How creative can you get at the reception?

Aside from group shots with families, bouncing the flash around and getting shots of people in a group talking and visiting from table to table, I don't really have much creativity when it comes to shooting the reception dinner.

Is there much to expect? Does anyone have any tricks or sweet images from receptions they've shot?

I don't like photographing people while they're eating, I found this a bit obnoxious. If i'm shooting the reception I'll be floating around during the speeches.

The first dance (and eating dinner myself) are about the only things I look forward to in the reception.

I definitely don't shoot while anyone is eating!

I consider reception cover to be documentary, other than the first dance, where I aim for some nice lighting. I often take the couple outside around sunset for some nice photos.

Are you just talking about when they are eating or the reception in general which usually include guests dancing etc? If it's just when they are eating, I usually don't shoot that much.

Otherwise, it really depends on the reception.

Drag the shutter:

wow nice shot on that last one...looks like from a James Bond movie nick..

I'm traveling so can't take the time to find links to them, but I do a lot of off-camera flash (often 150+ degrees), a lot of UWA, even some fish-eye, and think about angles; shoot way high and shoot way low. Also think about framing, for instance, shooting the cake with the couple OOF in the background. The reception may be less posed, but it is by no means a time to be less creative.

I normally shoot the cake, flowers and rings while the B&G are eating...this way they don't have to worry about forks-in-the-mouth images and I can have all the time I need to completely knock out the cake, et al. As for creativity, I agree with Tim and Robert: use all the photojournalistic techniques you can. A long, fast lens is great for this; you can really capture some nice candids of the guests. I have a 600 person reception coming up in 10 days and the bride wants me to photograph her with everyone separately! How boring. Not at all creative after the first 100 or so guests come through but I've shot these kinds of weddings (Vietnamese family in Portland) before and they all wanted that as well. After that I'll be ready for some serious sit-down time.

I decided to find the time.

Some fisheyes:

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

Always wonder how you guys get these images...just lots of planning or is it all spontaneous ? I wish I was half as good as you guys

Karl Johnston wrote in post #10755506
Always wonder how you guys get these images...just lots of planning or is it all spontaneous ? I wish I was half as good as you guys

A little bit of both. For instance, that fisheye with the couple behind the table, I knew there was enough space for me to get behind them, already had the camera and flash set up, during a moment they were at the table I just got myself there, asked them to kiss and took it all within a few seconds. To do the champagne glasses shot, I just arrange the glasses and do my metering without disturbing the couple; once I'm ready, I ask them to kiss, take a couple of shots, and move on. So those are planned, but fast.

Likewise, the first dance shots, I take three different types of these shots for every first dance, but once I'm set up to do it with the triggers and settings (which I do before the introductions), I'm ready to just fire away and just adapt it to the moment and setting.

Karl Johnston wrote in post #10755506
Always wonder how you guys get these images...just lots of planning or is it all spontaneous ?

For the dance shots I am usually on the dance floor with everyone (Not dancing though...I can't dance.:lol and just trying different things. Might raise the camera up above my head arms fully extended and just shoot away or kneel down for a lower perspective. I use my 14-24 a lot on these shots for a more dramatic perspective. DOF is also in my favor at 14mm.

I'll also almost always take "drag the shutter" type shots. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

There's plenty of time with dancing shots. But I guess for something like that huddle shot I posted, you just had to be there at the right time. They were getting together on the dance floor so I sensed something was up. I got right up there with camera high and blasted away.

nicksan wrote in post #10756215
Might raise the camera up above my head arms fully extended and just shoot away or kneel down for a lower perspective.

i hate getting down low on the dance floor... in the back of my head, i alwasy think... man, i hope they don't think i'm tyring to get a peek. granted, their skirts are up to their cheeks anyway, they probably don't care. the goods are basically already showing. I just don't want somebody thinking, "look at that photog perv." lol

sctbiggs wrote in post #10756280
i hate getting down low on the dance floor... in the back of my head, i alwasy think... man, i hope they don't think i'm tyring to get a peek. granted, their skirts are up to their cheeks anyway, they probably don't care. the goods are basically already showing. I just don't want somebody thinking, "look at that photog perv." lol

When I get down really low, I'm rarely looking through the view finder; just getting it to the floor and using the focus-assist to tell me where I have the camera pointed and focused, and fire. Biggest problem is to make sure that my eye-sight is not obliterated by the flash that I still have pointed up to bounce off the ceiling.

Peacefield wrote in post #10756905
When I get down really low, I'm rarely looking through the view finder; just getting it to the floor and using the focus-assist to tell me where I have the camera pointed and focused, and fire. Biggest problem is to make sure that my eye-sight is not obliterated by the flash that I still have pointed up to bounce off the ceiling.

Sun tan lotion is a good idea.