Wedding Photography Photo Tips Vol.2

Photo Tip No. 2

I’m feeling a little under the weather this week so I’m going to keep my topic short. But this week’s topic is probably one of the most important ones I’ll write about: drink lots of water before, during and after your photography sessions.
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Anyone living in Texas knows that our summers are brutally hot, and this summer has been one of the hottest and driest on record. With around 67 days of continuous 100° F weather, anyone working inside or out can easily get dehydrated. It’s not especially obvious that one can become dehydrated while taking photographs (especially indoor), so special precautions should be taken to prevent this from happening.
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Like myself, many people these days work indoors year round and are not acclimated to extreme outdoor temperatures. When the temperature is pushing 100° F you definitely don’t want anyone at an event collapsing from heat stress or exhaustion. Keep in mind that the elderly, sick and very young children are especially susceptible to extreme temperatures.
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I recommend carrying along a small or medium sized insulated cooler that contains drinks like water or Gatorade on ice. You’ll want to pack enough for yourself and your assistant/2^nd shooter. If your cooler has enough space pack some extra waters for who you’ll be shooting as well. Having extra cold water on hand for your subjects is a nice gesture and is greatly appreciated when it’s hot outside.
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Last year I photographed a Texas wedding in July that was under a covered, open-air pavilion. The ceremony lasted only about 30 minutes and afterward the wedding party was ushered to a partially shaded area for formal photos. Most people were sweating heavily and we were in a location that required a long walk back to the air-conditioned reception (where all the water was kept). Of the 20+ people that were present, I don’t recall seeing anyone with water. Luckily, I had stashed several bottles of water in my backpack and was able to share them with a couple of people who weren’t fairing very well in the heat. It would be difficult to put a value on a bottle of water that is needed by someone who may be in danger of heat exhaustion, and I promise you that you’ll have made a new friend!