Welcome to the Wedding Gap Podcast; I'm your host, Annie Shannon. For this full solo episode, I thought it would be nice to talk about something that is so simple but often trivial.

We are going to be talking about lighting. As a photographer, I will share what lighting looks good on a wedding day and what doesn't. We will also be bridging the gap between disabilities and weddings by talking about how lighting affects people with epilepsy, ADHD, autism, and other processing disorders.

Full disclosure, I am not a doctor, and the things I will be sharing in this podcast are basic knowledge I have come across through being in the wedding industry and having friends with epilepsy, ADHD, autism, and other processing disorders.

We will be going through the lighting scenarios in order of a typical wedding day timeline so it's not causing any confusion. So without further ado, let's get started.

While we're at it, I will give you an overview of what we will discuss so you can follow along. You can skip to the part that is most important to you.

I recommend that you listen to this whole podcast because you might learn something new that you have yet to think of.

So first, we're going to be talking about getting ready, so getting ready locations where to get ready, lighting for that.

Then we're going to be talking about pre-ceremony photos and first looks.

We will be talking about ceremony lighting, family portraits, and couple portraits.

Then we'll talk about reception, lighting, and DJ lighting.

And we will then talk about exits, and we'll have a recap at the very end so that you're able to make sure that you have all the things that you need to know.

So let's get started.

Getting Ready Lighting for Photos

Let’s talk about getting ready. I want to take a moment and acknowledge all the past grooms who had been shoved in a closet or a basement. Moment of silence.

Y'all if you are planning your wedding now, here is the best opportunity to switch the narrative and make sure your groom has a beautiful getting ready location. It doesn't have to be perfect, but why would someone want to be in a cave, honestly. Yes, “man cave”, but it's a beautiful day; they're just as excited as you are, and I think they deserve to have a little bit of sunlight, even if it is one singular window that is big enough to brighten up the space. But yes, make sure that your groom has a nice getting-ready space and isn't shoved in a closet.

Now for getting ready photos, you want to make sure that there is natural lighting because natural lighting is always best in this situation, and it is the most sought out.

If you look at getting-ready photos, you will often only see natural lighting, and unless your photographer uses direct flash when you are getting ready, that's a completely different situation. but in general, natural lighting is best.

What you should avoid is fluorescent and Tusk and lighting when it comes to getting ready fluorescent, because it can often overstimulate people with ADHD, autism and sensory processing disorders, they're often found in grocery stores, classrooms, and the flickering can cause epileptic episodes and migraines.

So if you have chronic migraines, maybe avoid fluorescent lighting for you're getting ready scenario situation.

I would also avoid tuskin light because if it's not placed properly in the room, it can cause an uneven color when it comes to being next to natural light, and as a rule of thumb, it's generally only found at reception.

We'll get into that later on in the episode, but I would say using natural lighting helps avoid needing to be around any artificial lighting that could be flickering or pulsing and overstimulate, causing epileptic episodes cause, migraines, all that jazz.

Pre-Ceremony Lighting for Photos

Moving on to pre-ceremony photos and 1st looks when we're talking about pre-ceremony photos. We're talking about pictures with your bridesmaids, pictures with your groomsmen, and getting those out of the way, so you do not have to do it after the ceremony. And then we're also talking about first looks.

Natural lighting is always best when it comes to this. I will say sometimes it is a little bright. So we're going to find a shaded area unless it's getting closer to golden hour so that we can take some pictures.

I would say just keep an eye out, make sure your venue has a little bit of shade because you don't want it to be a field and absolutely no shade to be found when it comes to those pictures for your first look, your pre-ceremony photos with your bridesmaids and groomsmen, maybe you're doing a whole wedding party photo or knocking out your family photos right before the ceremony because that is key to making sure the wedding timeline is super smooth.

However, I understand that some family doesn't want to arrive until the ceremony. That's fine, we can work your timeline around what you need and what your family needs.

Ceremony Lighting for Photos

With ceremony lighting, we're going to make sure that the sun is behind you or in front of you. We do not want the sun to be on your side or your love side. We want it to be either behind you or in front of you at the altar.

The biggest mistake that venues make is that they place the arch in a place where you will have the sun either in front of your partner's face or in your face and one of you is forced to squint.

I don't recommend that, you don't want that. I don't want that for you. It also makes for very harsh lighting in your photos, and it just does not look good.

I would also like to recommend that you have your outdoor ceremony two hours before sunset, which would ensure that your lighting is optimal. It's called golden hour. It's absolutely beautiful.

In Texas would recommend that you do not have an outdoor ceremony between June and August, or at least have a backup plan if it is going to be 90 degrees that day because we've got grandparents, we've got people who can't be out in the heat for too long. We want to make sure that these people are comfortable. Your guests are comfortable, you and your spouse are comfortable and not sweating through your suit or dress.

Let's just make sure that it's a beautiful situation, so I would recommend not having outdoor ceremony during that season but if you must, two hours before sunset.

As for indoor ceremony, lighting, natural lighting is best, and it is preferred, but if it's not available for you, if possible, set up fairy lights. If those aren't possible, we can work with whatever lighting that's there.

However, be aware that if you dim the lights too much, the photos will come out really dark and kind of grainy.

Family, Bridal Party, and Couple’s Portrait Lighting

After your ceremony, you are going to be going into family portraits and full bridal party portraits if those weren't taken care of before the wedding.

I would recommend either having it at the altar that you got married at unless the lighting is not optimal, and then we're going to be moving to a different location where the lighting is preferred so that your photos will be worthy of mom and dad's mantle.

With couples portraits, we're going to go into a beautiful natural area, and we're going to take pictures within an hour of sunset.

Going back to where your ceremony was, do not have your ceremony an hour before sunset so that there's no time to take your pictures because we have your family pictures and all that. It's going to get really dark really fast.

Make sure your ceremony is 2 hours before sunset, and your portrait session with family and yourselves is within an hour before sunset; that will make for the most beautiful photos, and you will thank me later.

Reception Lighting for Photos

Moving on to reception lighting! This is the fun part cause you can get really creative with candles, fairy lights, and Tuscan lighting.

Be aware that raw wood does create this reddish-orangish effect in photos. So if you're wanting really good photos, make sure that your photographer knows how to handle that situation.

I personally have been experimenting with off-camera flash, and it has turned out really lovely in those situations.

But if there is lighting coming through the windows, then I will work with that, and it makes the whole setting look so beautiful.

If you do have family or friends that are coming, and they happen to have epilepsy, as a photographer, I cannot use flash around them for their safety because the flash could cause an epileptic reaction.

So if you were to plan a reception so that you can completely avoid flash, I would plan for a morning wedding with an afternoon reception and allow for the end of it to be two hours before sunset so that you're able to get portraits with your spouse outdoors at golden hour, and then you guys can escape.

Now, if you're going to have a morning slash afternoon wedding where the sun is still out, I would make sure that the reception ends around golden hour or that you are able to leave the reception during golden hour so that you're able to get couple’s portraits.

You're also avoiding the need for flash, especially if your reception hall is filled with windows. I will say if you are trying to avoid any sort of epileptic reaction, natural light is going to be your best bet. Finding a venue that has plenty of it will make sure that your photographer doesn't even touch a flash.

Be sure you notify me or your photographer if someone at your wedding has epilepsy so that we can avoid using flash and rent a video light and use that the whole time and avoid any risk. That's the whole goal.

With DJ lighting, let's get to the fun part. Avoid lasers and I'll tell you why: it destroys $12,000 cameras. Yeah, I saw a reel the other day. And someone had been recording something on their $12,000 camera, and the DJ's lights went directly into that sensor and deleted pixels through the whole video, and so the clients have missing pixels in their video.

It's like a black line in the middle of the video. It's horrendous—a nightmare. I don't recommend it. Make sure that your DJ does not have lasers.

When it comes to DJ lighting, what fits your vibe, go for it! But be aware if you want those beautiful light draw photos, fairy lights are how you'll get it, not the colored DJ flashing lights.

I also want to say that strobe lights can cause epileptic reactions, so be aware. Don't have that if you have someone with epilepsy at your wedding; talk to your DJ. Make sure everything is good, peachy keen, all that.

I don't want to be ragging on any DJs. DJs are amazing. They often add to the environment, so make sure you pick a DJ with a really good flow about them, and you'll be good regardless of what kind of lighting your reception has.

A DJ should not be leaning on lighting to make their product fun.

Exit Lighting for Photos

Moving on to the final thing exits, I want to give a public service announcement:

If you have drunk guests, do not have sparklers because drunk guests plus fire equals: a wedding dress on fire. Haha! No, but seriously, I've put out a fire on a wedding dress before because a drunk guest did not want to listen, their countenance has fallen.

Do not trust them. Do not pass go. Do not have sparklers at a very drunk wedding with an open bar. If a person has one or two drinks, they should be fine. If they know their limits, they should be fine. You know the people that you are inviting to your wedding; plan accordingly.

Now if you want an option that doesn't have anything to do with fire, bubbles with flash, or with video light looks amazing. A video light does not flash like a flash, it's just a constant light and it looks amazing, and no epileptic reactions there.

And another option is your glow sticks. Those are really cool, waving glow sticks. I've seen flashlights. I've seen bells. One of my favorites is leaf confetti. So whole punched leaves that are blown and thrown by the guests at the couple create this beautiful magic fairy dust, and it's biodegradable because they are leaves. Flower petals are another thing.

And finally, my goto my favorite, if you are at an Airbnb and you have the opportunity to do this and change before you do it, if you want to save your wedding dress and tux: is jumping in the pool. Do it. It's amazing. It's so fun. So cool. You will be the coolest couple ever. Do this.

Talk to your photographer before you do it so they can set up the proper lighting, especially me, because I want to make sure that this whole thing is captured perfectly.

Let's recap everything.

Natural lighting is best. If it's too bright, ensure there's a little shade for your pre-ceremony photos, and avoid fluorescent lighting altogether and flashing lights if there is anyone with epilepsy. Talk to your DJ about avoiding strobe and lasers and fast flashing color lights if that will cause issues, and especially if you want the light drawn type, look for your photos, and don't forget to notify your photographer if there are any guests that can't be around flash.

As always, if you liked this episode, please leave a five-star review. It will really help me out, and you can follow me at annieshannon.co on just about anything. The links will be in the show notes.

Until next time take care, be kind, and find ways to bridge the gap for others.