Photo session in the rain, why don't you be afraid
A photo shoot in the rain is a different look at photos
"What if it rains?" is a question that photographers hear before every holiday. It is understandable, after all, a photo session in the rain is specific, for example, after wearing a wedding dress, you don't really want to splash in puddles. This is why every photographer should have a plan B.
The most important thing when working on a rainy day is preparation. Celebrations cannot be postponed, so even if the weather is bad, you need to take pictures here and now.
Baggage
If your clients are planning an outdoor photo shoot, always consider the possibility of rain when preparing for it. You really can't go wrong if you have:
- Umbrella. It is best to have more than enough to cover both the participants of the celebration and yourself. Pay attention to the color of the umbrellas. Black does not "cut" with any other color, does not interfere and does not catch the eye too much. However, it is best to choose transparent umbrellas because they let all the light through and do not create any colored shadows on people's faces.
- Extra clothes. For all the evil, take extra clothes. They will definitely come in handy if you get wet or dirty, although there will still be a lot of work to do…
- Plastic bags. You must also be prepared for the situation after the rain. The ground and grass will be wet, which can affect posing. If you take black and white bags, the young ones can sit on the ground without getting dirty. Even in the worst weather, you will be able to capture a variety of photos.
- Towels. When it rains, you need to take care of your equipment. Most cameras are not waterproof, so you need to have something on hand to wipe down your gear quickly.
Place
The most important thing is finding the right place. Find some prettier spots ahead of time so that you can go there for photoshoots when the weather is bad.
You need to know what photos you can take where. First of all, you need to plan the official photos of the participants of the celebration. Most of the time, they are photographed at the place of the celebration, because it is more convenient for everyone. You can also not be afraid of rain here. Therefore photographer must attend a wedding rehearsal to assess whether the venue will be safe from the rain.
You also need a plan for portrait photos. They should not be the same, so you need a place where there is a large selection.
Light
Light is very important in a photo session. When it's raining, it's much harder to find good lighting.
A few main places where you can have a photo session in the rain:
- Buildings. This is the most ideal option. If it is cold and windy outside, everyone is comfortable and well inside the buildings. But it's more complicated with light, so choose places with large windows to get as much natural light as possible. Especially suitable for the lobbies of hotels, churches or other buildings. Also look at the places of the festival itself.
- Closed parking lots. It may sound strange, but these places have excellent lighting. Lots of light, directional light and shelter from the rain. It couldn't be better! You can also get interesting colors and backgrounds.
- Gazebos. The simplest way. It works best when it's raining, unfortunately, it doesn't work when it's cold and windy. The plus point is that the gazebos hardly block the light.
If it rains lightly, umbrellas will definitely be enough: you can continue working where you planned. Just make sure the umbrella doesn't cast too many shadows, especially on the faces of the people being photographed.
Decisions
On the day of the wedding, you will have to decide whether to use the Plan B seats. If you start scrambling on the day of the event, you can postpone the decision until the last minute, because there is always a chance that the clouds will clear and you can work as planned. But if it's pouring like a bucket, you'll have to let your customers know your plans in advance. Reassure them that the photos will still look great – your positivity will help them relax.
Portrait photo sessions
Here is something completely different - you can simply postpone the photo session. If, however, you have decided to work, in this case it is not so important if people get wet and dirty, you have more options. Even on a rainy day, you can have a lot of fun doing a photo shoot: just grab your rubber boots and go outside to have fun! A rainy day can produce fantastic lighting, so if you and the client are ready, go for it!
Of course, you need to take good care of your equipment when shooting in the rain. It is not worth spending a huge amount on a cover that you will only use a few times. Even in the heaviest rain, a large garbage bag with a hole for the lens will suffice. Just make sure that no water gets on the lens itself before shooting.
The photo shoot can be done at the client's home. Since the photos are taken in your own space, they are a little more personal, and the natural light coming through the windows will be the best lighting.
Other types of photography
Taking photos of streets, landscapes, sporting events, etc. on a rainy day is different from taking photos in the sun. Although the mountain will be in the same place, a photo taken in bad weather will evoke completely different emotions.
It's interesting to see how things change in the rain. Maybe the city streets are not so active, but life goes on. Maybe you'll take more pictures out the window.
Cloudy skies can ruin your mood, but with a little change of plans and a positive attitude, you can create the best photos. And customers will be satisfied with your work in bad weather and ability to get a good result. Very professional.