Reflections bring repetition and patterns into a photograph. But, capturing reflections is often a challenge. The shiny surfaces that create reflections sometimes require manual focus. Capturing the shot without reflecting yourself and the camera in the image is another obstacle. This week, we feature photographs that creatively bring reflections into portrait and wedding photographs. Find inspiration from these shots by Stephanie DeFranco, Parker Selman, Aly Hansen, and Uliana Yarets. 

Stephanie DeFranco, Stephanie DeFranco Photography 

When Maliyah reached out to Stephanie DeFranco of Stephanie DeFranco Photography to capture portraits at the fair, it was an immediate yes. The lights on the rides were an ideal fit for DeFranco’s colorful, vibrant style. DeFranco pulled more lights into the shot and created leading lines by using a Lensbaby Omni Filter with crescent shape prism to reflect more lights. She also used the Nikon Z6 and Nikkor 85mm f1.8 to capture the shot. 

“When shooting with prisms in front of the camera, trying to be conscious of not overdoing the reflections in the shot is the ultimate challenge,” she says. “I want the model to be the focus, so finding the balance between twinkle and chaos is the fine line of using reflective surfaces.”  

Parker Selman, Parker’s Pictures 

When Parker Selman of Parker’s Pictures saw the circular mirror and the morning light, she knew she had to photograph the bride in this spot. While the mirror created one reflection, the double exposure was a happy accident that replicated the bride a third time. She captured the shot with the Mamiya c33 camera with Tri-X 120mm film. 

“I love using mirrors, puddles and reflections of any sort in my photos,” Selman says. “I am extremely inspired by the duality that reflections create and the illusion to multiple selves — something that I find particularly resonates on wedding days when individuals are celebrating a milestone and beginning a new chapter. Essentially, if there is a mirror I will be taking a photo with it.”  

Aly Hansen, Aly Hansen Photo 

The bride and groom specifically requested that photographer Aly Hansen of Aly Hansen Photo use no direction or posing and only record the wedding day as it unfolded. To add to the challenge, Hansen  is an analog film photographer. She used a medium format film camera, the Pentax 645, with Kodak TriX 400 in this image. This stunning photograph with both the bride and groom reflected in the mirror is the result of quietly observing the day. 

One of the challenges to photographing reflections, she says, is being careful not to get herself in the shot. “This was taken with manual focus, and I still missed the mirrored reflection focus, but I think that adds to the shot. The focus is instead on the back of her head which wasn’t on purpose—but a detail that I think brings the whole shot together.” 

Uliana Yarets, Yarets Studio 

The morning rain inspired photographer Uliana Yarets of Yarets Studio to capture this ring shot with tiny reflections of the ring inside the water droplets. The photographer took the image through a window to include the raindrops while keeping the paper the ring is resting on dry. Shooting thorough the window required using manual focus to get a sharp shot. Yarets got the shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the EF 50mm f1.2 L lens. 

“The wedding took place in Sweden, it was a gloomy rainy morning, but the love of the couple warmed everyone,” Yarets says. “A beautiful engagement ring that the groom gave to his beloved and the paper on which it stands is a letter that the bride wrote to her beloved. Such an incredible atmosphere inspired me to take such a picture.” 

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching wedding photos and portraits. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery to: [email protected].

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