Storms and rain often disrupt wedding portrait plans — but the best wedding and elopement photographers take bad weather and make it look amazing. From using the wind for movement to turning rain into sparkle, these five photographs show that rain on your wedding day is far from bad luck. This week, we’re featuring stormy wedding photos from Laszlo Horvath, Lauren Vitort, Alexsandra Wiciel, David Conaty, Josée Grondin, and Patrick Dubuc. 

Laszlo Horvath, Weirdie Grizzly 

Elopement photographer Laszlo Horvath of Weirdie Grizzly was sending his couple to a spot when he says the sun temporarily peeped out of the stormy clouds. The dramatic light, motion created by the strong winds, the moody clouds, and the couple’s expressions mesh to create an emotional shot. He captured the image using the Canon 5D IV with an 85mm lens. 

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing,” Horvath said. “So, get prepared for the current location and season’s weather. In the spring and fall here in Scotland, we can experience 3-4 seasons in a single day – so layers and waterproof clothing are a must. Always keep your couple, model, yourself, and gear warm and dryish.” 

Lauren Vitort, Intimate Adventures Media 

When rain hit after this couple’s elopement by Stanley Lake, the couple just grabbed some umbrellas and enjoyed the view. Photographer Lauren Vitort, of Intimate Adventures Media, said the rain made the whole scene even more beautiful than she imagined. She captured the image using the Canon R6 and the RF 28-70mm f2.0 lens. 

“Everyone always wants the best weather possible on their wedding day, and you can’t blame them,” she said. “Something that really helped us on this day was staying positive and being prepared with umbrellas and rain gear. What we’ve learned from photographing and filming weddings in the mountains is that it’s always better to go into a session prepared for any type of weather because it can be extremely unpredictable sometimes! Being prepared will not only allow the experience to go smoothly, but you will also have a very happy couple who will be glad you were doing everything you could to make their experience amazing — rain or shine.” 

Alexsandra Wiciel 

Backlit rain adds sparkle and bokeh to this wedding portrait by Alexsandra Wiciel (@alexwiciel). As the wedding took place on New Year’s Eve, Wiciel wanted to add a bit of sparkle — and then it started raining. She knew from previous shoots that backlighting the rain would add the glitter she was looking for. She captured the shot with her Canon R5 and the RF 50mm f1.2 lens. 

“Don’t be afraid to ask your clients to go outside, take your time looking for light both indoors and outdoors, make a memory for your clients instead of a pose,” she said. 

David Conaty, David Conaty Photography 

Sometimes, bad weather can work in the photographer’s favor — this iconic bridge in Skye, Scotland is typically filled with tourists. At this couple’s wedding, David Conaty of David Conaty Photography was finally able to capture the shot he’d been envisioning for some time, thanks to the rain and the low position of the sun. He took the photo using his Sony a7 III and the Sigma 35mm Art lens. 

“Embrace whatever the weather throws at you,” Conaty said. “Part of the thrill of photography, especially elopement photography, is the chase. Chasing the light, the moments, and surrendering completely to the environment. The main priority is that the couple are having a good experience, so I make sure that they have something to keep them warm and dry and don’t let them sit out in the pouring rain for too long before we head back to the car to warm up. Some couples aren’t keen with getting soaking wet, so it’s always good to know your couple and set the correct expectations for the shoot.” 

Josée Grondin and Patrick Dubuc, Love is Nord 

The rain was so heavy on this couple’s wedding day, that they agreed to postpone the formal portraits until the next day. Husband-and-wife photography duo Josée Grondin and Patrick Dubuc of Love is Nord were greeted by this rainbow the next day. The photo was captured with the Nikon D810 and the Nikkor 70-200mm lens. 

“Be flexible! Be prepared! Be bold! Be enthusiastic about it,” said the photography team about working in troubling weather. “If you’re not, don’t expect your couple to be. We believe it’s our responsibility as photographers to set the mood for the shoot. It’s very important to create a relationship of trust with the couple well before the first photo is taken. The best photographs are always those for which we have had to achieve an unlikely combination of taking action and letting go at the same time.” 

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].