Wedding Photography and Videography Forum

Evening Wedding Pictures

I am having trouble deciding what to do about our pictures. We are having an evening wedding and we can't get to the venue until 5pm. It is in November so by that time, everything will be almost dark. If we wait to take pictures together (bride and groom) until after the wedding, it will be totally dark outside and we will have all night pictures. Any ideas? 

Re: Evening Wedding Pictures

  • edited December 2011
    The easiest solution is probably just to see each other before the ceremony for some of the pictures at a place other than your venue.  I know it's not for everyone because it is really important to some brides to not see the groom before the ceremony, but I think it's a great way to get rid of the jitters, get your day time photos, and have more time to enjoy your reception. 
  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    We had a nighttime November wedding also.  We just took our portraits after the ceremony inside our venue.  I would have loved to have more outside shots, but in our case, the inside of our venue was prettier than the outside anyway.

    We also did a reveal before the ceremony and we loved it.  We still didn't do many pictures outside, but if you are open to doing a reveal, perhaps that would be an option for some outside portraits at another location.  At any rate, you can still do portraits with your wedding party and family outside before the ceremony--just do as many as you can without seeing your FI if you prefer.  Your photographer can also help you with the decision.

    Hey, come join us on the DFW local board--we'd love to help.
  • edited December 2011
    I'm  not sure I understand your problem.  I was married in December in an evening ceremony.  The local Christmas parade was in progress as I was being married at a bed and breakfast.  We did go outside with the parade for some of the shots, which are absolutely beautiful, and yes it was very dark outside.  The rest were taken inside the inn where the wedding took place in front of the fireplace, on the stairway, in front of the Chrsitmas tree, etc..  I wanted photographs of my wedding as it actually happened, where it happened and with the people who were there.  I didn't want pretty posed pictures that had no relationship to the wedding.  Yes, your pictures will be night photos, but that is when your wedding will take place and a good photographer should be able to capture YOUR wedding, which shouldn't look like a hundred other weddings.
  • edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_photos-video_evening-wedding-pictures?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:30Discussion:02865ec2-5115-4d1a-a4dd-b8b956647983Post:4d5c3db7-393f-4e49-8f35-c2bb79ebbb27">Re: Evening Wedding Pictures</a>:
    [QUOTE]If you want to have really good photos before the reception, it must be a day light. Do not trust photographer that will tell you that you'll do well with flash, it will be awful and waste of money.<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.julianribinikweddings.com"></a>
    Posted by julianribinik[/QUOTE]

    Having a link to your business is considered advertising and is against the terms of service for this site.  I edited the website out of the quote so you don't get any extra free advertising.  Also, I disagree with what you wrote.  We have several beautiful photos that were taken at night with a flash; our photographer generally had to do a few test shots to work out the lighting, but the finished product was good (and I never saw the test shots). 
     
    OP: as someone mentioned, it might work well if you took some photos before the ceremony, though not everyone wants to do that.  We tried to time our ceremony so that it finished just around sunset.  We have first look photos during the daylight before the ceremony, some gorgeous sunset photos after the ceremony during cocktail hour, and a few outside photos after it had gotten completely dark.  Most of the pictures, however, are from the reception inside and they're great too, so you should be able to get nice photos regardless.
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  • Kcnicks11Kcnicks11 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you for all of the advice! I think we are going to end up taking a bunch of photos before the wedding and stage the first time we see each other and then take some night pictures after the ceremony inside and outside the venue. I think between the day pictures, night pictures and reception pictures, I will have the variety I am hoping for. Now I need to come up with an original way to stage the reveal. One problem down, another one to go!
  • edited December 2011
    This was helpful for me, too. We're also having an evening wedding and it'll be around 8:15ish by the time we're all done. But August in Michigan (where the wedding is) stays lighter longer. This past summer FI and I took several walks during that week that the wedding would have been to gauge how light/dark it was at different times. But of course, what seems light enough to the human eye isn't the same for a camera. So we're going to talk to our photographer and see what he thinks, but I imagine we'll end up taking some pictures beforehand or indoors as well. I would've done them beforehand but FI doesn't want to see me before. 
  • edited December 2011
    If your photographer knows what they are doing the night shots can be amazing. Something to print big & frame.

     I would consult with them and maybe ask to see images showing their work at night with a strobe. If it is unsatisfactory, you will either need to have your portraits shot while it is day, or find a more competent photographer.

    Hope that helps! Congratulations on your coming wedding day.

    best,

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