Chiara and Les’s wedding was well-organized for over a year, with 100 guests from around the world invited. Then COVID-19 hit and overnight, a large-scale event became an intimate sunrise wedding with just the couple, their officiant and their photographer present. Fortunately, there were several unique photo ops for interesting couple portraits and details shots after the ceremony as well.

[Read: A Guide to Elopement Photography When Couples Downsize Weddings]

“They got married in the morning, at the moment when the sun popped up on the horizon at Long Reef Beach in Sydney, Australia,” says Franky Tsang, founder of Divon Photography in Sydney. “I had to have the timing down pat because the light was changing every second at that time of the morning. I headed down to the spot 30 minutes prior to the ceremony to set up my flashes and then waited for the bride to come down when the colors of the rising sun started to appear in the sky.”

[Read: Rethinking Iconic Photo Spots to break From On-Location Clichés]

Tsang says that while elopements don’t typically carry most of the formalities or number of guests that a full wedding does, a much smaller invite list—or none at all—can also translate into far fewer candid moments for the photographer to document. “In a situation like this one, I always plan my day to include different locations to photograph the couple at or in. Here, I explored different lighting setups and we used the rest of the day for fun newlywed portraits (as well as some detail shots) in different spots. I was able to pull out all my photography skills and tricks without worrying about the time limitation or being late for a reception.”

This day was extra special to Tsang, he says, because he was not just the photographer for the event but also a witness to it. “Now, not only are my images with them forever, so is my signature on the marriage certificate. I love my job!”

GEAR OF THE DAY
Cameras: Canon EOS-R, 1DX, 5D Mark III
Lenses: Canon 24-70mm f/2.8, 28-70mm f/2.0, 70-200mm f/2.8, 85mm f/1.2, 200mm f/2.0
Lighting: Godox V860 and V1 flashes, MagMod

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Email Rangefinder editor-in-chief Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.