On assignment
Nikon pro Ross Harvey showcases the best of English wedding traditions with the mighty D850
Nikon Ambassador Ross Harvey showcases the best of English wedding traditions with the mighty Nikon D850
Recently I was chosen by Nikon to be part of its European Wedding Collective – along with a team of wedding photographers from across Europe. For our first assignment, we were tasked to share wedding traditions from our local countries, so this image series showcases key traditions of English weddings; speeches, cake cutting and the first dance – all taken on the D850!
I shot the series at the stunning Peckforton Castle in Cheshire. I treat all weddings the same, whether they’re shot in an exotic destination or in the UK. I adapt to the style, people and energy of the wedding to capture it authentically and always strive for creativity. Every shot I take is carefully considered.
I turned professional in 2010 and this is my eighth year. The move to shoot predominantly destination weddings happened over the past two-to-three years. 75% of the weddings I now shoot are abroad, but it was refreshing to focus on English customs.
With this assignment, I dropped all expectations. I learned, long ago, that you can approach a wedding with set images in your head, then leave with something entirely different. Fixating on a single idea limits your creativity. A big part of the enjoyment of shooting weddings is the ‘in the moment’ creativity. I love to come up with ideas on the spot!
For these images I used the D750 and D850 bodies, with a wide range of lenses including the AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED, 35mm f/1.4G, 50mm f/1.4G, 85mm f/1.4G and 24-70mm f/2.8G ED.
I love to shoot with two cameras with complimentary focal length pairings; 24/50 and 35/50 being the most popular. The 85mm was only used if I needed the reach, paired with the 35mm. Which pairing I chose depended on the space I was working in. The 24-70mm was used whenever flash was involved.
This was one of my first proper shoots with the D850, and it has completely changed the way I shoot. Once you acquire focus – AF or manual – the D850 can shoot 6fps (at full 45Mp resolution) in this silent mode. This is perfect for nailing the moment without sounding like a machine gun. It means I can shoot a lot more during the ceremony without being a distraction! The silent shutter is also invaluable during portraits as couples are less aware of the shooting process.
My approach to lighting was simple. I moved to flash when the ambient light didn’t offer the qualities I was looking for. As I travel light and generally use simple lighting setups, it’s all about understanding balance. This venue – like so many I shoot in – is so beautifully designed and considered, that whacking up a huge softbox or umbrella would be rather distracting. Believe it or not, I’ve not used a lighting modifier for two years! Again, it’s all about balance.
One of the main challenges on the commission was obviously pressure, as when you’re shooting multimillionpound weddings expectations are high. I’ve spent years studying psychology (and related topics) and have expended much effort optimizing my own mindset, so pressure isn’t something that affects me negatively. No matter the industry, I think it’s important to learn to use your mind as effectively as you would any other tool and you’ll usually find yourself in a good place.
The cake cutting shot is the star of the series. There are beautiful colours and beautiful light, but the true value is the fantastic emotions from both the bride and groom. Weddings celebrate the love between two people, their family and friends. That’s where the true beauty is, and what I always try to capture.
The Nikon D850 can shoot 6fps (at full 45Mp resolution) in silent mode. This is perfect for nailing the moment without sounding like a machine gun