Category: Firework Info

So you’ve been asked to take photos of the fireworks at your friends’ wedding. They’ve asked for great wedding firework photos. And you’re nervous about getting it right. We’ve often met professional photographers at the displays I have fired over the years who have the same feeling – so don’t worry, you’re not alone.

But follow these 10 basic principles and you will improve your chances of success.

1. Get the basics right. Our simple guide to fireworks photography is a good place to start. It contains all you need to know to get good results. But on a special request like this you will need to do more.
2. Stay calm. Don’t drink too much before the display, even though it will probably come at the end of the evening.

3. Talk to the firers. They will be setting up the display during the wedding reception, and although they will be busy, they should be happy to explain what it is going to happen. This puts you in the prime spot for your project. They may even let you get some pictures of the set up.

4. Find out the plan. The firers can tell you about the timings, the products, the effects, how high the fireworks will be going. And they can tell you where you can stand safely to get the best wedding firework photos.

5. Set yourself up in the best possible position. Get out there before the guests, set up your camera and tripod.

6. Take a few test shots. There won’t be much time once the fireworks begin. So do some tests and check them on the screen before the display starts.

7. Have a small torch. It’s going to be dark, and the buttons on your camera are hard to find in the dark. If you need to make adjustments, you will need to do them quickly.

9. Vary the timings. If you know how to shoot manual exposures and feel confident with them, be prepared to vary the shutter speed as you go along. That way you are “bracketing” your shots and are more likely to get something different and maybe even something really special.

10. Go for the unique shot. Everyone will have their phones out, taking random shots of the fireworks. And some of them will be fine. But you have the chance for something different. The photo at the top of this page was taken by a professional photographer who knew that catching the fireworks themselves was quite tricky. She decided to concentrate on the guests, and especially the bride and groom who were looking up into the sky, surrounded by friends and family, loving the moment. It’s one of the best wedding firework photos I have ever seen – and it doesn’t even have any fireworks in it!

I’ve worked with fireworks for nearly 20 years, and people often ask me “Where is the best place to buy fireworks?” and “Can you deliver fireworks direct to me at home?”

You’d think the answer is simple: Buy them from us! Peak Fireworks has a great range of fireworks for every budget and every occasion. We are open all year round And if we don’t have something in stock we can usually get it in a matter of days. We do free local delivery. And we only sell fireworks suitable for the place you want to set them off.

But of course not everyone lives near our office or store. So they go online and do a search for “fireworks shop near me” and see half a dozen or more different companies. Some are big. Some are small. Lots are only open at Bonfire Night. Quite a few don’t answer the phone. They have websites with unconvincing “special offers” or “buy this one, get this one free”. The choice is really hard to make.

So my advice to people is simple. Look around. Find a company you feel you can trust. And build a relationship with them.

A good, reliable fireworks company will usually look like this:-

They will be open all year round.
They won’t be selling cheap fireworks (which will only disappoint you).
They won’t be advertising prices like “RRP” “SSP” “Was £x” unless it’s a genuine sale.
They will talk to you and help you decide which fireworks are safe to use at your particular event.
They won’t try to make you spend more than you want to.
And they will be there to help you next year, too.

Good luck with your hunt for fireworks.

And most importantly, be safe. We want you and your audience to go home safe and sound at the end of your evening.

The sale of fireworks in the UK is very tightly regulated. It is illegal to sell them to anyone under the age of 18, to let them off in a public place, to throw them or use them to attack animals or people, to light them after 23:00 on nearly every day of the year, or to sell them at all if they don’t meet the strict noise and safety standards set by Government.

Some people have called for fireworks to be banned completely. They say fireworks are too dangerous, that they scare animals and people, are harmful to the environment, or just a nuisance. The most vocal of these people in the UK campaign under the banner of the Fireworks Abatement Group. This group have petitioned Parliament to restrict the public use of fireworks, but this was last rejected in 2016.

FAB have been criticised for over-reacting to the danger of fireworks, for exaggerating the effect they have on animals, and for demanding that certain type of fireworks should be against the law – even when these particular products have been banned for years. They have also been accused of running fake appeals from the NHS asking people not to let off fireworks as part of the Clap for Carers events during the coronavirus pandemic. 

FAB’s biggest critics include the UK Firework Alliance whose Facebook page is designed “to inform the general public of the facts around firework use in the UK, to promote the safe and sensible use of consumer fireworks and to fight any further and unnecessary legislation imposed on retail fireworks.”

Like many Facebook groups, this one gets heated and vitriolic at times, with some members being especially rude towards FAB. But its hosts seem determined to provide facts rather than opinions, and to allow the public to make up their own minds. They responded to a recent FAB post about fireworks getting louder in recent years by pointing out that the noise of fireworks has been restricted since 2006, that “bangers” have been illegal since 1997, that gunshots from licensed use in the countryside are much louder than fireworks, and that there are far greater dangers to livestock than the occasional rocket.

Our own view here at Peak Fireworks is that fireworks will continue to be available to the general public for many years to come. And that the sensible divide between different categories of fireworks is the best way of allowing people to enjoy them without causing unnecessary harm or upset to others. Larger displays will continue to be provided by licensed, qualified and insured professional companies.

We only want our customers to buy fireworks which suit the area where they are going to be used. Contact us for advice on any of our products, anytime. Check the noise levels on our product descriptions, and watch the videos to hear for yourself how loud they are going to be. If you want to rattle the windows, and you can do so without upsetting anyone, try the Quantum Power or the Miner’s Revenge. If you want to watch fireworks dance in the sky try the super-quiet Virtual Vortex or one of our beautiful candles. 

Peak Fireworks now sell “Low Impact Eco Sparkle Sticks” which don’t have the hot metal wire in the middle. They are made with a wooden stick which burns away to nothing. But you still need to be careful with them, of course, just as you would with our traditional metal sparklers. And you should not give any of them to children under 5.

Whatever type of sparklers you have this year, please take extra care. You or your children will be closer to a sparkler than to any other firework. And they can really hurt. Have a look at this ROSPA video for more information.