Time at reception

[canon shooter]

How do you manage the amount of time you spend at the reception?

I found in my first wedding (family friend) that I spent hours at the reception and just waiting for the events to happen. Such as cutting the cake, garter and flower shots, first dance etc.

Do you have to get involved in getting these items done in a timely manner?

And how long do you spend at the reception

[mizuno]

How much time do you specify in your contract or negotiate with the clients?

It can be quite good to stage a mock cake cutting before the reception gets into full swing. I have found most Bride and Grooms are quite ok with this. It allows you to shoot the 'cake cutting' without the pressure of the moment and has the added benefit of alleviating the problem of having a million point and shooters jostling with you for position.

[sapearl]

If it's a pretty exciting reception with a lot of fun candid stuff going on, I may stay to end. Unfortunately this can be around midnight for an evening wedding.

What I do tell the B&G is that I will cover all the toasts, bridal dance, cake cutting, tossing of the garter and bouquet, some table coverage and miscellaneous dancing. After all the "structured" shots are done, I tell them I'll stick around another hour or so. But I ALWAYS give them a 20 minute warning prior to my exit, to insure there's nothing they feel I've missed.

[song4themoon]

If I am at the reception then I am usually there from the beginning to the end. In the more "boring" times I move around and try to capture some of the more creative shots.. decoration.. different angles... just stuff I dont have time for when the events happen

[sapearl]

Yes, there is nothing wrong by conspiring with the DJ or band leader, and the videographer, to insure that things happen in a timely manner - that is, sooner than later ;) . It's a tactic I often employ - with patience and tact.

You don't HAVE to get involved with the "timeliness" of things - but it sure can help. I've seen impatient elderly guests give up and leave because things were dragging well on into the night, past their bedtime - and they missed some of the fun stuff. A pleasant, gentle but helpful assist can often be very welcome.

......
Do you have to get involved in getting these items done in a timely manner?

And how long do you spend at the reception

[agosling]

I don't have a problem with giving things a gentle nudge but I know one photg who as soon as the B&G arrive at the reception has them do the cake cut and the waltz so he can leave, to me that is just not acceptable.

[sapearl]

I would agree - that's downright inappropriate. A lot of times I'll check with the DJ who already has an approximate timetable of events. Between the two of us we try to keep things on track. I've worked with a number of the same DJ's and videographers over the years, so there's a lot of good cooperation.

I don't have a problem with giving things a gentle nudge but I know one photg who as soon as the B&G arrive at the reception has them do the cake cut and the waltz so he can leave, to me that is just not acceptable.

[Noelle8818]

I don't have a problem with giving things a gentle nudge but I know one photg who as soon as the B&G arrive at the reception has them do the cake cut and the waltz so he can leave, to me that is just not acceptable.

This happened at my own wedding. As soon as we entered the reception my photographer jumped on us to do the cake cutting, then almost immediately had us do the bouquet and garter, and even staged us leaving. I felt very rushed, and as if the photographers were controlling our reception. Then they took off, and got no candids. I was not too happy.

[sapearl]

That's really disgusting. When you initially interviewed them for your package, did they mislead you into thinking that you'd get total coverage for the evening?

There should ALWAYS be candids of the guests in general, as well as friends and relatives just having fun. I would have asked for some sort of partial refund, or at least compensation in the form of additional prints for coverage "missed."

.......my photographer jumped on us to do the cake cutting, then almost immediately had us do the bouquet and garter, and even staged us leaving. I felt very rushed, and as if the photographers were controlling our reception. Then they took off, and got no candids. I was not too happy.

[tim]

I tend to stay as long as i'm paid to, and maybe give a bit extra if I think I can get photos before long that will add to the album. My main package is 8 hours, which usually gets the first couple of hours of the reception.

[Padawan Dad]

My most popular package offers 10 hours coverage. If thats what the B&G are paying for... thats what they get unless THEY allow me to leave. Their my boss until my 10 hours are finished.

Even if I go a bit over, I don't gripe about it. I have got alot of business from past friends of B&G's based on a kind reputation, and not being time conscience.

Sometimes I do suggest that it might be a good time for the cake cutting, father daughter dance, etc... just to accomadate the guests and get something going, but never to take off early... thats just bad business ethics.

JMHO

[ofdphoto]

The receptions I've shot so far have normally had an MC organising timings, generally in league with the caterers and the DJ. It's easy enough to introduce yourself to them early on and make sure they keep you in the loop when things are about to happen. But if no-one's watching the clock at all, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to gently encourage people to start thinking about the next thing.

[Wilt]

My quotes include the value of the time I am expecting to spend covering the wedding...I ask the time by which they need to vacate the hall, subtract a couple of hours (after the B&G leave, the party can continue a bit and friends/relatives/catering has to clean up, but I won't be there either!) and factor that into my quote. If you're getting paid good money to be at the wedding, does it really matter that you have to hang around bored?...after all lots of people have jobs that are plenty boring waiting around (for shoppers to show up, etc.) so why do so many photographers feel like they get to leave when it gets boring, if you're getting paid?!?!?!

[Wilt]

This happened at my own wedding. As soon as we entered the reception my photographer jumped on us to do the cake cutting, then almost immediately had us do the bouquet and garter, and even staged us leaving. I felt very rushed, and as if the photographers were controlling our reception. Then they took off, and got no candids. I was not too happy.

[bad taste in mouth left by photographer control freaks]

[MichelleM]

Typically, if there is a good DJ, they tend to be the ones who move the show along in a timely fashion and then report to the photog and videog when stuff will be going on. At least that has been the case in my experiences. If there is not a good leader, take it on yourself to make things run smoothly.

I spend as long as I need until all of the formalities are finished and then there is typically a money dance after all of that in this area, and that is the cut-off of my services (which is known to the client), because that is generally the last real 'happening' at the reception.

[Wilt]

Typically, if there is a good DJ, they tend to be the ones who move the show along in a timely fashion and then report to the photog and videog when stuff will be going on. At least that has been the case in my experiences. If there is not a good leader, take it on yourself to make things run smoothly..

Right! After all, the DJ has the microphone to keep the dance floor moving and announce songs, so he is in a much better situation to control the flow! And he has to pause the music in order for the cake to be cut and the garter and bouquet to be tossed without the distraction of music.