When The Sun Goes Down At Your Wedding

Why We Love Shooting Weddings After Dark (And Why Off-Camera Flash Is Our Secret Weapon)

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Weddings are amazing—we absolutely love them. There’s something magical about the laughter, the dancing, and the little moments that unfold as the day turns into night. But here’s a confession: we especially love documenting weddings when the sun goes down. Why? Because that’s when the real fun begins. The guests who were camera-shy earlier? They’re now relaxed, letting loose, and giving us those candid, joy-filled shots that make wedding albums unforgettable.

If you’re a wedding photographer reading this, you might think we’re a little crazy. After all, modern cameras have come a long way. But here’s the truth: photographing fast-moving subjects in low light—think Aunt Valerie cutting loose on the dance floor—is still a challenge if you want those photos to look amazing anywhere other than a tiny iPhone screen.

Now, we won’t bore our lovely engaged couples with too much tech talk, but here’s the reality: there are only a few ways to expose a photo correctly in low light.

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Option 1: Slow Down the Shutter Speed

Sure, you can slow the shutter speed down. But unless you ask everyone to dance verrrry slowly (and where’s the fun in that?), you’ll end up with blurry images. Not ideal for those epic dance floor moments.

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Option 2: Crank Up the ISO

On digital cameras, ISO is like a magic trick—it makes the sensor more sensitive to light. But the higher you go, the more “grain” you add to the image. Some photographers call it artistic, and sometimes it is. But if you want to print those photos and hang them on your wall, that grain will look less like art and more like a mistake.

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Option 3: Add Artificial Light

This is where things get interesting. Adding light—preferably via well-placed off-camera flash—is a game-changer. (Quick note: on-camera flash is a whole different story, and usually comes with red-eye warnings. We’ll pass on that.)

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Option 4: Use a Fast Aperture Lens

Fast lenses are amazing and let in loads of natural light. They’re essential, but they won’t solve everything on their own.

So Why Off-Camera Flash?

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Here’s the thing: a lot of photographers shy away from off-camera flash. Maybe it’s the learning curve, maybe it’s the extra gear. But from our perspective? We LOVE it. It gives us control, creativity, and the ability to make those nighttime shots look just as stunning as the golden-hour portraits.

Rather than explaining why in words, we’ll let the photos do the talking. Because when you see the difference, you’ll understand why we’re obsessed.

Bottom line: Weddings don’t stop being beautiful when the sun sets—and neither should your photos. With the right tools and techniques, those after-dark moments can shine just as brightly as the rest of the day.