Tips for professional photographers or friends of the family when shooting at the Turnip Rose Grand Newport Plaza.
Every wedding location has a few spots that have been designed for the wedding photography. Photographers, after shooting at a location for some time, become familiar with the best angles and backgrounds of each location. This article is meant to help those who will be shooting at the Turnip Rose Grand Newport Plaza in Newport Beach for the first time – whether you are friends and family shooting some pictures on the side or you are the professional photographer.
Look in the rotunda for the large arch shaped wood door that has a metal railing in front of it. Have the bride reach forward and grab hold of the railing. The large oak door should now frame her perfectly. A fun post production technique is to change the picture to sepia. This will accentuate the beauty and color of the door as the background. There is a beautiful window next to the door. If you are shooting during the day, this will bring in plenty of good lighting.
As you first enter the plaza you will see there are some large metal fences. A picture of the bride and groom in front of these entrance gates can make a beautiful page one in a wedding album.
You will likely take a number of shots inside the rotunda. One fun shot is to go to the third level and have the bride and groom sit on a bench located under the large window. The photographer should then go to the opposite side of the room and shoot a vertical shot that includes the subjects and the entire three levels of the room.
Outside, you will see a large cement stairway. The stairway has a nice design and curve to it. It is large enough to fit groups on it but still narrow enough to nicely frame a bride coming down the stairs. Use your creativity with this stairwell. It was so well designed for photography it really is hard to go wrong when shooting on it. You can have the bride sit on the steps while you shoot from below. You can shoot from above while the bride and groom walk up the steps (or the reverse is also nice). Another fun step involving these steps is to have the bridesmaids and groomsmen to sit on the step acting in conversation.
The Turnip Rose is a great location for shooting a wedding; best of luck.
