Over the years I’ve noticed that Florida Brides tend to gravitate toward two types of locations: beaches and Country Clubs. The latter is a location that brings groans from my fellow photographers, who complain that shooting at Country Clubs means shooting on golf courses where golfers are shooting at them with golf balls.
I find that golfers are usually considerate of Wedding parties and I’ve never been hit by a wayward golf ball.
The other thing that I hear other photographers complain about is that golf courses are usually featureless, wide-open spaces except for clusters of trees that appear to grow from everyone’s head in their photos. Since Brides don’t see things the same way as photographers, and want to be photographed in “pretty scenery”, it’s a must to shoot them on the golf course.
I don’t find this to be a problem. What I do is put the couple on a clear fairway, use the trees for framing, shoot from a low angle and expose for the sky. This gives me a silhouette of the couple without trees sprouting from their heads, and a bright colorful background that highlights the couple in the foreground. Or, in Bride terms, “pretty scenery”.
Here is a Sunset Photo I took of Laura and Mark, on the golf course at Countryside Country Club in Clearwater.