Capturing the Magic: 5 Tips for Photographing Your Wedding Butterfly Release
Photographing a wedding is an incredible honor, as you get the chance to document one of the most memorable days in a couple’s life. Aside from standard wedding portraits, couples may plan a totally unique and one-of-a-kind element in their ceremony, like a butterfly release, that they’ll want you to capture.
While this can be a bit more challenging than the typical shots you’re used to, the following photography tips and suggestions will help you capture unique wedding moments so the couple and guests can remember it fondly for years to come.
- Clarify the Order of Events
First things first — speak with the couple to get a schedule of events for the day of the wedding. This way, you’ll know where you need to be, when you need to be there to capture the most important details from their wedding day.
With a special element like a butterfly release, also make sure to clarify when and where it will occur so you can make a plan to capture it.
- Finalize the Shot List
Ahead of time, work with the couple to decide on a list of shots they’d like you to capture before and during the wedding. This should include staple shots like photos of the family, the couple, the bridal party, the ceremony, and the reception entrance.
Discuss the butterfly release specifically, including the ideal shot they’d like you to get, either with them in the background, the butterflies on their own in the sky, or another preferred shot.
- Bring Two Lenses
In general, bringing along two camera lenses, or even two complete cameras, can help you get the best shots in any setting or conditions.
This is particularly true when capturing a butterfly release, as you’ll want to have a wider lens that can capture the release in the context of the ceremony or the reception. But you may also want to have a macro lens for getting more detailed close-up shots.
- Adjust the Camera Settings for the Release
Even if you’re in the right position to capture the butterfly release, you may not get the magic shot if your camera settings are set up improperly. The following settings can help you capture the wide shot of the butterfly release during the ceremony:
- Fast shutter speed of at least 1/1000s
- Aperture of f/5.6 to f/8 for proper depth and contrast between the butterflies and surroundings
- Continuous autofocus to track butterflies effectively as they move through the sky
- Set up Near Flowers for a Close-up
You can’t necessarily predict how the butterflies will behave or fly once they’re released. However, some will likely be attracted to and land on nearby flowers, giving you the chance to get an up-close shot of these beautiful creatures. Take some time before the ceremony to research and identify flora near the release site where this might occur.
Once you get the initial wide shot of the release, set up this second shot near the flowers you’ve identified. Here, you may want to use a macro or telephoto lens to pick up on the fine details. Pre-focus your camera on an area where you expect the butterflies to be, and sit patiently while waiting for them to land in the direct line of your lens.
–Written by Bailey Schramm
