The Magical Art of Taking Wedding Photos at Night

 

 

 

If you look through my wedding photography “sneak peeks” on my professional Facebook page, you’ll see that a LOT of my most dramatic wedding photography are night wedding photos.

Why on earth are so many of my wedding photos taken when it’s pitch dark?

There are a couple of reasons I like to take my couples out for a quick mini session for night wedding photos. First of all, if I haven’t gotten an “epic portrait” of my couple yet, or feel there is room for improvement, it’s a great time to pull out all the stops and try something different before I leave for the night.

 

 

 

 

 

Taking Wedding Photos After All The Hoopla

 

It’s also the time in the wedding day when couples are feeling euphoric that all the stressful parts of the wedding day are over and they are usually ready for a slight check in with each other. They are relaxed and usually quite willing to go along with my suggestion to ditch the wedding reception for just a few moments. I think their peacefulness, happiness and yes, fatigue comes through in these nighttime wedding photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Blue Skies Make Perfect Wedding Back Drops at Night

 

Every wedding is different and so the wedding photos always look different too. But the night sky is also somewhat predictable. Clearly I am a huge fan of those royal blue skies. That time of night only last about 10 minutes, so getting the timing just right is tricky. Sometimes, well, often something else is going on at the wedding reception right at that time and it’s just not feasible. Especially winter and late fall weddings when the sun always seems to set right around the dinner hour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use Night Skies To Tell The Story Of The Weather

 

I’m also a big fan of taking advantage of anything that tells the story of their wedding day from a different perspective. For example, in 2023, there was an incredible amount of rainfall that either scared the couple with menacing clouds or it rained all day. Like it or not, it’s a part of their wedding day story. So why not wait until the stakes are a lot lower and get out in the rain under an umbrella and take advantage of an incredible unique opportunity. If they get a little wet, it’s usually a great way to cool off.

Personally, I also love a technical challenge. Photographing in rain is hard on the camera gear. Photographing at night is hard on everything. Focusing is tough, hand holding my camera at 1/8th of a second requires calm and discipline and finding ways to light a wedding couple at night is tricky. Getting the couple to try something is always the easy part. Luckily, the payoff for getting a truly epic wedding portrait at night is totally worth is for all of us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Showcase Michigan’s Winters With Chilly Night Photos

 

I’ve also had a lot of Michigan winter weddings the past few years and since it’s dark by 5:30 or so, there are not many chances to take outdoor photos outside. Family and wedding parties never want to go outside in the winter. So going outside at night with the couple is the only option if they want any photos outdoors. It’s not for the faint of heart since it’s so cold, but it really does remind everyone what season it was on their wedding day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Night Wedding Photos Can Showcase a Venue in a New Light

 

One of the best ways to showcase a venue is to photograph it in a totally different light. Many wedding venues are lit up at night. Many couples love their venues and it’s a great way to work them into a photo where the focus is still about the couple, but the scene is set beautifully by show casing the venue.

I didn’t always take outdoor wedding photos at night, but when 2020 rolled around and the sizes of the wedding shrunk down to 14 people, there was plenty of time to play and come up with a portrait that was completely taken for the couple. Creating night and twilight wedding photos has become one of the hallmarks of a Marci Curtis wedding photography experience. It can’t always happen, but I’m always looking for that 15 minute window of opportunity to capture that little slice of wedding day magic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So if you’re looking for a great way to get unique, epic portraits of wedding couples, pop your head outside as the sun begins to set and see what’s out there the might create a little night magic for your wedding couple.