This session right here was SO much fun. Originally we were nervous about the weather report, the rain was coming in but there was a break in the storm so Chrysten and Philip wanted to go for it! And OH I’m SO glad they did. Their black outfits on black clouds and black smoke bombs made for so much MOOD! I still have chills.
Tips on Smoke Bombs:
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You want zero wind. We had a light breeze (maybe more than a breeze, hence the storm clouds) so you might be able to see the smoke moved away quicker than we would have liked. But hey – it’s mother nature. Still, we achieved the effect we wanted and the intense clouds made up for it.
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They get hot. But not too hot to hold, just keep your hand close to the base once you crack it open from the top.
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Clothes can stain. They avoided any issues wearing black on black, but it’s good to keep in mind if you’re thinking of wearing white or lighter colors.
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They go quickly. You have about 60-90 seconds with the smoke bomb so make sure you have some good moving poses and roll with it.
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Get a permit or let your park ranger know. These babies attract a lot of attention, no matter what color they are. People will watch, be curious or nervous – so be prepared and courteous.
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Have 3-4. You don’t have to use them all but at least you have a backup if you need a do-over.
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Shutter speed. Keep her high! Your speed needs to be anywhere from 1/800 – 1/2500 to catch all the swirling goodness.
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Use the bombs at the end of the shoot. This is for a few reasons. One you will feel most confident and in the groove by the end of the session. Two, if it gets on your clothes, it no biggie because you already got tons of gorgeous photos by having the bombs last in your session!
If you loved this, chances are you’re engaged and planning a wedding or engagement session of your own! I think you’ll LOVE my engagement session guide jam packed with EIGHT helpful tips all about preparing for your engagement photos! The best part? It’s FREE!
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