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Create Dramatic Shadows with Flash on the Wedding Dance Floor 

October 2, 2024

By Abbey Pleviak

All the exuberance of the wedding reception is expressed on the dance floor. Rangefinder 30 Rising Star of 2024, Robin Goodlad has pioneered a flash technique for capturing all that joyful energy and amplifying it by projecting the dancers’ shadows on the walls and ceilings. Today he shares some of his favorite dance floor images and his tips for how other photographers can get similar shots. 

© Robin Goodlad

Moments, Portraits, and Place 

Robin, who is based in Dorset, UK, began his photography journey with a passion for photographing nature. The influence of the landscapes, light, and shadows of nature permeate his work. He says, “whether capturing a bride’s bouquet placed in low sunlight to mimic the long evening shadow of a tree on land, placing couples as small focal points in a wider scene, bringing in the ceiling of a church as though the sky above, or painting shadows with flash on the dance floor, all are drawn from my landscape background.”  

While Robin doesn’t see the landscape in the dance floor so much, he is very inspired by the shadows of nature as a feature that adds extra impact to an image. He says, “The shadows of trees or mountains are another version of the subject, and seeing that other version–seeing it’s outline as a silhouette–allows you also to get a clearer feel for the three-dimensional structure that is within a scene, which is then being conveyed in a two-dimensional image, the photograph. So, it’s a great way of adding scale and depth, too.” 

Robin’s dance floor images also embody his passion for capturing portraits of the truly authentic moments that tell the story of a wedding day. His unique perspective, inspired by long shadows and wild winds, perfectly captures the revelers embraced in the glory of love and music. 

© Robin Goodlad

Tips for Painting Shadows with Flash 

For photographers who wish to capture shots like these, Robin advises that the angle of the flash is key. His technique involves a flash at the end of a monopod held nearly at floor level, pointed up at the subject from below. Robin uses manual focus with a wide-angle lens between 14-20mm. He puts the f-stop at f10, and focuses on the hyperfocal point, which means both subject and background will be in focus without focusing at all. Robin says having the ISO at 1000 and the shutter speed at 1/10 second is “a great starting point–and easy to remember, too!” Flash power can be around 1/32, but adjust that according to how large or small your flash is. Goodlad uses the Godox AD100, which works great at the end of monopod because it doesn’t articulate and doesn’t need a hot shoe mount.  

He says, “Shoot in continuous burst. Then, as you shoot, as well as keeping an eye on the composition on your screen, watch how the shadows appear on the wall or ceiling and adjust your flash angle to project the shadows where you want them. It’s great fun!” 

© Robin Goodlad

Double the Impact 

Robin says, “My photography style is one where I am always looking for the highlights and shadows, and reflections of the subject in water or mirrors as a means of adding impact to the image by duplication.” A shadow is second version of his subject, which amplifies its impact and its meaning.  

However, natural shadows and reflections don’t often occur on the dance floor of a wedding reception, so Robin “decided it was up to me to make them.”  With his unique method of creating dance-floor shadows, he has found a way to both capture an amazing moment and to accentuate its shape and form. 

Follow Robin Goodlad’s work on Instagram and Facebook. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024 here.