People, I will admit something to you. it is a sentiment not many other wedding photographers share with me... but I can no longer stay in the closet about this.
I love photographing the reception.
I unabashedly, wholeheartedly, LOVE the dance floor.
I will shoot the shit out of a reception.
in the beginning of my career I was scared sh*tless of photographing the reception- what with it's low light, it's crazy colored up-lighting that caused colorcasts, drunken guests knocking over flashes and bumping into my camera, groomsmen proposing to me on the dance floor. but once i dialed in my lighting and figured out what worked for me stylistically and aesthetically I never looked back.
Because i would DIE for real unabashed straight-from-the-heart emotion like this at all the other parts of the wedding day. never ONCE have i had to say to someone at the reception "ok! now laugh! laugh like something is really funny! like you're having the best time of your life!" because, well, clearly they already are.
and the father daughter dance? kills me every time. tissues please.
My goal is to make my clients tear up when they look at the first half of their wedding gallery from the ceremony, and then make them cry tears of laughter when they see their reception photos. If i can do that, i've successfully documented the day. I've had clients before who have needed to order an entire SEPARATE WEDDING ALBUM of their reception dance floor photos because there were just too many to choose from. to this day, about 80% of my clients order multiple volumes of their wedding albums like these.
So, i'm finally coming out of the closet and just admitting that I love the reception as much as anything during the wedding day- if not the most. I have the best clients ever, and I'm so happy I get to celebrate with them.
Photographers- Ive had so much interest in my reception lighting set up, and I'm finally completing the long-time goal of mine- to write a comprehensive tell-all e-book on how I light my weddings with film. Yes, I shoot flash with film, and LOVE it. IT IS A MYTH THAT FILM ISN'T GOOD IN LOW-LIGHT, and you should only use it with ample natural light. who perpetuated this malarky is beyond me. on camera flash, off camera flash, and video lights are my go-to low-light resources with film. It's been in the works for a long time, but i'm finally releasing my e-book on how I nail my low-light photography on film with flash. If you want to be the first to know when I release it then enter your email in the form below.
You dont have to be afraid of low-light with film, once you understand that ALL LIGHT can be GOOD LIGHT if you know how to use it to your advantage.