As a documentary wedding photographer with two decades of experience, a wedding sparkler exit can still be challenging. This guide will walk you through the steps and camera settings to create stunning sparkler exit photos using both direct flash and natural. As well as the some tips on editing your wedding sparkler photos in Adobe Lightroom. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting, this guide will help you photograph a wedding.
Best Camera Settings For Wedding SparkLer Exit
These are the camera settings I’ll start with when the guests are lighting the sparklers. Your settings for the wedding sparkler exit will likely be close to your candid photographs of the guest lighting their sparklers. You’ll have to fine tune your settings but here are my camera settings when photography a wedding sparkler exit:
F-Stop: 2.8mm
Shutter: 1/200
ISO: 400
Flash Power: 1/125 in Manual Mode
Flash Angle: 90 Degrees (direct flash)
Flash Zoom: 70mm
Focus Mode: Al-Servo Mode for Canon users, Focus point in the center of the viewfinder.
Lens: 24mm
Camera Gear For Wedding Sparkler Exit
I try to keep my wedding photographer equipment minimal so I can focus on documenting the wedding not worrying about which gear to use. I like to use a few different prime lenses and one small flash. This is the camera gear I use during a wedding sparkler exit.
Canon R 6 II
Canon 24mm L f/1.4
Flashpoint Zoom Li-on R2 c Mini
What Camera Settings To Use For A Wedding Sparkler Exit?
Direct flash will help freeze the motion and illuminate the couple and the sparklers. Here are the settings you should consider for photographing a sparkler exit:
Aperture (f-stop): Set your aperture between f/2.8 to f/4. This range allows enough light to enter the lens while maintaining a shallow depth of field, which helps create a beautiful bokeh effect with the sparklers. I like to keep my f stop at 2.8mm when photographing a wedding sparkler exit.
Shutter Speed: Start a shutter speed of 1/125 of a second. This speed helps capture the ambient light from the sparklers while freezing the motion of the couple and guests. If you want more ambient light, adjust your camera's shutter speed to a lower speed, either 1/80 or 1/60, but remember that the lower you are, the more likely you will have some camera blur. When taking photographers at a wedding during the sparkler exit, I keep my shutter speed at 1/125.
ISO: Keep your ISO as low as possible to reduce noise, but I suggest setting it around 800-1000. This setting ensures your camera captures enough light and allows your flash to have a quicker power recovery time.
Lens Choice: Use a 24mm, or a 35mm lens. These focal lengths are ideal for capturing the scene, including the couple and the sparklers in the frame. I prefer the look of 24mm because you’ll show more of the scene, including the guests' reactions when I photography a wedding sparkler exit.
Flash Settings: Use it if your flash supports TTL (Through The Lens) mode. TTL mode automatically adjusts the flash power based on the scene. If using manual flash, start with 1/64 power and adjust as necessary. Keep your flash power setting as low as possible so the batteries don’t need much recycling time.
Flash Batteries: Ensure your flash batteries are fully charged so they don’t take long to recycle, allowing you to capture multiple shots quickly.
Shutter Mode: Set your camera’s shutter mode to the fast motor drive if possible. This setting allows you to take rapid shots in succession, ensuring you capture the moment.
White Balance: Set your white balance to “Flash” or “Auto” to ensure accurate colors. I leave my camera on auto white balance.
Focus Mode: Continuous autofocus (AI-Servo or AF-C) keeps the couple focused as they move through the sparkler tunnel. When shooting a wedding sparkler exit, I use the AL-Servo mode with my focus point in the middle of the camera.
6 Tips for Shooting the Sparkler Exit
Positioning: Position yourself at the half point of the sparkler tunnel to capture the couple as they walk towards you. Move with them to get different angles and perspectives.
Test Shots: Take a few test shots before the couple starts their exit. Adjust your settings based on the results to ensure you have the correct exposure and focus.
Communication: The wedding planner and you should talk about how the exit will happen. Make sure to communicate with the couple before photographing the wedding sparkler exit to move slowly and enjoy the moment.
Run Through Again: Once the couple reaches the end of the sparkler tunnel, have them rerun through it. They will be excited and having fun, and the sparklers will still be lit. This allows you to quickly review the photos you just took and make any necessary adjustments for the second run.
Backup Plan: Have a backup plan for lighting and settings if the initial setup doesn’t work as expected. Being adaptable is critical to documentary wedding photography.
Capture Emotions: Focus on capturing the emotions and reactions of the couple and guests. These candid moments add depth and authenticity to your photos.
How To Edit Wedding Sparkler Photos Lightroom
After capturing the sparkler exit, post-processing in Lightroom can enhance your photos. Here are some specific tips:
Noise Reduction: Use the Detail panel in Lightroom to reduce noise. Adjust the Luminance and Color sliders to clean up any graininess from higher ISO settings.
Enhance Sparklers: Increase the highlights and contrast to make the sparklers pop. Use the Tone Curve to add more depth and detail.
Color Correction: Ensure the colors are balanced and natural. Use the White Balance tool to fine-tune the color temperature and tint. Adjust the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Luminance) panel to enhance specific colors, such as the warm glow of the sparklers.
Sharpening: Apply sharpening to enhance details. Use the Amount, Radius, and Detail sliders in the Detail panel to achieve a crisp, clear image.
Vignetting: Add a subtle vignette to draw attention to the couple. Use the Post-Crop Vignetting tool in the Effects panel to darken the edges and highlight the center of the image.
Conclusion
By following these tips and settings, you’ll be well-equipped to capture stunning wedding sparkler exit photos that the couple will cherish forever. As a documentary wedding photographer, your goal is to tell a story through your lens, and these magical sparkler moments are a fun way to end a wedding celebration.
