Do You Shoot the Recessional

I've never photographed the recessional, by which I mean the other couples after the B&G. No one has ever commented that these images were not in their collection. I tried to make a concious effort to do it at yesterday's wedding. The reality, though, is that everyone is walking up the aisle so quickly and so close together that getting a worthwhile shot doesn't seem to be possible.

So am I alone in this or does everyone not shoot the recessional? Or do you just shoot what you can so you have them, but it's accepted that they will not be great shots?

I don't. And none of the main shooters I work for do either. Like you say, it's like a fire alarm went off.

Besides, I like to tail the B&G to the back foyer/rear so I can get that, "We did it!" pic.

Peacefield wrote in post #10515817
I've never photographed the recessional, by which I mean the other couples after the B&G. No one has ever commented that these images were not in their collection. I tried to make a concious effort to do it at yesterday's wedding. The reality, though, is that everyone is walking up the aisle so quickly and so close together that getting a worthwhile shot doesn't seem to be possible.

So am I alone in this or does everyone not shoot the recessional? Or do you just shoot what you can so you have them, but it's accepted that they will not be great shots?

Only when asked but in over twenty years have been asked once. (That's why they made video!!)

I find it hard to come up with cool shots of the recessional, though I have seen some really nice ones done from other photographers. How many creative ways can you come up with to shoot people walking in a line, though?

I get the B&G coming out, but not the other people. Wherever the B&G are is where I am, not photographing the stampede out of the church.

RT McAllister wrote in post #10515880
Besides, I like to tail the B&G to the back foyer/rear so I can get that, "We did it!" pic.

this

and i get all the shots of the wedding party as they are coming in. That's all they need.

As my wife and I shoot, one will go with the B&G, the other will hang out briefly, capturing some candid images (facial expression shots, mostly). Some of these - zoomed out a bit - will invariably include others in the recessional, but not many.

Peter
--
Tallahassee Photographers

The look of relief, love and elation on the B&G faces as they leave is priceless and I would not trade that photo opportunity for photos of guests. Possibly a job for a second shooter if I ever had one - but then again I'd probably have him/her doing same as me in this instance.

This is where a second shooter comes in handy .. I follow the B&G right out to the front steps and stay with them during the initial receiving line.

My second gets the recessional trailers but overall it's not something I worry about too much.

Absolutely - I may not get every single "principle" individual coming down the aisle as they are less critical than the b/g whom I concentrate on, but it's a whole different set of expressions and dynamic. Also, there may be couples combinations that were missing from the processional.

The recessional is yet another opportunity to get some great facial expressions, excitement and variety that can be added to the album or disk. - Stu

I shoot all the bridal party and parents for their recessional. I dunno, I never found this to be an odd thing to do.

picturecrazy wrote in post #10536919
I shoot all the bridal party and parents for their recessional. I dunno, I never found this to be an odd thing to do.

It's not odd, but I can't see getting the shot. Do you just kinda shoot get some basic news coverage style shots of the stampede coming by or something more interesting? I'd like to take shots as everyone is now coupled up, but the reason I originally asked is that everyone comes back up the aisle so quickly after the couple and they're so tightly compressed, it doesn't seem like a worthwhile shot is achievable.