Back in 2012 when Texas was in a perpetual drought, it was the easiest weather forecast for 99% of my couples. No matter what, we knew that their wedding day would be inclement-weather-free, and we rarely discussed anything besides the inevitable heat that would saturate themselves and guests.
But now that rain is making its way back into our everyday lives (hallelujah), I’ve seen an uptick in concerned emails about rain.
I am far from being a meteorologist, but I’ve been to a lot of weddings and photographed a lot of couples in many different weather conditions. I want to show you that awesome photos can be made in all sorts of “less than ideal” weather!
First, don’t freak out about a forecast that’s more than a week away.
Texas weather is so all over the place, there is no reason to fear a rainy forecast a week away, unless the meteorologist is saying the words “hurricane” or “tropical storm.” We can talk about contingencies then, but if it’s the “usual” Texas thunderstorm or rainstorm, by all means have your rain plan hammered out and in your back pocket, but I can almost guarantee you that Mother Nature will surprise us all.
Second, weather won’t always cooperate — but we can still rock it
Photography is about light, so manipulating light or finding solutions to unflattering lighting is one of the big things that photographers plan on.
On extremely sunny days, you may squint during your outdoor ceremony, but have amazing sunset portraits. Maybe it’s cloudy and we have wonderful diffused lighting, almost like a glow on you, during the ceremony, but you feel the sun is going down without any fanfare. Maybe it’s raining all day and you have to move everything indoors, much to your disappointment; but hey, we can make amazing nighttime rain portraits.
So let’s quell your fears and do some show-and-tell with light.
This was a cloud-free, sunny morning. Sunrise is a beautiful time of day to shoot.
Sun can quickly get very bright, about 2 hours after sunrise. This couple had morning brunch wedding and we found shade to soften the light during portraits. Harsh light can be pretty unforgiving, but luckily, trees are very handy.
However, harsh sunlight is fantastic against windows when you’re getting ready at your venue. So many possibilities! Silhouettes. Three-quarter profiles to the light. You can step forward into it and bathe in it or step away and get a more even glow all over.
There’s an idea floating around that you need to have sun to make pretty photos, but gosh, cloudy days are fab because you can face any direction at any time of the given day and the shadows cast on your face will be gorgeous.
It rained the morning before this couple’s ceremony, but the cloudy light during this afternoon ceremony was perfect during their vows.
It rained during this couple’s ceremony, and a bit after too. A tent and a great attitude made some pretty photos, though.
It rained during this couple’s ceremony, too, so much that everyone was moved inside, but the weather cleared up long enough for the clouds to part right before the sun set.
In Maui, it rains often, but crazy rain clouds give so much character to an otherwise boring blue sky.
And if you think that is individual to Maui — it poured during this couple’s ceremony, but stopped right after, and the clouds were just fabulous. A+, would shoot this again.
Sometimes, the day is cloudless and the sunset is the warmest, hottest rays of sun you’ll ever see….
Sometimes, the sun is so annoying that you’re glad to get in the cool shadows of buildings to photograph your portraits without sweating.
Sometimes it rains ALL DAY, flooding out roads to get your guests home, but even the rain plan looks so good…
Or maybe it rains just a little, and the winter weather gives you some lovely clouds to remember your day.
It may rain off and on, a wonderful onslaught that soaks you quick, then disappears again, and even though there are hours of daylight left, it’s dark as dusk.
Or maybe there is absolutely no light at all, except what the stars give us.
The takeaway?
There is nothing to be afraid of! Rain can make gorgeous photos. Clouds can make gorgeous photos. Crazy sun can make gorgeous photos. Keep a happy attitude and your photos will be wonderful. I promise.
Have questions? Need more information? Leave a comment!
What a great post! You are so thoughtful and in tune with natural light.
And thanks for reminding me to browse through my wedding photos again :)
Thank you so much, Maeve!