How This Was Shot: Some OCF on the Rocks

I want to share with you a simple idea for an affective off-camera flash setup. This shot in particular is all about angles and your position, as the photographer. When we first arrived on this rocky pier, it was easy to be seduced by the beautiful water. Of course we took shots with the water in the background, but it was time to change things up. Finding that different vantage points can help you create multiple different photos almost in the same location. Don’t be afraid to tell you couples: “hang tight guys, I just want to find a different vantage point to create something cool and different for you” – they won’t say no, trust me. Who doesn’t want something different ?…and besides, they could probably use a break from all the coaching, posing and talking from you 🙂

In this case I went down to the bottom of the rocks …as you can see in the photo, I’m almost in the water! This allowed me to be way down and have my clients up on top of a “mountain”. There were apartment buildings to camera right so I panned and made adjustments so that all I could see was some trees in the background and of course, my clients.

Oliver was positioned camera left with the Profoto B2 system and an OCF Profoto 2′ Silver Collapsable Beauty Dish. I exposed for the sky and background and prompted the couple with some directions and we got our shot.

Its all about vantage points, angles to the camera and angles to the light. I often find some lighting to be too flat for my liking and will instruct Oliver to give me more “drama” – he then moves the light away from me and it creates a beautiful short light on my subjects.

Next time you’re stuck and out of ideas, just tell your clients to hang tight and walk around and look for another interesting angle. Have fun!

 Profoto Canada Wedding Ambassador | Profoto B2 | Profoto OCF Beauty Dish | Off Camera Flash | Behind The Scenes | BTS | Raph Nogal