How To Create The Perfect Wild & Romantic Sunset Shoot

A sunset love shoot really is a dream come true for many couples.

But how do you create the magic that it takes to organise and create one, and how do you do it without spending a small fortune? Photographer Cesar Ocampo explained the inspiration behind this stunning shoot and some tips and tricks on how to create the perfect wild and romantic sunset shoot for your engagement photos.

For sunset, I always try to start 2 hours before the sun sets.

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I wanted to show couples that the most important thing is love and to find something special for them to make a small story. In this case, Guy Davidyan and Jenny Vargas love to eat and visit restaurants, and one of their passions is travel. That’s why we created this mini story to show it.

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I grabbed my camera and off we went. We had half an hour before sunset, and we captured total magic in Anapoima, Colombia. Capturing amazing sunset shots can be tricky if you haven’t done any preplanning. Here are our tips on how to make this dream a reality!

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Don’t shoot in the middle of the day when the light is harshest; shoot at sunrise or sunset when the light is optimal for photos. The golden hour, right after sunrise and right before sunset, is perfect for ultimate lighting. Always expose for the background and use off-camera flash inside a softbox to compensate for the exposure of the subject.

Tip: Choose an ISO setting that is in the low to mid-range.

When shooting a sunrise or sunset, you’ll generally want to use a low-to-mid-range ISO setting, like 100, 200, 400, or 800. In this case, I started using ISO 100 to avoid grain in the photo. But as soon as the sun starts setting, I start raising my ISO.

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Keep Shooting!

Just when you think you’ve seen the best of the sunrise or sunset, the colors might become even richer or a cloud could move in and cast beautiful sun rays. Sunrises and sunsets change constantly, so keep on shooting to be sure you don’t miss the best part. And, while you’re at it, experiment with different compositions and exposures.

BONUS: BEHIND THE SCENE VIDEO CLIPS AND IMAGES FROM THE SHOOT

Share your techniques and tips in the comments below!