make sure you choose a shutter speed that's fast enough to catch them. It will most likely be 1/500 of a second or faster.
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Interesting ideas for wedding photos
- Umbrellas. An indispensable thing when it rains. We have already said above that the presence of an umbrella must be provided in any case. But for great shots, the idea with one large umbrella under which the lovers hid is well suited. The couple can take a chance and take a photo without an umbrella, while the guests will be sheltered from the rain under bright umbrellas - this will serve as an excellent backdrop.
The groom's jacket can serve as an "umbrella"
- Photos in the boat. If there is a body of water nearby with boat rentals, you are in luck. In rainy weather, a couple in love will look good in such an environment. The gray sky contrasts well with the water, so the pictures will turn out rich and even dramatic.
- Dance of the young. In the evening, under the light of city lights, the dance of lovers looks very beautiful. Try to capture the most graceful movements, because this is one of the most beautiful moments of the entire wedding. Dancing in the rain itself looks more fascinating than dancing in a banquet hall.
The weather is ready to present a “gift” at any moment in the form of thunderstorms and heavy rain. But you shouldn’t worry about this, because a photo shoot in the rain is incredibly romantic. Many couples deliberately choose the time of year so that precipitation is more likely to occur. In addition, the sign says that rain at a wedding brings happiness and money.
Provide for all the nuances, and no downpour can ruin the happiest day. And a professional photographer will be able to turn bad weather into a real companion for beautiful shots.
Prepare more umbrellas
Surely half of the guests will be without umbrellas. And the other half will bring umbrellas of different colors, checkered and polka dotted. And they will all appear in your photos. If you want your photos to turn out stylish even in such weather, prepare your umbrellas in all the colors of the rainbow or in the shades of the wedding.
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Prepare in advance so your wedding in the rain will be great. Remember the main thing - as long as the bride and groom are happy and smiling, family and friends will enjoy the celebration. Gloomy newlyweds, saddened by the weather, will upset even the most optimistic guests.
