As promised, I used smoke grenades in my photography for the first time! I was already taking save-the-date photos for my sweet friends, Alec & Nicole, so I asked if they would be up for being my models for the smoke grenades at the end of the session! They were all for it!!
Things we learned:
Have an extra person or two to help!
We soon learned that it was better to have an extra person to wave the grenade around close behind the models, than it was to lay the smoke grenade on the ground or have one of the models hold it. We had the helper stay crouched down as they waved it around, and I would take a close up shot to keep the extra person out of it. I had them jump to the side from time to time.
Don’t put too much smoke in front of the models (if you can control it)
If much of the colored smoke is in front of them, it can start to completely hide your couple! Some may like this effect, but I much preferred mine with thick smoke behind.
Use high quality smoke bombs for best results
In my research beforehand, I had read that Enola Gaye smoke grenades were by far the best brand of smoke bombs. They are more expensive than the firework store brands near me, but I didn’t want to dull the excitement of my first try with low quality smoke. I will do that test later when it won’t kill my excitement. But I'll tell you I've already read from others it's not nearly the same experience.
Pay attention to how long each type of smoke bomb lasts.
Do pay attention to what kind of Enola Gaye grenades you get. My ebay purchase came with two types. The regular kind were perfect for photography, but the two yellows were ‘burst’ bombs. As awesome as it was to see them let more smoke out at once than the regular, they only lasted 25 seconds compared to the 90. For photography, this makes it extra hard to get the shots off!
Be ready! This goes for photographer,models, and the help!
Have your camera settings just how you want them, have your models in their first pose, and have the help instructed on exactly what you want them to do. It would be smart to show your couple and helpers a youtube video before you start. This way they know what to expect! Do plan to waste a little photo time on the first one.. everyone is in amazement, including you!
Always have more smoke grenades than you think you need!
It will most likely take a few tries to get the hang of things, so this is a way to save you some pressure. Luckily, I had figured out it was more economical to buy a bunch at a time other than just a couple, so we had 6 to try out this day. Four really, if you take out the 2 yellow that were burst bombs.
Don’t stop shooting when the smoke grenade quits letting smoke out.
Some of the smoke still lingers, and even though it may not look as cool as before, I came out with some precious candids of the laughter that had ensued from all of the hurrying.
Don’t use them when it’s windy!
It wasn’t a windy day when we were shooting, but there was just one moment right after we had lit an already tricky yellow burst bomb, when a small blast of wind came through and took the smoke up the hill so quick! I will say it was quite funny making Alec and Nicole chase after it! But it would be totally pointless to shoot with smoke bombs on a day with steady wind.
And lastly, don’t forget detail shots!
One of the very best tips I can give you, not only for smoke bomb photography, but for any kind of photography.. make sure you have detail shots to add to the flow of your pictures and tell the story. Here is a detail shot I took of Nicole’s engagement ring with the blue and gold bombs! (Go WVU!!)
Happy Shooting!
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