Welcome to my blog. On this page you will find articles I personally write about the photography industry and my work. You will also see blogs showing the photos from many of my photo sessions.
Now that the reception has come, the photographer’s work is close to being done for the day. The reception can be fun for the photographer.
This post is part of a series on the various categories of wedding photography.
Here is how I approach my wedding reception photography. The first issue is lighting. Receptions are almost always dark and photographers cannot rely on natural light. Even changing the settings to make the camera’s sensor more sensitive is not going to work. Some additional lighting will be required.
Just about every wedding photographer I have seen work a reception uses on-camera flash. I too use on-camera flash, though I have experimented with off-camera flash. Off-camera flash is more preferred by most photographers in general. However the process of carrying around a separate light stand with the flash on it can seem challenging in a crowded room. Frankly, it is easier to move around the room with just a camera and flash.
My required photos at the reception include the grand entrance, where the wedding party and the bride and groom enter the hall. These can be fun photos as the wedding party often acts silly and the bride and groom often raise their arms in triumph. This is what occurred in this photo taken at the Roca Berry Farm. Other required photos include the traditional cake cutting, those giving the toasts and the important wedding dances. If I’m there long enough, the bouquet and garter tosses can be really hichfun photos.
Reception photography will often hinge on the amount of time the photographer is hired to be at the entire wedding. For those with fewer hours, I will sometimes encourage the bride to schedule the important events she wants photographed at the first part of the reception.
Then of course there are candid shots. I like to go around the room and take photos of as many guests as I can. I feel these photos give the couple a record of who was at their event. And of course general candid photos about anything that’s going on and details, such as the table centerpieces, are important to shoot as well.
Other photos in this series are on the first look, pre-wedding prep, the ceremony and the in-between time.