I have photographed a few weddings that have fireworks displays, and I was recently asked by a fellow photographer how I photograph them. Well, photographing the fireworks themselves is a straightforward affair, but photographing the bride and groom with the fireworks in the background can prove to be difficult. First, you will need to figure out where the fireworks are going to be set off. If they are far away, you will likely have no trouble getting the couple and the fireworks in the frame. If they are close, though, you may have to elevate the couple (on a small wall or chairs) so taht you can take photographs of the bride and groom and the fireworks almost directly overhead.

In terms of exposing, my default setting is 1600, 2.8 at 1/30. I add some flash to illuminate the bride and groom, but I dial it down so that I don’t overexpose them. Here are a few from two recent weddings:

I am testing a new camera, so the kids had to be my subjects! Cody (my five year old) knows to run when I start doing camera testing- but Jackson (my two year old) doesn’t move fast enough yet. If he sticks with the skateboard, though, he may learn to outrun me…

I was filling an order today for Doug and Joanne, a couple that I photographed almost two years ago at the Mount Washington Hotel. I wanted to post this photograph because Joanne had the most gorgeous flowers- there is a lot of wedding propaganda that says you have to choose flowers that match your dress or your bridesmaid dresses, but Joanne has made a lovely choice of flowers here and has chosen flowers that echo the seasons. As you can see, they look beautiful with all of the matching fall foliage in the background- this was one of the most stunning bouquets from that wedding season!