Shooting Portraits In Less Than Ideal Locations: A Guide To Overcame Its Challenges.

This is a challenge we, wedding photographers, have to overcome sometimes. Not always we will be able to take couple portraits on their wedding day, in the most beautiful park, or architectural paradises. Sometimes, due to a variety of reasons, we don’t have a choice but to shoot in locations that  aren’t ideal for wedding portraits. This a day that won’t repeat itself, so you want to make it right for your clients.

Less than ideal location, with busy streets, cars, outlets

So, how do we overcome those challenges?

Heres a guide I have put together based in my years of experience as a wedding photographer, with hundreds of weddings under my belt. This guide is also helpful if you had to improvise on the day of the event. For example, maybe you had planned to go to a beautiful park, but then the weather changed in the last minute and now you don't have a choice but to shoot inside a wedding hall that doesn’t have the most appealing look.

Part 1: Preparing for the shoot in advance.

Scouting: Discuss the importance of scouting locations beforehand and how to make the most of what you find. Don’t leave this for the wedding day if possible. Scouting in advance will give you a chance to prepare yourself in terms of composition, lighting, angles, how sun light falls during the time you will be taking the couple’s portraits.

Setting proper expectations: Emphasize the need to manage client expectations and communicate openly about the challenges of the location. This will allow them to also prepare themselves. You don’t want to have this type of communication after the event. It will sound like an excuse.

Part 2: Overcoming Challenges During the Shoot (Indoors)

Creative framing and composition+Utilizing lighting, both natural and artificial:

I have came across situations where I had to shoot in parking lots, in outlets areas full of stores, banks and other businesses, or inside extremely busy wedding venues where more than one wedding was happening. Other than feeling discouraged, use it to fuel your imagination. If this makes you upset, almost mad, use that emotion. I find that I get more creative the more challenging and upsetting the situation is. Heres a few examples where I had to shoot inside some reception halls.

Using long exposure to draw attention to the couple in a busy scene

On picture above, we used long exposure to blur out all the people roaming around, as there was 4 different weddings happening at this hall. The ghosting effect, plus proper use of lighting brings the focus to the couple. The stairs and the architectural lines help frame the composition.

On picture below, this flight of stairs was located right in front of a large window, which was perfect to blend Off Camera Flash with natural light coming from outside. We had to move fast as there was other weddings happening in this building

On picture below, we used creative lighting to create a nice silhouette of the couple, under the altar where they got married. We were surrounded by tables and chairs, so I darkened the environment on purpose.

Using off camera flash to create a silhouette portrait of a couple, inside the reception hall

On picture above, we used a portrait lens, an 85mm Prime, at F2 to not only crop the frame and avoid distractions, but also shot with a wider aperture to blur the background.

Overcoming Challenges during the shoot (Outdoors)

Often I come across situations of outdoors locations for shoots just aren’t ideal. So heres a few  principles I use to help me overcome these challenges.   

Darkening the environment:

Its something that I do a lot both in camera or in post processing. As you can see on both these images below, taken in parking lots full off cars. The image was darkened in camera and then artificial light from Godox and diffusers by Flashfear.net were used to light the couple. These images tent to be very moody and dramatic with a cinematic feel to it.

Dramatic wedding image taken in a parking lot

Dramatic lighting in a wedding portrait

Cropping the frame

Theres several ways to do this. Either on location, by shooting with a portrait lens in portrait mode (or vertically), or in post production by cropping the frame, therefore avoiding too much distractions, as you can see in images in both these images.

Cropped image shot at F2

Cropped Image shot F1.4

Blurring the background:

On these same Images you can see the background is blurred, which also give the image some depth as well as focus the eyes attention on the couple. You can achieve this with lenses with a wider aperture, from 1.2, 1.4, 1.8, 2 or 2.8 just to name the wider apertures. Shooting as wide as you can will narrow the depth of field, creating an effect of blurriness in the areas out of focus, while keeping the areas your lens focuses on (the couple) completely focus and sharp. Keeping distance from background also helps. The further background is, the more blurry it will look. This creates separation between subjects and backgrounds, as well as adds dimension and depth to your images. My favourite lenses for these type of portraits are hands down the Sigma Art prime series. Extremely sharp and cheaper than its Canon version.

Using the surroundings to add context:

Parking lot of a famous Montreal restaurant

Something I try to do a lot also. On this image of a fast food restaurant parking lot. I used the building of the restaurant, which is famous in Montreal for its orange shape and colour, as part of the background. This parking lot is always full of cars so I left them there to had realism to the image. With the help of some extra lighting and my assisting holding the dress, we manage to create an image that the couple uses as a big 20x40 print in their living room.

Playing with your Angles

Don’t be shy to move around, go on top of a bench or box to shoot downwards, or squat a little and shoot upwards. Sometimes playing with angles will allow you to avoid distractions and create beautiful portraits for your clients. Below, you can see a picture taken with my cellphone, of the background. There was a bank to our left, which was open, so people coming in and out, a parking lot behind the couple, electric wires and poles behind the parking lot, and a huge bank sign on the left that we had to photoshop out. When shooting upwards, I recommend a wide angle lens, like a Canon 14mm F2.8, which is a must for me for all my wide angle portraits

Cellphone picture of the background

Portrait of the couple on the same area as cellphone picture above

Part 4: Post Processing.

For me personally, some knowledge of post processing is as important for today’s photography, as it is to be a good photographer. Sometimes, you just cant avoid it. I see it as a tool to enhance and help perfect my images in a way that helps me finalize the vision I had when I took the pictures. In the case of this topic, it helps remove distractions and elements that no one wants in their prints or albums. You don't even have to be an expert in post processing. I’m not. But knowing enough to help you remove objects for example, is a must. Sure it can be time consuming, especially if you have a lot of weddings to deliver. In that case, I outsource, and my favourite company to enhance my pictures is by far Galexia Editing services. Click on the image below and it will take you directly to their website. I have been using their services for a few years now and are absolutely the best in the business. This portrait was sent to them, as it would take me forever to edit the way I wanted, and I was overflown with weddings to deliver.

There was construction orange cones everywhere, lots of tourists, light poles, traffic lights, wires, street signs. An extremely busy area. While I kept some of these elements, many others were taken away in post processing, as it would deter attention to the couple. Darkening environment and using proper light did the rest.

Portrait taken downtown Montreal in a busy intersection

Conclusion:

In insight, less than ideal locations, as challenging as they might look, can be turned into unique images for your clients. Preparation, using your instincts, your experience and knowledge will help you overcome these challenges. Composition and lighting will do the rest. Above all, trust yourself, use elements and surroundings. Remember. If you can shoot in less than ideal and challenging locations, image what you will be able to do in locations such as beautiful parks, cobblestone old streets or castles.

What about you? What other tips do you have to overcome the challenges described above?

For more of my work, follow me on Instagram at @rochastudio

Braulio Rocha Photography