How Do You Capture Picture-Perfect Sparkler Photos at Your Wedding? By Libba Durrett.
Capturing picture-perfect sparkler photos at your wedding is not easy but Libba Durrett founder of Sparklers Online explains how.
Firstly, if you don’t have the right equipment, make sure you have ideal lighting. Be ready to stage the photo a bit, rather than just moving through the motions. Also, when editing, if you can’t get the shot the way you want it, try out the sparklers effect in Photoshop.
If using your iPhone, consider using the Slow Shutter Cam app. It allows you to set the shutter speed to catch the rapidly moving sparks. However, it’s a good idea to use a lens cleaner prior to attempting your momentous photograph to ensure you get the clearest shot.
These photographer sites can help you plan your perfect picturesque wedding sparkler shot:
Here are some more in-depth tips for capturing that perfect sparkers-infused wedding photo that’s likely to be shared, framed, remembered, and adored for many years to come:
Writing with Wedding Sparklers
Capturing your thoughts and feelings in illuminated writing is a magical way to jazz up your wedding photos. There is no giant sparkler that burns in the shape of a letter. Since sparklers burn like a fuse, you could never get a full letter- or word-shaped sparkler to burn bright all at once. But there is a way to create a fun effect on your own using our classic straight-stemmed wedding sparklers.
Do the following to capture a bit of sparkle in writing:
- Start with complete darkness, meaning not even a hint of evening light.
- Use a camera with a long shutter speed, allowing a few seconds to achieve the blur of the sparklers.
- Get a tripod.
- Make sure you have enough space and a wide enough camera lens to catch the full action.
- Consider the following settings: shutter speed of 8-15 seconds, aperture of 3.5, and ISO of 100.
- Allow the shutter speed to be the setting that allows the light in. With the darkness, a slow shutter speed is what captures the light and motion.
- Have the person writing with sparklers keep their back to the camera and write out to the side of their body. If facing the camera, they must write the letters as reflected in a mirror (a much more difficult feat!).
- It’s helpful to use a camera timer to avoid any shake and resulting blur.
- Young children can wave the sparklers around in a pattern (rather than writing out an entire word) for a sweet outcome.
Photographing Sparklers
Here are tips for photographing sparklers like a professional:
- Be prepared. When attempting to capture the exit like an expert, consider your camera gear, level of photographic experience, and timeline. You’ll want a camera with low-light capabilities or adequate lighting. You can get some test shots pre-event with some cheap sparklers from the dollar store. Brainstorm a plan before the day of the wedding and especially the moment of picturesque magnificence. Try to scope out the exit path and set up your gear and lighting prior to the couple’s debut. If you can, steal away the couple and get a few test shots or creative poses with just them and some extra sparklers before everyone joins in the fun.
- Use only ambient and sparkler light. Soft lighting in the path of the newlywed couple’s exit can be an excellent asset to the picture-perfect wedding sparkler photo. Using only the light from the sparklers and the soft lighting from string lights or other muted lighting or mood-setting materials can provide you with a picturesque memory. Photographers who know how to make this work include:
- Jennifer Hawkins: To catch the perfect sparklers photos, she uses a Canon 5Diii with a sigma art 35mm lens at ISO 4000, f/1.4, and 1/100 sec. By manually adjusting the white balance using Kelvin 2500, she can achieve a balanced and timeless lighting effect.
- Stephanie Mballo: Total darkness yields a more dramatic effect. If your exit is happening when it’s still partially light outside, though, take some tips from Mastin Labs user Mballo to achieve a beautifully captured snapshot before the sun is fully set. Try taking the image at ISO 4000, f/2, and 1/160 sec. Doing so presents less of a technical challenge and leaves some room for error for those of us who are still not photography pros. If you use an on-camera flash, adjust to a lower ISO with a moderate shutter speed to get a sharper photo.
You can also fine-tune your shutter speed to your camera’s light meter and take your shot. If you’re using only your camera’s flash, set the ISO to 100, f/2.0, and 1/100 sec. Lastly, if you have a second shooter, take advantage of that. Capture your shot without flash and have your wingman or woman shoot with a flash. Doing so provides you with two sets of images featuring very different looks and gives you some wiggle room for creativity knowing you have a backup.
Sparklers Online’s 20-inch wedding sparklers are probably more realistic for guests numbering 100 or less. Plus, they fit in nicely with most budgets, considering wedding costs can quickly add up.
Shoot with an external flash. This technique can be complicated but well worth the challenge. Using an external flash can result in striking images, but you should only take this approach if you have wireless flash photography experience. You’ll want to set up two or more flashes, with one set along the side of the exit path and the other situated at the end of the path facing toward it. For the most diffused lighting, set your flashes five to ten feet off the path but angled toward it.
Using an iPhone to Capture an Iconic Sparklers Pic
You can be an amateur operating from your smartphone and still achieve a social media post-worthy pic. Using the Slow Shutter Cam app, you can capture a classic sparkler’s exit shot and more elaborate sparkler writing.
Firstly, Slow Shutter Cam has a built-in mode called light trail mode that can capture all the sparkling action. It also has automatic exposure and focus-lock so you can mount your iPhone on a tripod. Then just point it in the right direction, focus with a tap on the dark sky, select the “gear” settings and let the smartphone camera do its thing.
Moreover, the app includes tabs for three capture modes, including motion blur, light trail, and low light. Tap on “light trail” to select it and adjust the light sensitivity and shutter speed. I recommend keeping the ISO set on auto. Since most firework action expires quickly, you’ll want to set the shutter speed at four or eight seconds.
What is more, to avoid the shake of the iPhone that accompanies a long exposure shot using the shutter button, try using the app’s built-in self-timer. You can set it to 1, 3, 5, and 10 seconds. However, three or five seconds works best when catching fireworks, which can translate well to sparklers.
As an alternative to the self-timer, you can plug in your Apple earphones and use the “+” volume button as an external shutter button. Incidentally, Apple watches have a companion app that allows you to use your watch to tap the button that initiates the shot. The watch companion can sometimes have trouble connecting to your iPhone, though, so make sure to have your earbuds as a backup.
Posting Your Wedding Photos (Sparklers Included) on Social Media
Do it, please! We love to highlight our brides, and our flashy sparklers add to the thrill of sharing your momentous photos. Also, we love showcasing our clients’ photos and the amazing and unique ways they’ve chosen to use our delightful torch-like favors to celebrate their joyous occasions. Plus, we’ll repost, tag, and brag on all our clients’ glitzy wedding photographs.
Visit Sparklers Online on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for inspiration and to follow, like, and share all things wedding sparklers.
Libba Durrett is the founder of Sparklers Online – The Original Sparkler Company. Get the ultimate guide to wedding sparklers here.
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