Twilight weddings are quite a new thing to me, so I must admit I was a little intrigued at the idea of photographing one when Georgina and John got in touch about their wedding photography at St Augustines in Westgate, Kent. I have to admit, I was also a little curious about how we would fit everything into a wedding where the ceremony doesn’t start until 6.30pm. I was also aware that potentially, even though it was a summer wedding, depending on the timings of the events, the evening light may be a little lower than preferred for things like photographing the family groups that John and Georgina had asked for. Photographers are ever so slightly obsessed about the quality of light. What appears to be a brightly lit room to most people, can actually look like a black hole to a photographer, and it’s certainly one of the first things I note when I walk into a room where I will be taking photos on a wedding day. That and the colour of the walls and ceiling, particularly if the light is a little bit tricky. Because if I do need to use a little flash to lift a photo, the last thing you will want me to do is bounce that lovely light off of a green wall……green faces aren’t really the done thing for a bride on her wedding day! My advice to couples who are getting married in winter, or in venues where the light levels are low, or dependant on artificial light, is always to ask to see a full wedding gallery of a wedding held in similar conditions, because you really do need to be certain that your photographer has the skills to manage it, and not everyone does. Thankfully, as a recommended photographer for St Augustines, I know the venue pretty well, so was confident that I had the right equipment for the job, and a backup plan if needed.
So, back to John and Georgina’s wedding. In the event, after a typically British summer, gray start, to the day, the evening turned out beautifully sunny, and later in the evening we were able to use the low twilight light to our advantage and make use of the beautifully redecorated gazebo for a creative portrait. Regardless of all the talk about lighting, my standout memory from their wedding is the love written all over their faces whenever they looked at each other – as you will be able to see from the photos below.
Are you planning a wedding at St Augustines? Why not contact me here to find out more and find out how I can help you plan your photography.
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