Venue Search Tips from a Photographer – Light

You go to look at a venue. It’s charming, is beautiful, it has all you need at the perfect price point. BUT have you looked at it from a photographer’s perspective?

Getting ready rooms at venues are often just rooms, they work, they get the job done. But often from a photography perspective they’re sub-par. The light is bad, the space is cramped, or whatever else. No space will be perfect, but there are a few things you can look for on your tours to know it will elevate your getting ready photos on your wedding day.

First, is the light. Photographers love good light.

Look at the windows & the lights. Are the windows big, letting in lots of natural light, or are they small and dark? What are the lights like? Are they bright, dim, super yellow, etc.

A good way to tell if it might be funky (aside from asking your photographer friends) is to take a photo with your phone of someone in the room with the lights on, and with the lights off. Can you tell if they look really yellow, or is the lighting really harsh creating weird shadows? Are the window lights well lit, too dark, or bright but dramatic?

Well versed photographers can work with anything, but it’s always good to have in mind how the space is, because even with the most talented photographers the space influences the photos.

Another thing to keep in mind along with the light is the wall color. The color will influence your photos both by being in the photos, and because the light in the room will reflect off the walls. If the walls are warm toned, the light will feel warmer toned, and same with cool walls. I believe cooler or neutral toned walls are best, as indoor lighting is usually on the warm side of the light spectrum, and making warm light warmer isn’t ideal!

The photos above were all taken with window light in a cool toned room. The photos below were taken in warm toned rooms, the one on the left was in window light and the one on the right had indoor lights on as well as light from a small window.

Whatever the getting ready area is like at the venue you choose, the photos will be a fun testament to your time that morning and a start to the story of your wedding day!

Hotels also make good getting ready spaces, if you go that route make sure to get a bigger suite room so there is space for people & things!

These light tips apply to more than just the getting ready spaces at venues, you can use them for the other venue and ceremony spaces too!