5 Photography Tips Between The Wedding Ceremony And Reception
Couples hire a photographer to capture all the most important and meaningful moments of their wedding day. But while some moments — like exchanging vows and cutting the cake — are obvious and well-covered, others can be overlooked. Some of these overlooked times occur between the ceremony and reception.
To help you ensure you get all the memories from that big day, here are five photography tips from the pros.
1. Hire Two Photographers
Couples are often torn about where to deploy their photographers during this period. They often want to get good pictures of cocktail hour, details of the reception, or guest antics. But they don't want to sacrifice their own time. The answer? Work with more than one photographer, so someone can be everywhere.
2. Bring Your Photographer
Even the best photographer can't take pictures if they're not there. So make sure they have backstage access and are brought along with key participants. You may want to bring them with you in the car after the ceremony, for instance. If not, ask the attendants or your parents to ensure the photographer gets where they need to go.
3. Tidy Up the Place
If you will retire to a backstage location to fix your hair and makeup or change into a reception dress, have someone tidy it up first. If you're reusing a prep area from the first outfit change, have it tidied immediately after the wedding party leaves it for the ceremony. If needed, ask the photographer to wait a few moments while someone gives the space a once-over so it looks great in photos.
4. Take a Walk-Through
If possible, take the photographer to the reception prep areas before the big day. This walk-through lets them identify the best photo spots, check lighting, and find their way around. The result will be faster work and better quality results.
5. Take Your Time
Finally, try not to be in a big rush to move on to the next stage of the wedding. Take the time to feel your emotions, share moments with your closest circle, and have fun. Let your photographer gather certain people together or even restage key moments if they want to. While you don't want to make guests wait too long, this time will never come again.
Where to Start
Ready to start planning how you will make the most of the space between the wedding ceremony and reception? Begin by meeting with a wedding photography professional in your area today.