Wedding photography is not just about taking beautiful pictures; it’s about capturing moments and emotions that the couple will cherish forever. Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding at Paignton Vista, right on Paignton Seafront. The location, with its stunning views of the seafront, provided a beautiful backdrop for the day. Despite some challenges, the experience was memorable and rewarding.
The Venue: Paignton Vista
The Paignton Vista wedding ceremony took place inside a lovely room with lots of natural light, although one end of the room was slightly darker. This required careful lighting to ensure the room was perfectly exposed from front to back. With just 50 guests, the atmosphere was intimate and personal, making it easier to capture candid moments.
Capturing the Ceremony
As the bride walked down the aisle, the groom became emotional. The ceremony itself was a mix of emotions and laughter, with the small number of guests creating a close-knit, heartfelt atmosphere. The challenge here was to capture the full range of emotions in a way that felt natural and unobtrusive.
The Equipment
For this event, I used two Sony A7IV cameras. For the wider shots, I used the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 lens. For the closer, more intimate shots, I relied on the Sony 70-200mm f2.8 V2 and the Sony 85mm f1.4 lenses.
Lighting is crucial in wedding photography, especially in mixed lighting conditions. I had Godox V1 speedlights mounted on our cameras. These helped control two Godox AD200 strobes, which I used to light the back of the room during the ceremony, and the powerful Godox AD600 Pro, which was particularly useful for the group and formal shots.
The Challenges
Wedding Photographers like to portray every wedding as perfect, but if we’re honest, sometimes, timings are incredibly tight.
This wedding posed more challenges than usual. It was my shortest two hour package, so things have to run near perfect to fit everything into such a short time-span.
For the first time ever, the time it took to gather people together for the group and formal shots was a lot longer than normal. This was despite designating someone beforehand to help round up the guests. My helper and I had to repeatedly ask a number of people to join us for the group shot. With an hour and a half already gone, and meals being served soon, time was something we did not have a lot of.
The Bride and Groom Shots
Because the group and formal shots took so long, I was left with just 8 minutes for the Bride and Groom shots. With dinner being served, I took them down to the seafront for a few photos before heading back.
Using the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 lens, I was able to capture some beautiful wide shots of the couple against the stunning seafront backdrop. They loved the results!
Reflections
Despite the challenges, this wedding at Paignton Vista was a success. The intimate setting, the stunning views, and the mix of emotions made for some truly memorable photographs.
My equipment played a crucial role in capturing these moments. The Sony A7IV cameras, with their versatile lenses, allowed me to adapt to different situations and lighting conditions. The Godox lighting equipment ensured that every detail was captured beautifully, even in challenging lighting conditions.
A Day to Remember
Every wedding is unique, with its own set of challenges and special moments. This wedding at Paignton Vista was no exception. The stunning location, the intimate ceremony, and the mix of emotions made it a day to remember.
In conclusion, wedding photography is about more than just taking pictures. It’s about capturing the essence of the day, the emotions, and the moments that the couple will cherish forever. Despite the challenges, this wedding was a perfect example of how love, creativity, and a bit of patience can result in beautiful, memorable photographs.
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