The Perfect Last Page: Creating an Epic End-of-the-Night Wedding Portrait

We created this photograph at the end of the wedding day in September 2022. I’ve long-believed that every couple needs an “end of the night” shot to complete the last page of their wedding album. What better way than to have fun and pop champagne?

This image was created in-camera with two steps using Canon’s R6 double exposure feature.

The first step was to step foot outside. I positioned the couple back to back sandwiched between to Profoto A10s at equal power with a Clic dome diffuser in a standard cross-lighting pattern (main light to my left, kicker light to the right and behind). If they were the center of a clock, there’s a light at around 8:00 and 2:00. At the count of three, they spray champagne while I laid on the ground for the shot (I like to shoot up to give people a hero perspective). I used a Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art 012 lens.

For Step 2, to get the fireworks in the sky, we headed inside. The fireworks are actually the signature chandeliers of the spectacular Cliff House Maine’s Atlantic Ballroom. I flipped through my shots from outside to find my favorite frame balancing expression and maximum champagne spray. 

I then entered double exposure mode with the image in live view, pointed my camera to the ceiling, and dropped my exposure until I could see only the highlights of the chandeliers; everything else from the subsequent shot goes transparent or fails to add anything to the original exposure (think: black adds to black). I then repeated this several times to fill the composition using various focal lengths to create more variety in the “fireworks.” I actually changed lenses and used my Canon EOS 70-200 f/2.8 IS II USM for the fireworks so that I could really “reach” the fireworks chandeliers, and play with a little compression.

In post-production, I did only basic retouching, and shifted the colors of the chandeliers to a nice golden hue. 

This image earned an Imaging Excellence in International Photographic Competition. It went on to represent Team USA in the World Photographic Cup in 2024, and to be published as the January 2024 cover to Professional Photographer Magazine with a feature article.