Tulsa Wedding Photographers - Choosing a Setting For Portraits

Choosing a Setting for Portraits by Jake Aldrich of Epic Tulsa Wedding Photography

Being good at choosing a setting for portraits is one of the biggest skills you can have as a photographer. Tulsa wedding photographers are required to take many different kinds of portraits, and the setting can make a dramatic difference in the overall feel of the picture. The background of the photo obviously has the biggest impact on the feel, but object in the foreground can be used to affect the mood as well. It’s very important that when you‘re choosing a location, you know what your client is wanting from their photos. Whether they are going for romantic bride/groom portraits or fun engagement pictures, the setting is one of the biggest factors in the way the picture ends up.

For engagement photos the mood you are trying to set is usually romantic, but a lot of couples want some fun photos as well. Sometimes the couple makes it easy and they have you go to the place where they met, or possibly the location of their wedding ceremony. Other times, you have to help them decide on the location based on what they have told you about what they want from their photos. If they want very romantic photos, you will usually try to keep the background simple, and will probably end up with more close-up shots. If they want edgier shots, an old building or a view of a city skyline in the background can give you the feel you’re looking for.

With bridal portraits, you usually want a dreamy, fairy-tale setting, although sometimes the bride wants something a little edgier. For a traditional bride, doing the bridal session at the ceremony venue is usually the best location. If you’re going for the dreamier look, a garden or park can be a good setting. Tulsa wedding photographers like to use the Rose Garden at Woodward Park, as this gives them both a park setting as well as a garden setting. For an edgier look, doing the bridal session in a downtown, urban area can give you the look you want.

Choosing the best setting can seem a little daunting at first, but with a little research into what your client is looking for with their portrait session you can narrow down the options and find the perfect location for their shoot.