Dealing with Difficult Lighting as an Orlando Wedding Photographer

Being an Orlando wedding photographer can be a rewarding job. You get to shoot in the warm weather of Orlando at many beautiful venues. You also get to meet many exciting couples and capture breathtaking memories. 

One thing that any Orlando wedding photographer needs to keep top of mind is lighting. It can be your biggest asset but also your biggest enemy. Good lighting can make a picture seem like a work of art, whereas lousy lighting can destroy even the most beautiful portraits. 

Here’s everything you need to know about lighting for Orlando wedding photography so you can focus on taking great pictures without worrying about it being too bright or dim. 

Orlando Wedding Photography Lighting Challenges

Due to the different kinds of events and locations in Orlando, there are three main reasons why lighting challenges come up. 

OutDoor Lighting Challenges

Many couples like to have outdoor weddings in Orlando because of its tropical weather. These outdoor events make for beautiful backdrops and stunning portraits. However, it also comes with some lighting challenges.

These challenges could include strong sunlight, which results in harsh shadows and high contrast. These can significantly impact how the final result turns out. 

Given that you have limited control over the outdoor environment, these issues could be a big hindrance if you don’t take the appropriate precautions.

Indoor Orlando Wedding Photography Lighting Challenges

Orlando has many beautiful indoor venues, such as historical churches and ballrooms. The biggest issue with the lighting in these indoor venues is the lack of it. 

Low lighting can prevent you from capturing details or taking high-definition pictures. Despite the beautiful backdrops, lack of lighting will prevent the true beauty of the setting from being showcased. 

Having the appropriate equipment and experience is vital for any Orlando wedding photographer to be able to effectively capture these shots. 

Seasonal Shifts

While the weather is usually warm throughout the year, the seasonal shifts also bring with them lighting challenges. 

These challenges could include differing times of sunset and sunrise, the intensity of the sun, or cloud cover if it’s the rainy season. All of these challenges impact the end result of Orlando wedding photography. 

Essential Equipment to Manage Lighting 

Now that we know the main lighting issues let’s explore how your equipment can improve them. 

Cameras and Lenses

When shooting, make sure you have the right camera and lenses. Different lenses have different purposes and impact the results differently. 

Camera Settings for Orlando Wedding Photography 

ISO, or the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor to light can is a great built in tool to manage certain lighting situations. As a rule of thumb, a lower ISO is good for outdoor moments while a higher ISO for indoor shoots. 

Your lens aperture also controls the amount of light that reaches the sensor. For example, a wide aperture (f/1.4 – f/2.8) allows more light to enter the lens and is hence ideal for low-light, high-contrast situations. 

Lenses for Orlando Wedding Photographers

Knowing the right lens could make a big difference. With so many different varieties available, do your research first. 

As a rule of thumb, fast prime lenses work well for low-light photography, whereas Zoom lenses help with a variety of lighting conditions. 

Lighting Gear

Your lighting gear can be a make-or-break on shoot day. Some useful light gear could include off-camera flash, reflectors, and diffusers, which help you augment the light according to the needs of the environment.

1. Off Camera Flash

An off-camera flash is a great tool for controlling lighting yourself. You can adjust lighting according to different settings and have a reliable light source with you. 

1. Reflectors

These are great for redirecting natural light in areas with harsh shadows. Reflectors will light up that area and allow for better shots. 

1. Diffusers

Diffusers are essential to soften light sources. This helps to create an even lighting throughout and reduces harshness. 

Backup Gear

If you’re a professional Orlando wedding photographer, always carry backup gear. The chances of mishaps are higher at outside events anyway due to so many uncontrolled factors. 

Some useful things to carry could include spare memory cards, backup camera body, a spare set of clothes and so on. 

Lighting Tips for Outdoor Orlando Wedding Photography

To maximize your returns on outdoor wedding photography, here are a few tips that could help

Shoot in the Golden Hours 

The golden hour is the hour right after sunrise or before sunset. It provides beautiful soft lighting with colorful hues that can radiate in your pictures. 

Utilize the Shade

The shade can provide great spots for couple shots or individual shots. It offers both ambient natural light and the softness of the shade. 

Positioning the Couple 

Here is where you need to get comfortable with the couple. You’ll need to get close to them to position them correctly and ensure they don’t squint during shoots. 

Lighting Tips for Indoor Orlando Wedding Photography

For those low-light situations, many solutions are available to counter any issues. 

Use Artificial Lighting 

Using Artificial Light This is a no-brainer. When you have little light, you’ll use more light. What’s important is the type of light you’re using. 

Ensure your light is on the same or similar wavelength and color as the ambient lighting. Also, make sure you use your diffusers to capture the intimacy that low, dimly lit portraits bring.

Do Your Research 

Making sure you know the venue well can make a difference. Maybe it’s a spot by the window you’ve found that shines the perfect light or a discussion with the venue management to discuss lighting possibilities. 

Doing your research can make a big difference and put you one step ahead on event day.

Post-Processing Tips for Difficult Lighting 

Once the event is over and the photographs have been taken, it’s time for post-processing, where you’ll fix any issues with the pictures and make sure they’re thematically correct. 

Some things to look out for during post-processing are:

Software

The software you use can make a big difference. Use professional software such as Adobe Creative Cloud suite. This is the most widely used software and has all the features you could need. 

Advanced Editing

Experiment with different HDR settings to see which contrast or highlights would work best together. You can make selective adjustments if you’d like to remove or correct anything. 

Consistency

Ensuring consistency throughout the wedding album with a theme and lighting palette is essential. Although there might be multiple events and multiple shot locations, consistency must be maintained. 

In a nutshell

Lighting is paramount to a great Orlando wedding photography album. Follow the suggested tips, and lighting will be an issue of the past for you. 

We are looking for a great Orlando Wedding photographer. P.Taufiq Photography has been capturing beautiful moments for the past ten years. Contact us now to book your dream luxury Orlando Wedding Photography session now.