Shot in the Dark ― Low-light Techniques for Wedding and Portrait Photography

Wedding photographers are under tremendous pressure to capture high-quality images of once-in-a-lifetime momentsfrom the bride’s preparations, to the ceremony, to the reception and the exit. While portrait photographers working outdoors can schedule clients’ sessions to take advantage of optimal light (typically an hour after sunset and an hour before sunset) and, indoors, can add lights without restriction, wedding photographers aren’t so lucky. They are forced to shoot in low light at some point during every weddingwhether in a poorly lit ceremony venue (where flash is sometimes discouraged) or reception hall or, later in the day, when peak natural light has faded. What’s a photographer to do?

In this book, popular photoeducator Brett Florens introduces you to the best camera settings and metering options for achieving perfect exposures in low light. You’ll learn how to determine the correct shutter speed and aperture combinations to get sufficient light to create an appropriate exposure and produce the creative effects you are after. You will also learn how to finesse your focusing techniques for sharp images in difficult shooting conditions, eliminate the digital noise that often plagues low-light images, and reduce blur from subject motion or camera movementproblems that are prevalent in low-light photography.

Great images rely upon great light. Today, photographers have an ever-evolving and increasingly flexible number of light sources at their disposal. Florens shows photographers how to use the popular Westcott Ice Lighta handy, portable device that adds a window-light quality illumination to portraitsLED panels, and speedlights to create proper exposures, add contouring highlights and shadows on subjects, and create artistic lighting effects that make your images stand out. Armed with these techniques, you’ll be able to masterfully capture every moment of the wedding daywith confidence.

Internationally acclaimed South African photographer Brett Florens launched his career in 1992 while fulfilling national service obligations in the police riot unit. Fortuitously, a photographic unit was formed to document political changes, and Brett jumped at the chance to join it. With no photographic experience, Brett had to learn how to document volatile situations. His unit evolved into a department dealing with politically motivated crimes and township violence, and photography was necessary to record this important slice of South Africa’s history. Brett thrived in the role and soon found himself in the thick of newsworthy events, creating images that found a ready market in newspapers and other media. His work was being published around the world, and his passion for photography took hold.

Brett’s roots in photojournalism led him to a career as a highly successful wedding, commercial, and fashion photographer. His longstanding clients include Wonderbra, Playtex, Quiksilver and Roxy. He has achieved numerous accolades, including being chosen as the representative Nikon Wedding Photographer worldwide. He was also amongst twelve photographers named the best in their field at the Photokina Exhibition in Germany. Brett has had the distinction of working with some of South Africa’s most famous personalities, including Bishop Desmond Tutu, FW de Klerk, Trevor Manuel, and Lance Klusener. He is the author ofBrett Florens’ Guide to Photographing Weddings, Modern Bridal Photography Techniques, andOne Wedding (published by Amherst Media).