A Southport wedding photographer has shared some of his favourite shots with the Visiter.co.uk and told us what it is like to photograph a couple's special day outdoors.
Matthew Rycraft of Matthew Rycraft Photography says that outdoor weddings can produce some of the most amazingly colourful photographs, but would recommend that the ceremony is held out in the sunshine with the rest of the guests, not under shade.
He said: "There's nothing better than a outdoor wedding when the weather is fabulous, with the sun is cracking the flags.
"In terms of wedding photography, outdoor weddings offer the chance to get some fabulous wide shots of all the guests and the wedding location in sunlight, these always look fabulous when printed."
Matthew said that balancing the lighting can be one of the trickiest parts of the job, but when you get it right, it can create some of the most stunning shots.
He said: "Every venue, inside or out, has it's advantages and disadvantages, I'm yet to find 'perfect' lighting conditions. However with outdoor wedding you can manage the lighting conditions to a certain extent.
"A 12pm outdoor wedding can be more difficult to shoot as the sun is high and directly above creating harsh shadows, getting a balanced exposure requires more skill, especially if the ceremony is being held in a covered area, as the bride and groom will be in shadow and guests in direct sunlight.
"There are two separate exposures, so it's hard to get detail on the background if it so bright when shooting the bride and groom.
"Ideally I would suggest the bride and groom hold their ceremony outside in the sunlight and not be covered by shade, this becomes easier to shoot as they will be standing in the same lighting conditions as the guests and the exposure will be more balance across the whole scene.
"Most photographers can't stand direct harsh sunlight, but I love it when I can control it. I get told when it's cloudy by guests, ' you must love it being cloudy', I often reply 'not really'. When it's cloudy shadows are flat, photographs hold no depth, they lack punch."
"Another reason to love outdoor weddings is your wedding photographs have more punch, more colours, especially if the sky is vibrant blue.
"Being able to make the most of direct sunlight as a wedding photographer is being able to pose the bride and groom in such a way that the sunlight cuts across their faces and the location, making the most magnificent striking wedding photograph, but this requires skill and experience and when accomplished, will be fabulous."
So what is a experienced wedding photographers advice if you are thinking of an outdoor wedding?Matthew said: "Most wedding venues that offer outdoor weddings tend to hold the drinks reception after the ceremony outside, a popular choose for drinks is Pimms, if your wedding is being held outside you most certainly want to keep your guests out, so serve your canapés and drinks outside too.
"BBQ's and hog roasts are also a popular choose, many couples are choosing for a more casual dining experience nowadays rather than a formal sit down three course.
"My advice would be, a 3pm ceremony outside; 5pm casual dining, such as a tea party, posh BBQ or hog roast; 6:30pm band starts; 7pm evening guests start to arrive; 8pm DJ; 9pm bands second set straight into a night of partying. Perfect."
Source: The perfect outdoor wedding photography
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