One of the most significant aspects of any photo, that can make or break it, is the lighting. I talk with every client about how crucial the light is for your wedding photos; and Swift River Ranch has some beautiful light all day, and this wedding is an excellent example of bluebird skys.
As a photojournalist, good lighting helps me set the tone and the mood for each part of the day. I like to use it to enhance and bring out the subjects of the picture so they feel separate from the background. This adds depth and layering, bringing a beautiful drama to your images.
Clear skies are always a beautiful and welcome sight on a wedding day, but up until late afternoon when the shadows start getting longer, the light just isn’t ideal. Clear skies in the afternoon create harsh, contrasty shadows from directly overhead, making conditions challenging to work in. This light doesn’t make your photos bad, but it does limit how we can work with it.
My preference is to find open shade to work in, it’s extremely kind to skin tones, beautiful and easy to work with. Swift River Ranch has plenty of open shade to work with. Tall trees to hide under extending to the west give this place beautiful light all day long.
At SRR starting in the mid-afternoon, you have several options for formals, the outdoor ceremony location is in full shade and a little later in the afternoon, the light comes full and dramatic through the trees or down the road depending on the direction you walk.
Dramatic lighting starts to appear about five hours before sunset. I always recommend finding outdoor activity during the best light of the day. That’s why I make sure every single couple has at least 10 minutes of formals together just before sunset.
Ideally, I’ve found it best to do 3 or 4 rounds of formals for about 10 minutes each instead of one big long section of formals. This gives each little session a different feel and vibe, making your images more authentic, it’s also a good way to make sure you don’t get “photoed out”.
Swift River Ranch in Billings, Montana
Swift River Ranch is located just to the west of Billings, but not quite to Laurel. I love working weddings at Swift River because of the beautiful outdoor lighting all day long. The beautiful property is close to town, making it easy for guests (& vendors!) to access. Another great thing about this venue is that everything happens on location, which always simplifies the wedding day timeline. They have a space for both sides to get ready. On top of that, they also have an inside backup location for any unexpected weather changes, who knows what the unpredictable Billings weather might decide to do... The indoor and outdoor ceremony locations can easily fit 200+ guests, making them perfect for those larger weddings.
Take a look at the images below and see if you can tell the difference between morning light, late afternoon, and that dramatic evening lighting.
Want to guarantee that you get the best possible light for your wedding photos? I help every one of my clients create a custom timeline for their wedding with the goal of making the day as stress-free as possible and ensuring all the photos happen in beautiful light.
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