Night Time wedding....will pictures turn out bad b/c it's at night?

That is a good question. We are getting married at 5pm in SD. Since it will be cold I think we will be doing most inside.

It depends mainly on the photographer to be honest. If you have a competent photographer who knows how to use ambient and off camera flash you should be ok.

If you have a photographer that knows what they are doing you can get amazing pictures. However if you have one that does not know how to do take pictures in low and minimal lighting than yeah they might be terrible. I would check the portfolio of vendors and see what they can offer you for quality for what you are hoping for.

I think if you have a good photographer you wil be fine. But that may be something you want to ask about when searching for a photographer to ssee if he/she has experience in night photos and if they have any that they have taken that you can take a look at.

It will be fine if you aren't trying to go cheap with your photographer (though you shouldn't do that anyway). Make sure that before you hire them they have a night shoot under there belt already and that you like the way it looks.

Video and photo aside, keep this in mind: If it's too dark for video and photo, then it's probably too dark for your guests as well! So much time and money is spent on the wedding details, only for it all to be left in the dark...hidden from the guests. I'm constantly amazed at how many wedding venues in my area sell outdoor wedding packages, yet have inadequate lighting, or usually NO lighting, in the ceremony area. A few bucks for a couple of $5 floodlights mounted outside wouldn't break the venue's bank account...especially when a bride is spending 10's of thousands of dollars for one night with them! I really don't understand it, since it would be in the venue's BEST interest these days, for photogs and videogs to get good shots...knowing they'll end up all over Facebook, blogs, etc. It's free advertising!

Sorry, rant over! But yeah, you'd think a 5:30pm wedding would have great lighting. But I've been to SO many that ended up pitch black during the vows!

Good luck!

I agree if the photographer knows how to use the flash properly it should be fine. I would recommend spending some time on the lighting in ceremony location and reception before the wedding and communicating with the photographer about your concerns.

Good luck!

If you have a good photographer they will turn out awesome.

Be absolutely certain to only hire a photographer who has done night photography of weddings before. It's not just about using a flash - there's a lot more involved in that, especially for portrait work. Expect to need a little more time than usual for formals and family/group shots. Your photographer may need to use much different equipment for doing shots indoors, under artificial light, than he or she uses doing any photography outside in dim light to darkness.

BTW, this is DEFINITELY a case where you don't want to be using Uncle Bob to take your photos, if you want decent photography of your wedding.

I'm getting married in the evening in November as well, so we're doing out photos before the ceremony around sunset. I really didn't want night-time shots, so this was the only way to work around it.

The amateur photogs (i.e., your guests) may not get great pix, but a good pro should be able to deal with it. Ask for samples of twilight weddings they've done. Ask what time of year the samples were taken.

I agree with all the photographers before me on here. You need a pro (not your Uncle Bob or a cousin) a d90 is not going to get it done.

You should search for a photographer who is knowledgeable in off camera lighting. And you should move the ceremony up if you think it will be dark, because nothing ruins the moment like more than one flash going off a million times during your ceremony. It’s one thing during the portraits but the ceremon

With a great photographer you won't need to worry. We are a wedding film company and assisted a photographer with the shoot. Our director and intern handled the battery operated lighting (all portable) quick and easy; while the photographer did the shoot right in the middle of LaSalle street with the city as a backdrop. Here is the link: http://networkedblogs.com/cKzCq

Out here in Arizona, the sun goes down fast in November. If you are alright with all your images being at night, and you have a great photographer booked, then you should be fine. However, if you want more variety in your images, you might want to consider doing a "first look", so that you have some images with daylight and some with night scene. A photographers flash is not the same as daylight.

On the upside, I know exactly why you chose November, because it is in my option the best month climate wise to get married. It will be gorgeous out and your guests will love it!!!

Hey Alix,

Nighttime, in a well light venue, with nice floodlighting, and a photographer who can control the color temperature of the different light sources, will have no issues....adds to the mood...

Feel free to contact me thru my page, if you have any other questions...