Portrait photography can run the gamut in type and style—everything from the traditional “head and shoulders” shot to lifestyle and environmental, candid and street, glamour, boudoir, maternity sessions and much more. This week’s images are a mix of documentary, fashion and wedding, and they all have one thing in common—eye-catching photo lighting.

Michelle Elyse Hartman of Michelle Elyse Photography says this image was taken at the very end of a two-day wedding in Georgia last month in the town of Adairsville (located in the countryside right in the middle between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee). 

“I love this photo because it really captures the bride Ashley’s free and fun-loving spirit,” says Hartman. “She and her now-husband Josh held their celebrations at her parent’s private home during the second day of their wedding. The dinner tables and dance floor all surrounded this pool, and after already spending the day prior with them and their friends for the ceremony, I just knew that someone would be making a splash by the end of the evening!”

The photographer explains how it all started towards the end of the reception: “People were dancing away and having a good time, and then a couple of groomsmen pushed each other in. Then, Ashley’s friends followed suit. In the blink of an eye Josh ran, swept up Ashley, and plunged into the pool with her! This photo is the aftermath of her laughing as she floats towards her girlfriends in her completely soaked Sarah Seven dress, Jimmy Choos already off her feet!”

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After taking some assigned shots in his studio, Derek Dunlop wanted to finish this set for his personal work in the corridor and see where it took him. “I thought the outfit would go well with the avant-garde look I had in my head,” he explains. “When I saw the green door with the sun coming through. I just knew there was a good photo opportunity here so I directed the model into what I thought would be the right place with the light and for her jawline, while adding nice shape and form to the image.”

The photographer adds that he loves the whole look and feel of the image. “By using full sunlight coming through the window, it really makes the model pop out from the green backdrop.”

In this second image by Dunlop, he wanted to see what would work with the outfits and style of the model. “Then I took that and used my surroundings and natural light to tell a story and make the viewer stop and take pause.”

This image wasn’t planned, but Dunlop say that seeing the opportunity with the sun on the floor gave him the chance to create the interesting light pattern. “I knew that the outfit and the sunglasses would make for an epic shot,” he says. “I took my time to direct the model and position her on the right spot so that the her face, sunglasses and arms were all well lit and not in the shade.”

LeeAnn B Stephan says she has been shooting more and more film this year and discovering something new with every roll.

“This photo was taken with my Contax G2 on Portra 400,” she says. “Ashlie and John had an incredibly intimate wedding at The Chloe in New Orleans on St. Charles Ave. They weren’t overly concerned with many posed photos—they just wanted the day documented in an honest way. This was taken shortly after speaking with their officiant before their ceremony. Their love was shown in quiet, modest ways all throughout the day and this photo exemplifies that.” 

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This image was taken from a staircase bannister at the Boyer house in Walla, Walla, Washington, says Jonas Seaman. Bride Jordan had just finished getting her dress on and was heading downstairs for portraits.

“I asked her to stop for a moment, because I loved the way the train was trailing behind her,” Seaman explains. “I tried taking a few photos with my 35mm, and I liked them, but didn’t love them. Jordan was so patient while I fiddled around with my camera. I realized the photos I had taken were good, but they were too controlled.”

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Seaman solved the issue by quickly putting on a 45mm Tilt Shift, took his shutter speed down to 1/10th of a second, aimed, and asked Jordan to start walking down the stairs. “I figured I would either end up with a blurry mess or with something kind of cool. Luckily, I think it ended up being a little bit of both.” 

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more compelling, eye-catching photo lighting and other elements you won’t want to miss out on!  Send us your portrait, wedding, editorial, documentary and commercial image submissions: [email protected].