Moments in Time: Beach Wedding Photography Tips From Dawn Whitty
Beach wedding portraits and hard-won advice from 30A photographer Dawn Whitty.
Professional photographer Dawn Whitty has specialized in capturing the most magical moments of life for over 20 years. When not at her bay home just north of Florida's Scenic Highway 30A, Dawn spends time back in her hometown of Nashville, as well as traveling the country and abroad for her many clients.
In today's society of commercialism and fast-paced technology, Dawn's free-spirited photographic philosophy exemplifies "going with the flow" in order to get just the right shot. Destination wedding photography has long been one of Dawn's areas of expertise, as she personally connects with brides and grooms to capture those small but significant moments that might otherwise be lost forever.
Here are just a few of Dawn's countless beach wedding portraits, along with some helpful tips for photographing such uniquely precious moments in time.
"My favorite time to photograph a bride is right after she puts her gown on and her parents and bridesmaids see her for the first time as a bride. The energy is nervous yet excited, and these moments are only around for such a short time. After the ceremony, she is a different woman, and that moment is gone forever."Split seconds before the ceremony — the kind of frame Dawn says you can't ask for.
"I've shot many, many locals' weddings through the years, and one of my favorite places to shoot is my long-time stomping ground, Grayton Beach. I love to give the bride and groom their semi-private moments after the wedding. In this case, Niki and Ricky instantly relaxed while sitting on top of their beach cruiser.""To me, the most memorable bride and groom shots are those where they step away from the party and sit together and reflect on the day, month, or year that brought them to this moment. I try to become invisible during these private occasions."
"The smaller, more intimate weddings are where I can be creative and enjoy each couple's uniqueness. It can be difficult to take time away from the guests to capture fun, meaningful photo ops with larger weddings. These adorable locals got engaged under this tree on Western Lake, so they took a horse and carriage ride over to get this shot!"
"Don't worry about the weather. You can't control it. Instead, use the elements to your advantage. If the forecast is rain, then make sure you have the most amazing umbrella on hand. If it's windy, then have fun with the veil!""I love modern and vogue bridal portraits. In the '90s, I attended several Santa Fe Environmental Portrait workshops where the landscape became a part of the portrait as much as the subject."
Any time I don't have to ask a bride to look my way, and I'm in the right place at the right time, we end up with a gem.
"I guess you could say I'm a bride's photographer. I follow the bride everywhere. Split seconds where she glances up or looks back are cherished moments." The gown pictured at the top of this story was created by local designer Nicole Paloma, shot at Cypress Springs, where the water stays around 68 degrees.
"Never does the phrase 'Daddy's little girl' have more meaning than at a wedding. I am always aware of this relationship and how it is about to transition forever. Precious moments captured between father and daughter on this day end up being very significant as the years go on.""Very rarely do I set up lighting at a wedding. However, if it's an evening wedding, the exit can be tricky if you don't plan properly."
"Obviously, most brides aren't professional models, so they're not accustomed to a camera staring them down during their most vulnerable moments. Communicate freely with your photographer about any fears you may have while being in front of a camera, as you're the star of the day. Find your muse! Get lost in the romance and magic of your very own storybook wedding."
