The whole idea was how to simplify shooting by playing the hand you are dealt. Sometimes we don’t shoot at the Hotel DuPont with our brides dressing in rooms with floor to ceiling windows on two sides. And sometimes we just don’t have Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue sunlight. But by looking for reflected, diffused and directional light, you can nail it in-camera, walk away looking like the pro that you are and make your post-processing life easier, too.

And just to prove the point that it can be done, we did the whole workshop in and around my house. I purposely didn’t pick some cool location with lots of distracting scenery because in real life, you sometimes don’t get it. F’rinstance, this one was shot in front of my house with light reflected off the siding. I tilted Alyssa’s chin down a bit so she didn’t get sunlight hitting her nose from the noon sun.

On my front porch.

 

Under my deck.

 

A “family shot” under the deck.

Light peeking in the studio window.

 

In my driveway.

 

In front of my chimney flue. See? It ain’t no big deal!

 

 

 

 

Special thanks to Alyssa, Steve, Rachel and Joe.