Creative use of colour gels for weddings

studio1972

Hi all, I'm looking for some advice.

I've recently bought the rosco strobist gel kit (and a load of velcro) and I've now got my flashes setup so I can easily add gels as required.

The relatively simple part is to attach a tungsten gel when the ambient light is tungsten (i.e. during the evening and the ceremony indoors). I'm fine with that bit.

However, I would also like to make some use of the colour gels for more creative shots. For example, if the colour theme is purple, I can se a purple gel. The way I imagine using this is during the portraits, with the gel on a second flash that could be used to illuminate the background. I might try using it on the bride and groom as well, but not sure if this will just look strange?

I've googled and checked strobist but I can't find any useful info on the best technique for this, or example images. Just wondering if anybody has either done this themselves, or could point me towards a website etc with some info. Otherwise, I guess I'll just try it out for a few shots at a wedding I'm going to on Saturday and see how it goes.

Much appreciated Sarah

Matthew Saville

When it comes to light, I have a few rules of thumb. Mainly in this situation, the rule of thumb you're looking for has to do with the harshness of light and whether or not the couple is looking at the camera. The answer to the question is no, a purple gel would not be a good idea if the shot you need is a "say cheese!" shot where the couple is smiling at the camera. HOWEVER if the couple is paying attention to each other, and your composition is more wide angle, an environmental shot, then yes, accenting the couple with direct purple light might be cool! It all depends on whether or not you need to flatter them with soft, normal light, (for the "say cheese" shot) ...or if you're trying to do something artistic, romantic, or generally creative. (Where the couple is still the subject, but their smiling faces are not necessarily the focal point.)

Other than that, I would say that the best thing to do would be to use such color gels as either a rim light, or a background light, as you mentioned. Put a snoot on a flash and point it at the dance floor, using it to rimlight the couple from behind. Or shine it bare on a wall of the indoor reception, or a tree / building at an outdoor reception. :-)

Good luck!
=Matt=

studio1972

Thanks Matt,

That makes a lot of sense. If it goes well I'll post some of the colour gel images up here next week.

heatherfeather

Speaking of gels... I had a situation last week where the venue had been decorated with bazillions of GREEN Christmas lights. Guess what... I didn't have a "Christmas green" gel. And if I had, I wasn't sure if I would have used it, since there were also florescents in the room as well. It wasn't too bad, but it was an interesting situation, for sure. I gelled for the florescents. But every now and then there is a photo with a bit of green peeking in the shadows of faces or wherever the flash didn't hit.

studio1972

Apart from tungsten gels I only ended up using them a couple of times in the end as we had a load of snow the night before and the bride couldn't go to some of the places I was planning. Here's some shots though (feedback very welcome):

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