Indoor vs. Outdoor Weddings
Deciding between an indoor wedding ceremony or reception and a wedding ceremony or reception held outdoors?
Before you decide whether you want your wedding to be indoors or outdoors read about the key differences below and how those differences can impact your wedding day photography.
Indoor Weddings
An indoor wedding ceremony is ideal in a situation where weather may be variable. Natural light is my light source of choice. I only use flash when absolutely necessary but unfortunately, most indoor spaces do not have ample natural light. For example, most churches tend to be dark with dim, fluorescent lighting. Some churches shine spotlights on or near the altar, which creates uneven, harsh light that we are powerless to do anything about.
Usually, during indoor ceremonies, I’ll be shooting straight down the middle of the aisle and shooting from the balcony, if possible. This set up gives me the greatest amount of variation for indoor ceremonies. Here are a few key lighting elements to consider with you indoor wedding:
- The photographer has complete control over the affects and more control- since artificial lighting is being used
- You don’t have to worry about adjusting the focus to blur out a background with people, etc. The focus will certainly affect the exposure.
- You can photo sessions for just about any time of day.
- Indoor lighting can come from a variety of sources including natural light from windows.
- There may be several different types of lighting that have to be balanced.
Even if my clients are dead set on an indoor ceremony, I always suggest doing all formal portraits outdoors. Lighting is SO important for good photography and the lighting inside the church is just never good. I’m all about keeping things simple on the wedding day and getting through formal photos as quickly as possible. Simply moving outdoors where there is ample natural light helps achieve that goal.
Outdoor Weddings
An outdoor wedding ceremony is a stark contrast to an indoor one. The ambiance that an outdoor wedding can provide is unique and can be magical at any time of day. Outdoor weddings are your ideal choice if you’re a country girl at heart and don’t want to be restricted by the 4 walls of a building. Not only can we shoot from just about anywhere, but we can move around throughout the ceremony to capture different angles and reactions from the bride, groom, bridal party, parents + guests. I personally love capturing a ceremony this way because it allows me to really tell a story and document what everyone is feeling throughout the ceremony. It makes me feel like I’m a part of the ceremony, as I am constantly watching everyone’s reactions and capturing them for my clients.An outdoor wedding allows your wedding photographer to play with different elements, such as the background, lighting, and wind, to improve the overall appeal of your wedding photos. Here are a few key lighting elements to consider with you outdoor wedding:
- The lighting affects and brightness depend on the time of day.
- Outdoor settings can be unpredictable, but that can lead of unexpected and amazing shots.
- Natural lighting will change with every passing minute. This means there will be variety, but the wedding photographer has to know how to adjust to the changing circumstances to produce consistently good pictures.
- As the day progresses the color of the light will change which can affect the white balance.
- High noon hours should be avoided since the lighting can be harsh, shining directly down from above and casting hard shadows.
- Open shaded areas provide diffused light, which creates a flattering soft appearance.
- The sun’s brightness can be strategically used to add starbursts or sun flares to the shot.
If you want radiant skin that highlights your natural beauty, the sunlight can help you but natural light could be a problem when the weather becomes gloomy. A windy effect can also make your photos more dramatic because your hair and clothes are flying in different directions. If the wind becomes uncooperative, though, you may have to wait for it to blow a bit more tamely.
The sun comes into play with outdoor ceremonies. I always suggest that my clients get married with the sun BEHIND them and preferably with some sort of natural filter, like a tree or building, between them + the sun to help filter the intensity and soften the light. If at all possible, shooting in shade is preferable since the light will be even.
Regardless of which you choose, either one can be turned into your dream wedding atmosphere. Capturing the memories of your wedding day is an important part of sharing the experience with family and friends. This is one expense where you want to get the best quality possible for your money.
At Elite Photography we that specialize in both indoor and outdoor photography. Contact us today to set up a complimentary consultation to discuss your wedding day wishes and the photography styles you like best.
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