"Sneak a Peek" at the Married Couple in These Creative Ways
Posted on: 29 May 2018
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Few people like the idea of being spied upon, especially when the person watching is holding a camera, but when you're a wedding photographer, your subjects won't likely mind at all. Setting up a wedding photo in which you appear to be sneaking a peek at the newly married couple can create a pleasing effect and result in an image that the couple truly cherishes.
Scouting out the wedding environment before the ceremony will allow you to quickly identify areas that you can set up your subjects and then move to a different spot nearby to shoot. Here are some suggestions for this idea.
Through Foliage
A classic way to shoot a sneaky-looking photo of your subjects is by positioning yourself behind some foliage and then shooting through it. Look around the venue for a suitable area; generally, there will be lots of options in the forms of gardens, trees, hedges, and more. Have your couple stand in a manner as though no one is watching them. For example, they might want to be embracing or appear to be sharing a quiet laugh. You can then position your camera (and your body, if possible) so that the lens is poking through the foliage. For best results, allow a few leaves or branches to appear out of focus in the immediate foreground, as they'll help to tell the story of the image.
Through an Upper Window
If the couple is getting married in an area with a courtyard, you can often use this environment for a sneaky photo. Similar to the above idea, have the couple stand in the middle of the courtyard (or wherever makes the most sense for the photo) and then go upstairs to a second-level window to shoot from there. You can shoot through the glass or actually swing open the window and shoot down. In either scenario, ensure that you capture some of the window, such as a frame, as it tells the story of you documenting the couple's private moment, seemingly without their knowledge.
Through a Crowd
To give the illusion of shooting the newly married couple through a crowd, you'll need to recruit a few fellow wedding guests. You'll set this shot up in a similar manner to those above by having the couple pose in a manner that suggests privacy. Then, position your helpers in front of you so that you can shoot through a gap between them. You'll set your focus so that the "crowd" in front of you is out of focus, and the happy couple is sharp.
For more ideas, contact services such as Alive Photography.