WEDDING TECHNIQUES | HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH SPARKLERS AT WEDDINGS
WHAT IS A SPARKLER EXIT AT WEDDINGS?
A wedding sparkler exit is a magical and popular way for newlyweds to make a memorable departure from their celebration. Guests gather outside the venue, holding lit sparklers (or, as I like to call them, small sticks of fire!), creating a glowing tunnel of light for the couple to walk through as they make their exit.
Not only is it a beautiful way to end the night, but it also makes for some incredible, fun-filled photos—capturing the joy, laughter, and sparkle of the moment as the wedding day comes to a close.
REPEATABLE ACTIONS
From a photographic perspective, every wedding day is made up of repeatable moments, each requiring a specific approach.
Over time, I’ve developed a rhythm—I know exactly which lenses to use for wedding prep, which setup works best for the aisle walk, and the perfect combo for capturing confetti and speeches.
Sparklers are no different. For every wedding sparkler exit, I rely on the same camera, lens, LED light, and nearly identical settings. This consistency not only ensures I capture stunning sparkler exit photos every time but also gives me the confidence to focus on the moment rather than the technical details.
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
When it comes to capturing sparkler exits at weddings, I prefer not to use flash. Flash can often feel too harsh and can wash out the beautiful ambient glow of the sparklers (though I’m sure some would argue I just need to improve my flash skills—and they’re probably right! 😆).
A sparkler exit moves fast—from the moment everyone steps outside to the sparklers being lit and the couple walking through, there’s little time to adjust settings, direct guests, and then figure out flash power on top of it all. For me, it’s just too much faff.
Instead, I find the best and easiest way to capture sparkler exits is with a small, pocketable LED light panel, like the Lume Cube Panel Go (pictured below). These compact lights are surprisingly powerful, and because they’re handheld, they allow me to adjust angles on the fly, ensuring the couple is perfectly lit while still preserving the warm glow of the sparklers.
CAMERA & LENS
Go wide with the lens choice.
When capturing sparkler exits at weddings, my go-to lens is the 20mm F1.8 G. It provides an incredible perspective of the couple walking through the tunnel of sparklers, allowing me to include both the couple and the surrounding guests in the frame.
Since I use an LED light panel to illuminate the couple, I need to be close—these lights aren’t powerful enough to light them from 20 feet away. That’s why using a 35mm or 50mm lens wouldn’t work as well in this scenario.
For sparkler shots, I always recommend going 20mm or 24mm to capture the full atmosphere while keeping the couple well-lit and in focus.
CAMERA SETTINGS
For capturing sparkler exits at weddings, I use a hybrid manual mode for exposure and a large single autofocus box positioned in the center of the frame. I avoid tracking autofocus since I don’t want the camera to shift focus to someone else in the line.
I switch to manual mode, setting both shutter speed and aperture while letting the camera adjust Auto ISO to balance the exposure.
Shutter Speed: I aim to keep this around 1/200th since I’ll be walking backward with the couple. This helps reduce camera shake while still allowing enough light into the camera. If needed, I’ll drop to 1/160th or 1/125th, knowing there might be some motion blur.
Aperture: This depends on the look I’m going for, the available light, and whether I think the couple will stay on the same focal plane as they walk. My go-to setting is a safe F2.
ISO: I let the camera decide using Auto ISO, checking a few test shots to ensure it’s not pushing too high. I’m comfortable shooting at 25,600 ISO on my A1s if needed, but if it climbs too high, I’ll adjust my shutter speed accordingly.
This setup allows me to focus on capturing the moment without worrying about constant exposure adjustments, giving me consistent and beautifully lit sparkler exit shots every time.
In summary:
Shutter Speed: 1/200 (can drop to 1/125 if needed to allow more light in).
Aperture: F2 (if possible, F2.8 will provide more depth of field and margin for focus errors).
ISO: Auto ISO (since we control the shutter speed and aperture, let the camera adjust ISO for proper exposure).
GETTING THE SHOT
Once the camera settings are dialed in and the LED panel is set to full power, it's time to capture the moment.
Lighting Setup:
I hold the LED panel in my left hand, positioning it high and to my left. This prevents flat lighting and adds depth to the couple's features.
Camera Handling & Composition:
The camera stays in my right hand, and I use the back LCD screen to check framing, ensuring the couple remains centered.
With a 20mm lens, I have plenty of room to work with, so even if the couple gets close, I rarely risk cutting off heads or feet in the frame.
Autofocus Strategy:
I use a single large AF box centered in the middle of the frame to keep the focus locked on the couple.
Eye AF is turned off (if I remember!) to prevent the camera from shifting focus to other guests nearby.
Capturing the Moment:
I take a lot of shots during the sparkler exit. It’s easy for one person to be looking the wrong way, blinking, or mid-step in an awkward position. The more images I capture, the better my chances of getting that perfect sparkler exit shot!
BONUS TIP - PICKING THE LOCATION
Often, wedding venues have a designated spot for the confetti or sparkler exit, and if that’s the case, you’ll need to work with what’s provided.
But if you’re given the choice, I always look for a composition with light in the background.
Take the photo below as an example—you can see a light on the right-hand side of the couple. That was a security light, and I knew that by positioning myself correctly, it would illuminate the smoke from the sparklers, adding depth to the image. Without it, the guests in the background could have been lost in the darkness.
Using available light sources like these can really enhance the atmosphere of sparkler exit shots, making them more dynamic and visually striking.
BONUS TIP - MANAGING PEOPLE
Little fire sticks and drunk wedding guests—what could possibly go wrong? 😆 While sparkler exits are fun and make for great photos, they also come with a bit of risk.
As the photographer, your job is to capture the moment, not to manage the sparklers. You can offer guidance on where people should stand and remind them to give the couple enough space as they walk through, but that’s where your role ends.
Do not take responsibility for lighting sparklers or telling guests how to handle them. If someone decides to wave one around wildly or gets too close to another guest, that’s on them—not you. The last thing you want is to be held responsible for any mishaps.
Instead, be polite, snap a few shots of guests waiting with their sparklers, and let the venue staff handle the organizing. After all, if anything goes wrong, it’s their insurance—not yours!
BONUS TIP - THE STOP AND KISS
Before the couple starts their walk through the sparkler tunnel, I always take a moment to give them a couple of quick pointers:
Keep it steady – Walk at a relaxed pace, no need to rush. It’s not a race to the end! The slower they go, the more time I have to capture great shots.
Pause for a kiss halfway – When they reach the middle, I ask them to stop for a quick kiss. This serves two purposes:
It creates a beautiful static shot of the couple surrounded by their family and friends.
It gives me a safety shot in case something went wrong with the walking photos (out of focus, bad expression, etc.).
A little direction goes a long way in making sure we get both dynamic and intimate sparkler exit shots!
