Champagne poppin’ shots are my absolute favorite shots to take. There are a million different looks you can get with them, they provide so much depth in the photo, and they are filled with energy and excitement.
But what if your wedding couple doesn’t drink? Or what if you live in utah and the liquor store is closed? (We can only get champagne at the liquor store in UT). What if you just want to nail different shutter speeds in photography and don’t want to spend a fortune?
I gotchoo.
You can still get the epic champagne shots couples and photographers love.
How to capture champagne shot using sparkling cider or white grape juice
Watch the video above to see the moment versus the photos with sparkling white grape juice! Cool, right?!
What’s also great about using sparkling white grape juice or sparkling cider?
1. It’s cheap so you can buy multiple if you need to do it a couple times
At roughly $3 a bottle, you can’t go wrong. You can pick up multiple bottles to keep stored for photo shoots without breaking the bank and have extra to practice with.
2. It’s great for couples who don’t drink but still like the excitement of champagne pop shots
Not everyone drinks alcohol and that’s ok! It doesn’t mean they can’t be included in these fun “champagne” pop photos. They add so much excitement to a wedding album. Honestly EVERY couple needs photos like this.
3. You can create different looks with different shutter speeds. There’s no right or wrong shutter speed, as it’s all subjective and depends on the look you want.
For crisp frozen in the air water, use a high shutter speed. For softer and smoother streams of liquid, slow your shutter speed down.
I should add, however, that I don’t recommend going under 1/125 (at the very least) or you won’t get what you want… I’ve experimented with several shutter speeds for “artistic effect “ and the slow shutter speed does NOT work well with spraying water. Not for these type of shots anyway.
these experimental shots are my LEAST favorite champagne pop shots I’ve done. They are purely experimental!
These were done with a 1/60 shutter speed: (do NOT recommend)
But you can see how a slow shutter slows down time, making something *in action* drag around, rather than freeze. Notice the champagne. My husband was shaking it & the champagne is slowed down since it’s moving fast. The shutter was open 1/60th of a second, so it saw a lot of movement in that time and put all that data together in the image. But when you look at us, we weren’t moving much - or rather, we match the shutter speed better than the champagne does, so we are mostly frozen, whereas the champagnes movements are slowed down and drag across the image..
Slow shutter champagne shots:
Whereas these were done at a 1/500 shutter speed: (I would’ve liked even faster but it was getting dark fast) and look MUCH better.
And these were done with 1/800 shutter speed. Notice how the water is captured at different speeds and you can imagine how various shutter speeds would capture the champagne or sparkling juice.
As you can see, the champagne or sparkling grape juice photographs the same, but your shutter speed and level of excitement really determines the outcome. Some couples get scared of hurting camera gear (ily guys) but these shots look best when the water is going straight toward the camera (more on that later)
4. Champagne shots create such an exciting mood, & this hack will make sure all couples are included
No matter how shy the couple is, these photos will bring out their uninhibited joy. You really can’t go wrong. But every time I do these shots I try to pump up the couple more than the last time. It makes a big difference.
Btw, Martinellis does a new sparkling rose that’s gorgeous in photos and feels more like actual champagne (and tastes more like champagne than grape juice 😜), and the pink color can be complimentary for bridals.
More tips on champagne shots for your Photoshoot:
for spraying: unwrap the bottle then shake it until you feel a lot of pressure, cover the juice with your thumb and let it sprayyyyyyyyyyy.
Aim AT the camera. Don’t be afraid of ruining the lens. Your photographer will move if the water is spraying too close or risking damage.
BE ENTHUSIASTIC! As the photographer I’m cheering the couple on the whole time keeping the energy up. Champagne poppin shots are some of my fav!! If the couple forgets to smile and have fun, at $3 a bottle, you can go for a second try and nail the energy.
🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂
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