Today, we’re starting a new blog series entitled “Tuesday Teachday”, wherein, every Tuesday, we head to the drawing board to deconstruct, dissect and discuss how we make wedding photos – the intent, the technique used and the execution.
Coming in hot (LITERALLY!), we’ll be checking out Crisostomo and Hannah’s Bonfire E-session Photo. This photo was featured in MagMod‘s Instagram Account.
2x Godox TT600 Speedlights + 2x MagMod Magspheres
EXIF: f/4, ISO-400, 1/320 secs.
Main Light @ 1/32, Hair Light @ 1/16
Deconstruction:
When you think about the word “bonfire”, you immediately see sparks flying out of charred wood, and you immediately smell the smoke rising above the burning wood. That is what we wanted to show – with the couple, of course!
We wanted to highlight the environmental aspect of the shot, capturing the elements of the bonfire, the couple and the forest at which they were at. Using an Ultra-wide Angle (UWA) lens, we went in close to the bonfire to exxagerate it’s size (wide angle lenses make closer objects larger, and farther objects smaller). We then used a fast shutter speed – with this, we used the D700’s X-sync speed – not only to freeze the motion of the sparks, but also, to make sure that there will be minimal-to-no ambient light that’s registering. The bonfire is an ambeint light source. With this technique, the couple will fall into the shadows, so we added one TT600 in front of the bonfire (Main Light), pointing towards the couple to light them up. We then added another TT600, 45 degrees, camera right, behind the couple, to separate them from the background. Finally, as an added effect for the flying sparks, we had one assistant knock the bonfire using a spare firewood.
Lighting Diagram:
Post-production:
Our work is defined by three words – Distinct. Stark. Enduring. Leaning towards the Contrast-y and Punchy side, our photos are guaranteed to endure the test of time.
White Balance Corrected to True Colors and Preserved Skin Tones. Shadows and Highlight Recovery done as well. 
Strong Contrast Tone Curve for Optimal Contrast. 
Yellow and Orange Channels for Saturation and Luminance – Skintone Treatment for Asian Skin. Desaturated the Greens as well. 
Sharpening and Noise Reduction applied. 
Lens Corrections (Available when shooting RAW Only). 
Add a little bit of Grain to remove the plastic-y feel. 
Camera Calibration set to “Neutral” for post-processing latitude. 
Crop to Straighten. 
Graduated Filter: Shadows Up to lighten up the bonfire. 
Radial Filter: Exposure set to -0.60 to darken everything except the couple.
The groundwork of our post-production workflow is based on the “Truest of the Truest Colors” – how we saw it, that’s how we’ll edit it, so that when you see the photos, that’s how you’ll feel it.
Summary:
We really love being challenged and being different with the way we approach how we make our photographs. We really love going the extra mile for our couples as well. But what we really love is when our couples let us “play”, to give them great photos. Creative freedom is what we seek as artists and it really feels good when the couple fully trusts you with the way you make your photos.
Loved this #TuesdayTeachday Blog Post? Want us to tell your Wedding Story as well? Contact us! For our Intimate Wedding packages, click here! Also, don’t forget to like and share on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! Because Your Wedding Story is On Us!
