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5 Summer Wedding Photography Tips to Get it Right

Keeping the warm weather and longer hours of sunshine in mind, many couples choose to get married in the summer. And for many wedding photographers, summer weddings come as a treat too! The relaxed atmosphere, the pastel color themes, and the bright sunshine create the perfect setting for light and airy wedding photography too. But while there are many upsides to photographing summer weddings, high temperatures and too much light can also make it challenging to take wedding photos. In this blog, we bring you some summer wedding photography tips that could help you be better prepared for your day.

Photography Tips For Summer Weddings

1. Fix a Timeline

Infographic stating photographing in the summer means facing extra challenges, so be prepared

Even though things may not always run as scheduled at weddings, it would be helpful to create a timeline in advance. If you can, discuss this timeline with your couple and finalize it before the wedding day. A wedding photography timeline would be especially beneficial if you plan to take photos outside. As the day passes, it will begin to get hotter, and the lighting will get harsher, so when you do prepare your timeline and shot list, try to divide all the photographs on your list according to the time of the day.

Related Read: How To Create Your Ultimate Wedding Photography Timeline

2. Choose A Summer-Friendly Outfit

Infographic stating dress as best as you can to stay cool in the summer and choose light and breathable fabric

Another summer wedding photography tip is to choose your wedding photographer outfit while keeping the weather in mind. Constantly moving around while carrying your equipment is difficult enough, and doing it on a hot, sunny day can get even trickier. You may sweat more and get tired quickly while working right under the sun. If your couple already has a dress code for you, it’s important to adhere to it. But if that’s not the case, we would suggest that you pick something made from a breathable material. Even if it’s a summer wedding, you are still expected to look sharp and professional, so even if you are wearing something slightly loose, you don’t want to look poorly dressed. If black is usually your go-to color, you might want to stay away from it for a summer wedding. Instead, you could pick a pastel color.

Remember to wear your sunscreen and a hat (if it doesn’t violate any dress codes and goes with your outfit). It’s going to be a long day, so stay hydrated and pack extra wet wipes, face blotters, and towels to keep yourself fresh throughout the day. You could also carry a refreshing face mist with you! If the timeline allows, you could take frequent breaks under the shade to recharge yourself.

Related Read: Wedding Photographer Dress Code: How To Dress For The Job

3. Bring Out The Summer Vibe

Even though shooting summer weddings can be challenging in some ways, they also offer immense opportunities to get stellar photographs of the wedding venue and the surrounding areas too (especially if it’s an outdoor wedding). Besides beautiful locations, many summer weddings usually have the most elegant and colorful decor that makes for gorgeous detail photos. So try to keep some spots on your shot list reserved for those! The bride and/or bridesmaids’ outfits might be an ode to summer as well, so look for any details that symbolize that.

If there are any additional elements like hand fans being given out to ease the heat, you could photograph them too. Any unique icy cocktails or summer coolers on the menu? You could add them to your visual story as well.

4. Find Shade or Create It

Infographic stating finding shade and knowing how to use the light will help you beat the heat at a summer wedding

Moving to areas with some shade could be a good idea when taking group photos or couple portraits around noon. This will not only help you escape the midday heat, but your models will also be able to pose better when they are not directly standing under the sun. It will also work as a natural diffuser and eliminate any harsh shadows to give your wedding images a softer look. You could pose your models under a tree, or if you are by a building, you could look for some shade there. If it works in the setting you are in, you could also create your own shade using an umbrella. Photographing on a bright sunny day might also lead to some parts of or some of your images being over-exposed. So keep an eye on your camera settings to avoid any overexposed pictures.

5. Use the Golden Hour

While the harsh sunlight can make it difficult for your couples to pose and for you to get good photographs, you could use the golden hour to make up for that lost time! So when the time comes, steal your couple away from the festivities and take advantage of the beautiful lighting at your disposal during the sunset. During the summer, the light lingers on for a little longer before it’s completely dark, so you could also try experimenting with some unique angles, poses, and even silhouettes! Just keep this summer wedding photography tip in mind – note down the time of sunset on the wedding day so you can plan it right.

Summer Wedding Photography Inspiration By SDE Customers

1. Brandi Allyse Photo

a recently married couple holding hands and running through a hayfield Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @brandiallysephoto

2. J. Perryman Photography

a couple looking at each other standing on a large empty field Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @jperrymanphotography

3. Olson Design Photography

a recently married couple kissing each other amidst the wedding guestsImage Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @olsondesignphotography

4. Danny Dong Photography

a bride on a swing under a tree overlooking a lake while the groom sways herImage Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @dannydong

5. Jodi B Photography

a recently married couple standing between a stone gate and kisses while the sun shines between themImage Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @jodibphotography

Work With The Weather and Time of Day

Infographic stating plan to work with the weather and temperature, not against it

Even though it can get a little tough to shoot a summer wedding, try your best to enjoy the perks that come with the weather! Longer hours of natural light, breathtaking outdoor locations, and gorgeous golden hours are some of the best things about summer weddings! While you may want to stick with a specific timeline to avoid the harsh lighting and heat, try not to rush through the photos. Planning in advance would certainly help give you direction, but don’t get disheartened if things don’t go as scheduled. Try to take small breaks if possible and keep yourself hydrated. Since you can’t control the weather, we suggest that you be mindful of your outfit and try working with the weather and make the most out of your couple’s special day.

We hope these summer wedding tips come in handy this year!

Further Read: Wedding Photo Ideas: Inspiration From ShootDotEdit Customers

At ShootDotEdit, we are passionate about sharing tips and ideas that could help you hone your skills. We also offer professional photo editing services so that you give your couples the best while we focus on the rest! To learn more about our services, check out our pricing plans.


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