Winter weddings - getting the best winter wedding photos
For many people, getting married in the winter brings with it a little nervousness. There is always a worry in the back of their minds that their photographs may not turn out great. A lack of sunshine, bad weather and simply the fact that the light goes earlier can all add to a sense of gloom. But I love a winter wedding, and I think if you know what you’re working with, you can have the perfect day - and the perfect wedding photos to go with it. If you’re considering planning a wedding at this time of year, I can help dispel some of these worries by sharing some of my winter wedding photography tips with you.
Choosing the right photographer for your winter wedding
Your winter wedding photographs will not be great if you don’t choose the right photographer. With that in mind you need to find a wedding photographer who isn't afraid of the harder winter light, and that means not forgetting to ask to see samples of winter weddings they have already covered.
Fewer hours of light during the day can make winter wedding photography tricky, but not impossible! The right photographer will know this, understand the limitations placed on them by time and also how to use flash photography to their advantage.
And don’t forget that if you set a winter date over the Christmas period it may very well work to your advantage. Weekday wedding prices are always a good bit less expensive and lots of people already have time off work over the festive season!
Winter light and getting great winter weddding photos
Like Jack Frost, a winter wedding photographer needs to be able to move swiftly, and that isn't just because of the light. The cold can also play a factor in this as well - no one wants to see the wedding party turning blue! Incorporating a few photographs in the light and once it starts to get dark into your shoot really isn't difficult. What you do want to avoid however is having ALL of your photos taken in the dark, even though you will get some fantastic results.
The weather
There is, of course, no getting away from the fact that it can be a little rainy in the winter in the UK, although to be honest, even summer weddings are not always rain free. This, combined with the colder weather can of course mean that your guests will not want to be outside for too long and you can't blame them!
This brings up the question of group photographs, do you want them and if you do, is there somewhere inside that can be used for this if the weather isn't great? This is certainly something to factor into your venue search.
It may be that extra lighting will be needed to make the most of the situation so do check that this is something your photographer will be able to provide.
Of course, if there is just a little bit of cold then shrugs make great accessories with wedding attire and make for some stunning photographs.
Make light a feature of your winter wedding
While the winter may not bless you in the natural light department there are a couple of ways that light can work really well in your winter wedding photographs.
Sparklers, for example, can add a special touch to outdoor photographs and can be good for both the newlyweds and guests to get involved. In fact it is much easier to get great photography with sparklers in the winter because you don’t have to wait too long for it to get darker, and that means you won't have to pay your photographer to stay later to get those all-important evening shots.
Inside, you could also consider candles, which again add a different sort of light and one that is more associated with the winter period.
All of this can help to add some ambiance in the background of your photographs offering you a very interesting array of photographs for your wedding album.
If you’re thinking of booking your wedding in the colder months and want to know how the right winter wedding photography can bring your big day to life, then look no further. I’d be happy to share some of my favourite shots with you as inspiration for your big day!
