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Photography Question 

Jennifer Hopper
 

Winter Wedding


I have a wedding coming up in December, and the bride and groom want several portraits (of themselves, and the whole party) taken outdoors - no matter how cold. I am worried about harsh light and red noses. Rudolph bride does not sound festive. Any thoughts or suggestions about this? Thanks.


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November 06, 2006

 

Mark Feldstein
  Have them hold the wedding in Laguna Beach, CA, or maybe Hawaii.
M


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November 06, 2006

 

Jennifer Hopper
  yeah, thanks. guess a winter wedding is not such a problem in some locales


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November 06, 2006

 

Oliver Anderson
  Marks right, I'm shooting this evening in Laguna Beach and the weather is great with the Santa Ana winds blowing. How about buying the ring flash from White Lightning or using a 20" beauty dish with the white lightning 1600 and vagabond? Can't makeup keep her nose white?


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November 06, 2006

 

Debbie Del Tejo
  Your question brought to mind a winter wedding I had 2 years ago. It was December, and the bride's gown had fur on the collar and the arms (custom made) and it was supposed to be cold ... it was so HOT that her makeup melted...
I have done weddings in the summer, and the brides planned and WANTED to do photos outdoors, but when they got to the day and they were soooooooo hot, they changed their minds. This happened in winter as well ... once the day arrives and they are soooooooo cold, they may change their minds.
I'd keep their noses red ... serves them right!!!
Good luck!


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November 06, 2006

 

Oliver Anderson
  Makeup melting, red noses...weddings are so great. Photoshop can solve any of the red-nose problems or perhaps a nip of Whiskey. Then think of the great photos you'd get. LOL


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November 06, 2006

 

Tom Leighty
  If they are set on outdoor photos, rent a few salamander heaters. Place them just outside the frame. With these heaters you will be capable of keeping them outside for some time. The salamanders are directional heaters used quite frequently on construction sites in the north.

P.S. Keep lots of camera batteries in your pocket and make sure to equilibrate the camera temperature to the outside before everyone heads for the outdoors. We leave a camera in our car which is good and cold to let it get accustomed to the temperature. You do not want everyone to go outside and wait while the fog on your lens clears.

Best of luck.


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November 07, 2006

 

W.
  Or how about shooting the peeps indoors – with good light and reflectors, ideally against a 'green screen' or other basic background – then replacing that background in PP with an outside background photo?
Because Rudolph bride noses can perhaps be PP-d, but goose pimples may not be so easy.


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November 07, 2006

 

dennis w. mcclain
  you can always change it to black and white if color becomes a problem, or even do some selective coloring. you could just color in the bouquet, Boutonniere, anything else that has a vibrant color, with everything else black and white. thats my $0.02 worth


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November 07, 2006

 

Kerri C. Janto
  I actually got married 2 days before Christmas and it had snowed the day before. I had really wanted photos taken on the boardwalk but my photographer tried to talk us out of it. We went ahead and did them anyway and they are great! They are so unique and beautiful. The coloring may not be 100% perfect but they are still amazing. Remember they are paying you for your time and if that is what they want then oh well. In the end I guess the photographer liked them to as he used it as a display in the center of his storefront. Good luck with it, hope it goes well!


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November 07, 2006

 

Contessa D. Wolverton
  Jennifer, the only suggestion I have is to make sure you tell them to hold their breath before you snap! I live in Alaska and did some wedding pictures outside once. Got back home and realized that some of the best photos had fog around their faces. Good luck!


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November 07, 2006

 

Oliver Anderson
  I know what Contessa is talking about. I was at a wedding in San Francisco and there was fog around everyones faces as well....go figure?


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November 07, 2006

 

W.
  Now THAT is excellent advice, Contessa and Oliver!
Thanks!


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November 07, 2006

 

Melissa Papaj
  When I got married, we had our enagagement photos in January (in Utah), but we didn't want the pictures to look like they were in January (no coats), so we used handwarmers on our hand and noses, during the entire time and when it was time to take the picture we put them in our pockets...Hope this helps.


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November 09, 2006

 

Denyse Clark
  Hi Jennifer! My girlfriends & I have often gone out and done "girl shoots" when it's wicked cold and we always worry about red noses! We keep a car close by with the heater blasting. Go out, do a few shots, get in & warm up. Repeat process :) It works pretty good although it slows things down a bit if you're doing LOTS of shots.

They may change their minds if it's 2 degrees, but if they don't, they'll probably realize they get what they get in terms of looking cold & red noses! (and a little cloning in Photoshop might help that anyways)

Outdoor pics are some of the MOST beautiful. I'd request them on my wedding day too, no matter what. And hey, maybe you'll just luck out and it will be 35 and sunny with no wind. Here's to hoping!!


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November 09, 2006

 

Jennifer Hopper
  Thanks, everyone, for your kind comments. ALthough I don't beleive the brise and groom are willing to change their venue (and also fly me somewhere warm), I definitely have a few new tools in my belt (make sure they don't breathe as the shutter snaps--never would have thought of that). Thanks again!

Jennifer


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November 10, 2006

 
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