Advice and tips for breathtaking wedding pictures

Wedding Photography Tips for Brides

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tips for spectacular photos

 

Q I would simply love to capture a "sparkler" photo.  Anything special I should know?

A Be it a grand exit at a wedding reception, birthday party, Quinceanera, sweet sixteen, family reunion, or other similar celebration . . . there is nothing like the magic sparklers.  Capturing this photo does actually require a bit of pre-planning, on both our parts that is.

First and foremost, and we truly can't stress this enough, we strongly recommend that you get in touch and obtain permission from your event coordinator / main event contact at the property you plan on using the sparklers.  We say this because many properties either heavily restrict or outright prohibit the use of fireworks / sparklers due to both governmental regulations as well as their liability insurance policy.  On the other hand, we've found that your odds of getting a 'green-light' from the venue are dramatically increased when you demonstrate to the venue manager that you're vigilant about fire safety (e.g., have a fire extinguisher nearby, sand buckets to dispose of the hot used sparklers, etc.).

Next, should you finalize your plans and decide on using sparklers, please be sure to tell us as far in advance as possible so that we may plan accordingly by bringing the appropriate gear and setup the shot in advance.  In terms of what we need to know from you, please let us know the exact timing of the sparklers as well as the precise location where you'll plan on lighting them.  This advance notice truly helps us keep things flowing as naturally as possible.

In regards to tips for making the best of the photo, read on!

 

Q We don't want to mess up our photos, so how fast should we walk through the sparkler "tunnel"?

A Outstanding question!  Hands down, the #1 reason why sparkler photos fail to turn out as originally envisioned is due to clients deciding at the very last minute to run through the sparkler tunnel.  If you're looking for a good photo, this is a big (and I mean very big) "no-no."

We realize it is a bit unnatural and you'll have to fight it a bit, but please try your absolute hardest to walk slowly through the tunnel.

These sparkler photos tend to have a slow shutter speed (i.e., it takes anywhere from half a second up to a full second, per image, for us to take the photo).  Accordingly, you need to take it slow and make a leisurely stroll through the tunnel while we work our magic!

 

Q Are sparkers even legal in Monterey County . . . or California in general, for that matter?

A We of course must begin by reminding you that laws and regulations frequently change and it's only prudent for you to consult your own personal attorney for legal advice.  The information we have published here is merely for basic educational purposes only and should only be used as a starting point in your research.

With that said, we highly recommend that you contact (a) the local fire department in the city where your event is being held (e.g., Monterey Fire Department, Carmel-by-the-Sea Fire Department, Pebble Beach / CalFIRE Fire Protection, Salinas Rural Fire Protection District, etc.); as well as (b) the California State Fire Marshal at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (a.k.a., CalFIRE).

In terms of the specific regulations and ordinances that may come into play, you may want to take a look at the following:

» California Fireworks Handbook 2008 (California Health & Safety Code) . . . see page 7.
» Pebble Beach Ordinance No. 23
» Monterey City Code - Sec. 13-4
» Carmel-by-the-Sea Fire Code - Sec. 8.32.090
» Unincorporated Monterey County Municipal Code - Sec. 10.68.010-10.68.030

At least as of May of 2009, it appears that "sparklers more than 10-inches in length or one-fourth of one inch in diameter" are considered "dangerous fireworks" and accordingly illegal (California Health & Safety Code Section 12505(f)).

Practically speaking though, we can tell you that many clients have used sparklers at various hotels, country clubs, and assorted venues here on the Monterey Peninsula without a single problem.  So, just weigh all of the above facts and make your own judgment call.

 

Q Any recommendations in terms of the specific types / style of sparkler I should be using?

A (1) First off, we highly recommend that you use a relatively long sparkler in order to maximize burn time.  If you look around, you'll likely be able to find a 36" (yes...three feet) metal wire sparkler that will burn somewhere in the neighborhood of 4-minutes.  A slight step down from the 36" product is the 20" sparkler . . . the 20" unit is a good middle-of-the-road choice which should provide roughly 2-minutes of sparkle.  This extra long burn time is ideal, especially when you have a good number of guests that will be taking part in the sparkler tunnel. 

If you use 20" sparklers, we suggest that each guest have two sparklers to obtain a combined 4-minute burn time (again, don't light them both at the same time; instead, have the guest light the second sparkler after the first one is exhausted).

We realize that it is not going to take 4-minutes (or 2-minutes for that matter) to exit through your "tunnel" of sparklers, but where you're really going to need that extra burn time is in regards to the time it takes for everyone to light their sparklers, get properly staggered / spaced out, and paying attention.  This "prep time" will typically take around a full minute or two.

(2) Second, sparklers that are made of metal tend to burn cleaner, generate less annoying smoke, exude significantly less ash / soot that inevitably sprinkles down on your clean clothing, and are just easier to use in general. On the other hand, sparklers with wood or bamboo cores tend to generate ugly chunks of ash & billow out acrid smoke.  Additionally, these bamboo core sparklers tend to split off & fragment (while still burning mind you!) when waving them around which can be dangerous.

(3) In terms of the pros & cons of metal / steel sparklers versus wood / bamboo sparklers, other than those listed above, keep in mind the following points:

» Metal sparklers greater than 20" tend to be a bit heavy & cumbersome (not overly so but it is something to keep in mind).
» Wood / bamboo sparklers tend to be of inferior quality and simply are to be avoided if at all possible.
» On the other hand, there is a type of sparkler called a "Morning Glory" which is a wood stick with a thin cardboard tube (about half the diameter of a pencil) that has the firework compound in it . . . these make beautiful multi-color sparks but are very smoky, cause a ton of ash & burning residue to fly, and are otherwise a mess to use.

(4) Summing this all up, we've found metal sparklers measuring around 20" to be a very nice choice (especially if each guest keeps one extra sparkler as a backup should you need to light it back-to-back for extended burn time).

 

Q I can't seem to locate sparklers with silver sparks.  Why are gold sparks the only ones available?

A We too were confused about this for quite some time until on of the sparkler manufacturers explained that U.S. Federal Law restricts the chemical used to make silver sparks.  Thus, you're only left with purchasing sparklers with gold sparks.  I know, I know . . . a total bummer, but that's life I suppose.

 

Q How much do sparklers cost and where would I go about purchasing some?

A Obviously, like we mentioned in the second question at the top of the page, you'll need to check to make sure that you comply with all Federal, state, and local laws and regulations before ordering.  Assuming that everything is in order, we've found it to be most economical to purchase standard gold sparklers (either 20" or 36") online and have them shipped via UPS Ground. 

As a tip, don't waste your money on "wedding sparklers" since they are simply overpriced and are actually the exact same product as standard "generic" gold sparklers.  It's just marketing mumbo-jumbo.

Regardless, here are some good bets (prices as of May 2009):

»  Wholesale Event Solutions, has 20" sparklers (qty. 288) for $120 shipped ($0.42/sparkler)
»  ePartyUnlimited.com, has 20" sparklers (qty. 48) for $29 shipped ($0.60/sparkler)
»  BuySparklers.com, has 20" sparklers (qty. 48) for $33 shipped ($0.69/sparkler)

»  Wholesale Event Solutions - super long 36" sparklers (qty. 144) for $167 shipped ($1.16/sparkler)

 

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