Wedding Photography: How to Shoot Wedding Sparkler Photos

[@jbivphotography]

What Sparkler Exit approach do you like? "Natural Light" or Using Flashes? Tele or Wide?

[@drewmcdonald8973]

Hello mate - Just had my first sparkler exit, found your vid as I was researching and it helped loads. Absolutely nailed the shot using your advice. From this vid I found your 'Wedding Photography: My 10 Favorite Easy Wedding Poses' ... loved that as well. As a thanks for your vids I have just purchased your 'Natural Feels Presets' to show my appreciation. Great work and mad skills! Thank you again, Drew!

[@beckypearman5301]

Just wanted to thank you John! Because of your teaching skills, I was able to nail the sparkler exit last night! And it was the most fun shot I got to do all day!

[@jbivphotography]

YEEEEESSSSS!!! That's awesome! I'm glad I was able to help out.

[@laurafoord6259]

Thank you Thank you Thank you! Your advice was so straightforward and easy to follow. My niece recently asked me to shoot the sparkler exit for her wedding (as her main photographer had to leave before the end of the party....). I'm not a professional, but like to shoot candids at weddings. So this was new territory for me, for sure! I bought the Lume light, which was very easy to use. And just followed the steps. The only one I had to change was shutter speed, as I didn't want any chance of motion blur with all the moving around. But my Canon Mark III 5D does a great job with higher ISO. Had a great time, got fantastic results!

[@janiscollette1737]

This was so good! Thank you for going through every single step. My first Sparkler shoot was a complete fail as my main camera died and I had to scramble to get to the back up set up in minutes and I wasn't experienced so I was pretty stressed. Fortunately (for me!) the groomsmen screwed up the sparklers and it was a total fail all around. Let's just say some of the guys got burned (they're ok) but they learned their lesson about "playing with fire" and I was off the hook!

[@FlyFitFierce]

Nailed my sparkler exit last week because of this gem!!! Thanks John

[@jbivphotography]

Nice! Glad it was helpful

[@eddyalmaguer1758]

ELITE video, John. Thanks for adding the post production process at the end, really interesting.

[@desireemorin1131]

Omg, wedding photographer here & I love all your tips! Definitely ordering a lume cube right now. I love a good sparkler exit and this just made that shot so much easier!

[@steveworkman1339]

Just stumbled across your tutorial on how to photograph a sparkler exit. I've never shot one before, so I was doing a little research because I will need to take this shot at an upcoming wedding. I had no clue, my first thought was to drag the shutter and pop with a kiss of flash. You've changed my thinking; as I'm watching your video for the 3rd time, I'm placing an order immediately for a Lume Cube Panel. I've gone from WFT do I do to totally relaxed. Thank you!

[@martharetallick204]

Just got a Lume Cube Go light. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@jbivphotography]

No problem 👍

[@wyrmmm]

Great video, I just purchased the El-1 flash I’m going to try this with my daughter using an orange gel.

[@jbivphotography]

Dope! Practice makes perfect.

[@stephanieo418]

Good video! I have a wedding on November 18th and doing my first ever sparkler exit. I have a 56mm and 90mm lens with my xt3 fujiflim. Also have purchased some extra long gold sparklers and was going to use my rotolight for some light on the couple.

[@ashaweal8606]

thanks John! just had my first wedding as lead on the 27th. I was working in some HARD lighting . i watched a ton of your videos and did my best! thanks for the constant good vibes and words of encouragement!

[@zathraspersonal]

I have my first wedding coming up with a "torch exit" - similar to sparklers I guess but probably way more light. I think your approach using LED lighting makes the most sense out of what I've been seeing, especially lens choice and processing, so I'm looking forward to it.....

[@terrysmallwood1755]

This was extremely helpful!! Thank you! My last sparkler exit was a complete bust! I think you saved me!!!

[@MrDavidcoyan]

This was fantastically helpful. Thank you for the video!

[@jbivphotography]

Glad it was helpful!

[@duncanknifton6613]

For night shots and ambient light, I've started to use the Godox AD200 with the round head...but using the modelling light only...not the flash... Nice to see the LED's you use though.

[@jbivphotography]

That sounds like a great setup. Thanks for sharing

[@piaportman9865]

I love watching your videos. Thank you for all you helpful advice

[@jbivphotography]

That’s awesome to hear. I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos.

[@Lifeof-Jo]

Thank you. I haven’t photographed a sparkler exit in a year and needed a reminder

[@jbivphotography]

hope it helps for your next one!

[@Lifeof-Jo]

@@jbivphotography I think it went well, i appreciate the video

[@kevincummings7727]

I bought a lume cube recently but haven't used it yet sparkler exits at weddings are not popular in the Caribbean. I am sure it will catch on at some point in the future.

[@jeninasimplicio]

Oooohhh nice tip to close up the line!! Thanks!

[@jbivphotography]

That's honestly my FAVORITE part. Honestly you can shoot close or wide but closing up the line really makes for an amazing shot.

[@martyscheall9626]

John, your videos are excellent, filled with information that is so helpful! Thank you and keep ’em coming! 😊

[@jbivphotography]

You're welcome and thank you! I'm glad to hear they're helpful.

[@malonephotography]

Hi John, hope we can get your "Exposure Presents" very soon.........

[@southerngirlsociety]

...nobody teaches this and it's soooo frustrating to me. I know my way around a camera pretty well, but some of these more technical types of tricks and effects are things I still have yet to conquer and really figure out. THANK YOU soooo much for doing this for us!! I would sure give the world for you to also do a couple of videos teaching us how to photograph sparkler exits, light trails with wedding reception dance photos, how to photograph those cigar smoke photos of the guys on wedding day, and how to get that hair spray shot when the bride is getting ready. I'd also love to learn how to do some of those trick photos that so many of you do on wedding days - the reflection, shooting through things, bokeh lights, ring shots with an extra fun flair, etc. A super fun photographer that does a lot of this stuff is Jason Martin with Concept Photography. This guy has some super cool photography tricks and effects and I still have yet to figure out how he does a lot of them.

[@nuvainboots]

Hey! I've been binge-watching your videos! Thanks so much! Very helpful!

[@adanyamattison4981]

Your photos are so amazing and thank you for all the great tips!

[@jbivphotography]

Thank you so much!

[@Julius_S]

Thanks so much for this great video. I always direct everyone for these but it never occurred to me to have folks close in behind the couple, that's such a wonderful touch!

[@marionmayer5982]

Youre a Genius!! I love you content. 🎉

[@jbivphotography]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate that! I hope you're enjoying the content.

[@FlameDong]

Right on time John!! I have a wedding tomorrow! Thank you!

[@jbivphotography]

YEEEESSS. I hope this helps out. Do an amazing job!

[@jamesandkerriephotography]

Another great video John. We have just ordered a lume cube and can’t wait to see the results 😀

[@jbivphotography]

Awesome! I hope it works out for you!

[@vncdvncd8331]

Not sure if I like editing style regarding white balance for those shots but everything else is spot on! Thank you

[@jbivphotography]

Thanks for the honest opinion. Also thank you for watching. 👏👏

[@kristinaphelan4451]

Hi! This video and all of your videos are so awesome and helpful I can’t thank you enough. I’m trying to find the lumecube as there are several could you share which exact one you use please 😊

[@jbivphotography]

Happy to help. The RGB Panel Go or even the Panel Mini would work out great. Just keep in mind the Panel mini you want to pair up with a camera with a wider lens on it. Since you'll be closer to your subject it's lower power won't be a problem.

[@kristinaphelan4451]

@@jbivphotography thank you so much!

[@Dani-grace]

I cannot thank you enough for this

[@jbivphotography]

No problem. I hope it helped out!

[@SVcreations43]

The before and after photos of the sparkler exit was the best thing alone. Because I've been trying to get your final results in the camera. Stressfull

[@adebrian1737]

For sparklers I don't use any additional light. I just turn off my flash and adjust my iso accordingly and i get some good results

[@jbivphotography]

Oh wow. I find adding that extra pop of light on the couple helps but doing it with just the natural light of the sparklers is probably nice as well.

[@adebrian1737]

@@jbivphotography I'll try using my rotolight next time.

[@veronikakyslova7432]

Your channel is the best! Seriously! Thank you so much for your hard work on making those videos for us ❤️

[@jbivphotography]

Wow thanks, really appreciate it!

[@LeachyPeachy99]

Top notch job man. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skill so openly.

[@aclora]

This was great. Very thorough. Thanks John!

[@jbivphotography]

Awesome! I hope this was helpful!

[@law32O8]

Love these “how to” videos! You are the master

[@jbivphotography]

Awesome. I'll make sure to make a couple more of them.

[@keliwakeley6356]

Thank you, great tip! close the line. Thank you!

[@jbivphotography]

Closing the line is my NUMBER ONE tip for sparkler exits. Even if you do decide to use flash closing the line makes everything just look so much cooler.

[@bnoyumori739]

great video! how can you make the couples sharper if you use an aperture of 1.8?

[@jillgum552]

LOVE the close the line tip! I have 1 quick follow up question: 1. When you said you matched the temp, are you using 3200 K for the light AND 3200 K for your camera? Thanks!!!

[@229dave46]

Thanks for sharing this info John. I had a couple request this shot on our meet up the other night. I was kinda nervous about the request, as I've never done this before. I initially thought drag the shutter with a flash. However I think the continuous light source will look better. Directing the couple and the guests on what you would like them to do, cherry on the cake!. Thanks again!

[@marksantostefano1637]

You always have great ideas and you’re always helpful!

[@jbivphotography]

You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked this approach.

[@limbov3122]

Awesome! This is exactly what I was looking for. Just one question, which metering mode are you using for these kind of photos?

[@angelslayer8301]

Hi John, thank you for all your tips. I don’t understand one thing : you say 3200k is warm, for me the lower it is, the coldest it is ? No ? Maybe with the light it’s different…

[@demonsaphir]

Great vid John, should I also be setting my white balance on my camera to match the lume cube as well?

[@jbivphotography]

Best practice is to set your white balance, but generally what my camera is picking up from where I set my lumecube is enough for me to get the shot that I want.

[@tonynguyen6181]

THE LONG AWAITED VIDEOOOO

[@jbivphotography]

I'm so happy I was able to make this one. I hope everyone learned something from it.

[@walkermorris954]

Love the video! Thank you for creating such great content!

[@jbivphotography]

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@sheri-space]

Hi john great video! Which one of the lume cube you recommended more for photography the mini or the go ? Thank you!

[@jbivphotography]

For the pictures you saw here I was using the Mini, but honestly the Go puts out more power and I think I'm going to start using that more often to make sure I have enough light and don't have to turn my shutter speed so low.

[@tamaragoodwin7174]

Hi John thanks so much for all of your tips! I read through your comments and saw you shot this one with a mini, but you were considering the Go. If you get the Go would you have the same settings?

[@jbivphotography]

Yes. I actually myself switched over to the Go mainly because there more power in it which comes handy. If anything you might not need 100% power with the Go, but I still usually set it high. More light is better.

[@christophebouckaertphoto]

Thanks John, big fan off your work :-)

[@jbivphotography]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate that!

[@matthydephotography9742]

Great advice, but I just wondered why you're pushing the exposure by 2.5 stops in post instead of just upping the ISO in camera?

[@jbivphotography]

I'd rather not get the added grain in camera. Some cameras can push super high with ISO but generally I'd just rather not.

[@matthydephotography9742]

@@jbivphotography Thanks for replying! So is it that you feel the grain is slightly better by pushing in post than in camera? Just picked an xpro3 after using Sony for a couple of years, so i'm learning the basics of Fuji edits again :D

[@crystaljohnson6247]

Hello John I love watching your videos I have a Nikon D7500 love it 18-140 is the lens that I use most of the time. Getting ready to do a graduation photo shoot next week what setting would you use for great pictures and her throwing her cap in the air

[@jen43072]

Fast shutter speed to freeze the cap unless you want the motion blur, and I use f2.8 and focus on the face... if the cap is a little out of focus it's not a big deal. If you want everything in great focus you can bump up the f stop. Tell them to try to throw it straight above their head. Have fun!

[@Irastrong]

That’s great! Do you feel like you utilize the lumecube for many other situations?

[@nettuhkore]

Doing my first sparkler exit Saturday! Just picked up the last LumeCube in stock at BestBuy too lmao. Thanks John, you are the best! Hopefully you'll see the results in TCE soon!!

[@dianarogers4179]

What is the reason to use cube instead of softbox on the flash+ proper settings to avoid over-flashing?

[@jbivphotography]

Yes. In my opinion the flash takes away the ambience of the sparklers getting rid of the "magic" of a sparkler exit. By using the LumeCube you're able to add enough additional light to light your subject with out adding so much that it takes away the magic of the sparklers.

[@KoolCreation]

Great tips thanks!

[@thebest10da]

love the videos! Ive been trying to figure out what is the best export size when finalizing the clients photos. Hopefully I can get some answers thank you!

[@jbivphotography]

Check out my live streams. I usually talk about that while I'm editing at times.

[@slaidaniel628]

Thanks for sharing!

[@jbivphotography]

Thanks for watching!

[@slaidaniel628]

You're one of the best bro!

[@slaidaniel628]

To create images is a way of culture those days!

[@svetlanagrobman3476]

Great video!

[@marcelodelvalle4391]

Hi John, thanks for this video. I was just asked to do this in my next weeding shoot, but I have another question, where did you get your back bag and the shoulder strap from?

[@dv3ART]

Thank you 🙏🏽 your channel is outstanding 🌱💫❤️

[@jbivphotography]

Thank you so much!

[@sharneseptember5847]

Hi John. Thanks. The 10% discount code on the lume cube does not work. Did it expire or won't it work in South Africa? Thanks.

[@aleczisaries9789]

Learned a lot man!🙌

[@jbivphotography]

Awesome! Glad to pass on some knowledge.

[@discopops88]

SO helpful - always wanted to know the secret sauce to getting these! Does the same technique work for fireworks too?

[@egg6649]

I’d say you’d probably want you shutter speed slower, to get the trails more, but it tends to be pretty similar. Totally depends on what looks good though.

[@ambermocreative]

Thanks so much for this! I am shooting the sparkler exit at a wedding in about a month and want it to go really well. Your video was really helpful! Which Lume cube size did you use for this?

[@jbivphotography]

Glad to hear it

[@philliptowlesphotography]

Lifesaver 👏🏾

[@jbivphotography]

Awesome! Good to hear this was helpful.

[@MH7_256]

Ty!

[@jbivphotography]

You're welcome. I hope this was helpful!

[@MH7_256]

@@jbivphotography yes, very much. In all the weddings I’ve shot, I’ve never been asked to do one until yesterday. Went very well, and I used my Lume cube pro :)

[@wilbmoore]

Excellent video.

[@jbivphotography]

Thank you very much!

[@lauriewahlig2819]

Thoughts on the lume panel pro?? Needed? Over kill?? Flash or lume panel during reception?

[@rafi6666g]

Great job? Thanks for your help

[@Jerrybesong]

thanks

[@jbivphotography]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching

[@JuanLopez-oz9kh]

Do you provide the sparklers or the couple buy those? Thank you for taking your time for putting up these videos.

[@jbivphotography]

The couple usually are the ones who buy the sparklers. The biggest tip is that if you can tell them to make sure they get the longer ones it's a HUGE help.

[@malonephotography]

I couldn't wait for 2021 BTS！

[@jbivphotography]

I'm super excited about the next BTS video. I really want to get it done ASAP.

[@pyroBlastM]

John I am confused here. So a constant led got a temperature of about 5500K. The sparklers are warm. So I guess you can warm up the led light coming out from the cube or in the limit if you can’t warm up use a orange gel? But then if you go and change your camera temperature because you are using the gel or you have changed the constant led light temperature will the sparklers colour be lost? How can I use the cube and preserve the sparklers colour?

[@picsbypixrephotography4696]

Does this work better for bubble send offs too. This venue does not allow sparklers so they have to use bubbles

[@jbivphotography]

Yes. This is the approach I would take for a bubble exit as well. You won’t need to drop your shutter too low but I do the same thing for exits as well. The thing with bubbles is just make sure there’s extra light as well now just pitch darkness.

[@beckypearman5301]

If you don't have a fast short zoom, would a 50mm 1.8 prime be the next choice?

[@jbivphotography]

Yeah a 50 1.8 would be good as well. I've been shooting these with basically an 85 but I'm thinking about switching to a 50 more regularly actually. Just to get a little more wideness on the photos.

[@SVcreations43]

Do your photos on the sparkler exit come out super sharp? Or does the noise kinda mess with it

[@jbivphotography]

The noise isn't too bad for what I would consider a super noisy photo. The biggest thing with higher ISO is you have to make sure you're getting the correct light and then things won't be too noisey. It really comes down to knowing your camera and also knowing how much grain you consider to be ok for the photo.

[@SVcreations43]

@@jbivphotography well out of all the videos on KZbin yours is by far the one that gives the best results

[@gabriellesteele2641]

Do you use the mini or the go for sparkler exits?

[@DavidHowardPhoto]

What’s the best time of day/night

[@Soul_Visuals_Photography]

Is the lime cube better than the Aputure M9?

[@lrb05131963]

Do you even use a lime cube for event photography

[@jbivphotography]

I do. I bring it with me to every wedding. You can literally see me using it in some of the b-roll. The thing is totally legit.

[@jehualguno1646]

Video idea Marketing or business idea for wedding photography

[@heathers.5718]

Which cube are you using?

[@jbivphotography]

In this video I'm using the Mini. However the Go is my favorite for it's size and power output.

[@heathers.5718]

Thank you.

[@Saywhatohno]

I think 1/60th is too low, you will get blurry image

[@jbivphotography]

Correct. It is pretty low. However, that's why I have the couple stop for at least one shot so I know that one is going to be sharp. But another option is 1/100. The main point is to get the shutter down as far as you can get it without too much blur. Especially if you have IBIS in your camera.

[@artisticbjelovar]

Aperture???

[@jbivphotography]

Generally you’ll want to shoot as wide open as possible. So when I’m using the 50 f1 I’m shooting it at f1.

[@Lifeof-Jo]

Hey john. What about bubble exit? I have one tomorrow

[@jbivphotography]

You can use the same approach. Sometimes it's a little hard to see the bubbles however. Usually if my couples do it I let them know to have people hold up their phones almost like sparklers along with the bubbles.

[@Lifeof-Jo]

@@jbivphotography great idea. Thank you

[@MartinV.]

Great Video!

[@jbivphotography]

Thanks!