I have seen this shot many times by other photographers. I have been waiting for the opportunity to prove I could make this shot happen, and even better than I have seen it done before. Finally, by chance, a bride booked me for the location – The Coronado Community Center. I already knew in my head that it would take three lights, I just wasn’t sure where I was going to put the lights. I knew that I had to have one on a small lightstand right behind the couple, and one to camera right of the couple. The third light was going to go where? Well, after testing the shot with my assistant, I figured out that the third light went in the front of the fountain at camera left.

I did all this during the wedding. While everyone was eating we grabbed three lights, and stands and went out and fired a few test shots. After I was ready to go, I simply went inside and asked the couple to come out for great night shot. I think I took 4 frames, and the one below was my favorite. There is no “Photoshop”, this is pretty much right out of the camera with the exception of some brushes in Lightroom.

I could not believe that the shot was that simple. Just a few test shots, and then bam.. nailed it!

Caption: Coronado Community Center Wedding
Artist: Tony Gillilan
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Shot at 24 mm
Exposure: Manual exposure, 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800
Flash: Off Camera, Fired
Keywords: Coronado, coronado community center, san diego, wedding
Date: April 15, 2016 7:50:54PM
Location: Coronado, California, United States
Latitude/longitude: 32.677116, -117.171884

Coronado Community Center Wedding