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Taking photos of the stars is my favorite thing. Don’t get me wrong, I love taking portraits and pictures of couples and people in general. But there is just something extra special about astrophotography. (And my deep love of nature might be part of it!). Capturing something so far away and seemingly elusive like the Milky Way is just magical. Elopements are also magical, and elopement photos with the stars? Almost too magical.
So if you’re like me and love to spend hours staring at the stars. Or maybe you have never seen them outside your town or city! Let’s make star gazing a part of your adventure. And take some elopement photos with the stars!
Who wouldn’t want to take elopement photos with the stars like these?
So here are some tips for planning your elopement photos with the stars:
1. Visibility.
First and foremost, you won’t be able to see the stars if it is cloudy at night. It can be quite neat if it’s partly cloudy and you can see the stars poking through them. But, a clear night is the best for the full effect.
2. Moon Phase.
I love the moon. (Hence the name… Forever to the Moon) But the moon can hinder the brightness of the stars. The best time to photograph the stars is when the Moon is in its New Moon phase. (The moon is blocked by the earth’s shadow). Even though the New Moon phase is the BEST time to photograph the stars…other times of the Moon phases can be very beautiful, the stars just might not be AS bright.
3. Distance from a major city.
If you grew up in a city or suburban area like I did on the east coast, you have likely seen the stars, but if you haven’t been out west or to a very rural areas of the US away from any cities, you likely have not REALLY seen the stars. I am serious it is so different, I was in complete awe the first time I went to Montana and saw the stars there. There are even specific areas for observing the stars called Dark Sky Preserves or a Dark Sky Place (identified by the International Dark Sky Association).
So although on your regular hikes that may end late or when you are camping you would have likely seen some incredible stars, but if you are really into it, consider going to a really dark place. (I mean it will be a happy place because of all the stars).
4. Place.
Depending on the location a couple of things factor into the visibility of certain stars. This might be obvious, but if you are hiking in a forested place finding a location to wait for the stars might be a bit difficult.
If you are somewhere with wide open space or with a lookout of some sort, your visibility will be much greater. Also, somewhere with some trees, mountains, hoodoos or whatever for some perspective to the sky or that can make silhouettes again the sky can make the photo more interesting.
5. Time of year for visibility of the Milky Way.
Depending on the time of year, the Milky Way may not be “up in the sky” at a time when it is dark enough to shoot it. For example, in winter the Milky Way’s Galactic Center (the most striking part of the Milky Way that is actually a black hole with tens of millions of stars within it many of which are red giant stars that give it its unique red color… cool right!) is not visible in Utah because of the movement of the earth and its rotation.
In early spring you can’t see the galactic center until very early in the morning. (early start hike anyone?) And later in the fall, you can see it earlier in the evening. (How about a bonfire celebration… please?).
So when considering the stars for your adventure, make sure to consult a website or app that can project exactly when it will be visible on that day. (I use the app called PhotoPills, it’s really cool.). Or better yet, let me know if you are interested in stars and I can help you plan a good date, location and expected timeline!
6. Lighting for being able to see you in the picture too.
Make sure to have some sort of flash whether on a phone, head lamp, flashlight or other device so you can illuminate yourselves in the image.
7. Patience and Creativity.
With night photography, it is not as easy as just taking the picture with a special night setting on your camera. Because photos are dependent on light entering the camera for them to be visible digitally or printed, a long exposure (the time the “window” of the camera is open letting in light) is needed.
The disadvantage to a long exposure is it can make images very blurry. (Try standing perfectly still for 15 or 20 secs…its hard and any tiny movement will add some blurriness to the image).
So, with night photography patience and creativity are needed. It may take a few tries to even get the stars visible on the camera. Then it may take a few more tries to get a pretty composition, then a few more times to get the right amount of light to illuminate you in the image and do it all without moving. Needless to say, having a good amount of time is key! Patience is necessary and a bit of creativity to make something really special.
8. Picture Quality.
Amount of light is a huge factor in making quality images. That is why you hear photographers talking about it so much (good or bad). With night photography, light is inherently bad. (It’s night! There is very little light.). Consequently, images will not be as crispy clean and free of grain like the ones taken during the day.
So keep this in mind when you are delivered the images and expect the awesome star photos are just not going to be as sharp and clear as the other images taken hours earlier.
But! I don’t think that should disappoint…
You were out exploring on a beautiful night with your person and documented the moon (and stars) that you promised them “forever” under.
Ready to take some magical elopement photos with the stars?
Send me, Alex, a message about what you are dreaming your as elopement photos with the stars.
