When someone books you for elopement photography out in a dramatic landscape, they are trusting that you will make the best of the vista when it comes to composing images. They want to see the context of the surroundings as well as more intimate shots. But they would be disappointed if you didn’t deliver big, hero shots.
Here, Meggy Mac was commissioned to shoot an elopement in this area of Scotland, she already knew some spots that might work well. That is another big element that couples are investing in, your insider knowledge.
The elevated viewpoint is what makes this image exceptional. It allows the bridge to be seen from above so it cuts into the landscape creating a wonderful leading line that envelopes the couple and goes beyond, leading our eyes to the hills.
The juxtaposition between the natural and the constructed world is what makes this a very interesting image, along with the additional component of a wedding couple. It’s a big photo but it still delivers emotion as they walk away from the viewer hand in hand.
Canon EOS R6 | Canon 24-70 f2.8 L | f/2.8 | 1/1600| ISO 50
own preset
What Megan Said…
“As an elopement photographer, so much of what we do is about finding amazing spots to capture our couples in. When they book you, they’re not just hiring someone to photograph them, they’re also booking a location scouter as well. That’s something that’s very important to me and I never show up to a shoot not having researched or visited the area beforehand so I know what to expect and where’s going to be great for pictures. When Rachel and Kevin booked me to capture their elopement up in the northern highlands of Scotland therefore, there were a few places I knew we had to go to, including this bridge which I had always wanted to capture.
I had wanted to photograph them from above as this is where the curving shape of the bridge is best viewed and you get the best vista of the landscape and the sea loch. There’s a rocky hill just opposite the bridge, so I asked them to walk along the middle of the road (looking out for the plentiful motorbikes that were zooming about) and I scrambled up the hill to get the view that I wanted, with them positioned centrally to stand out against the colour of the road. They got a lot of happy toots from passers-by and I was a very happy photographer with what we got.”