Are you a wedding photographer who wants to learn more about how to use flash at a wedding? In this article, we’ve gathered tips, setups and settings from renowned photographers all over the world, showing you how they created their images. Here is how you can use flash in six situations of a wedding, using the Profoto A1X and Profoto A1.
1. The details - Hannah L
How the image was created
To emphasize the sparkle of the wedding ring, German photographer Hannah L used a quite high flash power on the Profoto A1. She placed the ring on a golden sequin shoe and had the other shoe standing up right behind it, to use as a backdrop. The Profoto A1 was placed at a 90-degree angle, on eye level, with a Clic Grid attached to it for a more direct light, and a Clic Gel Quarter CTO for a warmer tone in the image. “I like to use the A1 for details. Because it has a very good modelling light, I can easily and instantly see how the light looks like before I press the shutter,” Hannah says.
Camera settings
f2.8, 1/200 sec, ISO 200.
2. The portrait – Anna Fowler
How the image was created
To create this portrait, UK photographer Anna Fowler used the Profoto A1 as fill light, bouncing the flash off the wall behind her. Since the weather was quite dull that day, she used flash to make the bride slightly pop out from the background and capture a sparkle in her eyes. Anna adds, “The great thing about the A1 is that you can dial it right down and angle it anywhere. So, I was able to bounce the flash behind me at a low power, making the bride pop slightly from the background, but not become too separated from it. It just adds a bit more sparkle to her and the eyes, where the natural light alone doesn’t do the job. It allows for a bright and clean look”.
Camera settings
f3.2 1/200 sec, ISO 400.
3. The ceremony - Kate Hopewell-Smith
How the image was created
UK photographer Kate Hopewell Smith created this image with the Profoto A1X on camera, pointing the flash straight toward the couple. Having a Clic Dome attached to the flash, she managed to diffuse the light and create a natural-looking fill light on the couple. Kate used the Profoto A1X in TTL mode, meaning that good flash power was set automatically. She then dialed the TTL down to -1.5, making the automatic flash exposure output a little less light, giving her just the light she wanted.
If the ceiling hadn’t been so high, another option would have been to bounce the flash into it. This is however only recommended if the ceiling is white, otherwise you could create unwanted color casts.
Camera settings
f2.8, 1/200 sec, ISO 2000.
4. The first dance - Sandra Åberg
How the image was created
Swedish photographer Sandra Åberg created this image by mixing flash with ambient light. She used the Profoto A1X at a low power since there was enough ambient light in the image, and used it to create fill light on the bride and groom’s faces. The flash was handheld slightly to the left of the camera.
Camera settings
f2.8, 1/80 sec, ISO 6200.
5. The dinner – Vanessa Joy
How the image was created
To capture a portrait of the wedding cake, US photographer Vanessa Joy used the Profoto A1 and Profoto B1. She placed the B1 to the left of the camera, pointing it toward the cake, and had the A1 placed on camera to trigger the B1. At the same time, the A1 fired into the ceiling, filling the room with some more light and reducing shadows created by the B1.
Camera settings
F3.2, 1/200 sec, ISO 800.
6. The dancefloor – Two Mann Studios
How the image was created
When Canadian photographers Erika and Lanny Mann (Two Mann Studios) saw the champagne coming out, they immediately knew that they wanted to get a Profoto A1 in behind the bride and the groom, to illuminate the spray against the dark background. They used another Profoto A1 on camera to light up the energetic expressions on their faces. When capturing these special moments, it’s important to think and act fast, and to have the gear that does the same. That’s one of the reasons that the Profoto A1 and Profoto A1X are the ideal lights for a wedding – they never miss a shot.
Camera settings
f2.8, 1/125 sec, ISO 3200.
