Re: pics Re: OT reception planning

On Oct 9, 1:42 pm, Sandy Ellison <el...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Howdy!

Husband used to take wedding photos, professionally.
What a circus! If this is at a church, ask if they have a wedding
coordinator; she/he usually knows everything, and is worth a nice
little gratuity $$. Might also recommend a good photographer.
In our case, he took the portraits & all the must-have photos,
I skipped around in the background w/ the 35m camera taking "snaps."

Here's a couple of tips:

Tell the photographer what you want (have a contract!), how long you expect
him/her to stay at the reception, agree on the length of his/her service
time, have him/her check out the wedding site ahead of time, if it's
just showing up a couple of hours before the ceremony to look over
the room(s), because (s)he will be there early anyway to get those
group photos done*

Have a list. You can not possibly remember all the photos you will
want later. One bride didn't put "bride w/ groom" on her
list, wouldn't stand still long enough for the photographer
to take that all-important photo (she was too busy bossing
everyone); we re-staged that photo 2 weeks later, she still had
the dress <g> & he rented a (better) tux.

Have the photographer speak to the preacher -- to find out what is NOT
allowed in the service, or in the church (no flash? no walking
around in the sanctuary during the service? no interruptions?);
the preacher/judge/pronouncer usually knows where the best spots
are for the best photo ops

*Take LOTS of those group photos BEFORE the service.
Before the crowds arrive (don't want to spoil the Surprise!).
While the bride is prepping (primping) in the bridal room/parlor
or wherever, the groom & his men(usually) can gather in the sanctuary
or judges chambers (whatever) w/ the family(ies) for those
once-in-a-lifetime pics; groom w/ parents, grandparents, attendants,
in-laws, great-aunt Bessie, who ever; do these BEFORE the service.
Then have the groom's party shuffle off into the catacombs while
the Bridal Party comes into the sanctuary/chambers for the same
treatment. Including flower children/petal throwers & ring bearer.
This will save time & get everyone to the reception before the guests
have drunk all the champagne.

Give the photographer GOOD, really GOOD directions to the reception area.
Give the photographer a head start to get to the reception BEFORE the
bride & groom.

Don't over-do the party. Some brides (or their mothers) want to add every
cute idea they ever heard of, include every detail & new tradition
--and it's just too much. If you're a laid-back type of bride, try to
keep the service, ceremony, shindig as laid-back as you can. No one
will remember how many candles you lit (& the photographer probably
isn't allowed up on the podium steps or behind the communion table to
get a picture of this extra performance) or realize that the groomsmen's
cummerbunds matched the bridesmaid's varying shades of pink-to-pale rose
bouquets (I was a church's wedding coordinator for a couple of years,
god help me) -- & no one can tell the difference, anyway. Details like
this will drive you crazy.

Agree ahead of time to NOT smash the cake into each other's faces.
This isn't funny anymore. Nor is it pretty, as the photographs will
show. Often the newly weds get pissed off over this stupid little
trick, and having their first married-couple fight during the reception
is not very attractive, either. <g> *click*snap*whir*: pictures!

And, finally, IF you want that same professional photographer to take the
Bride & Groom Depart the Party pics, either pay him/her extra to stay
for the whole shindig, or get the couple moving out the door before
the photographer wilts from the long wait. <g>
Otherwise, have a back-up plan, another photographer or 3 to hang around
& take the Going Away pics.

Relax. Have fun. It's just a wedding: people have them all the time. <g>

R/Sandy -- after the 50th wedding they all start to look alike <VBG>
p.s. dipping large, fresh strawberries in chocolate was a courtesy
I extended once--and never tasted a single one! -- but we got them to
the reception upstairs in time for the party -- details!

On 10/9/07 8:25 AM, in article 13gn2upl09jt...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Polly



Esther" <mistercl...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Our own reception - many decades ago - surely didn't go as planned. We had
a professional photographer at the church who had a long list of pictures he
wanted to make and we had lots of family that demanded that he take pictures
of great-aunt Bessie (who had just celebrated her 95th birthday) and little
Priscilla who had just turned two and did look precious . . . you've got the
picture. Anyhow, the bridal party arrived at the reception more than an
hour late because of the massive photo-op taking place at the church. By
the time we got to the reception, the other guests were weary and ready to
go their ways. I don't know yet what would have been the solution. Polly

"KJ" <KJo...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:90LOi.142485$Fc.124550@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Great advice! Thanks! I don't anticipate this being horribly stressful.
Both DD and I are rather laid back, which can hinder good planning
actually. I always assume everything will work out and people will do
their jobs without me breathing down their necks...and sometimes it
doesn't!!! There are times I wish I had more of a type A personality.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Wow, that's *excellent* info. We had a "brotherinlaw" photographer. In
all fairness,
money was tight and he offered, and he *was* a pretty fair amateur
photographer.
It was an outdoor wedding, the light and shadows
were all wrong. Shoulda hired a pro.

Sherry

.

Relevant Pages

  • pics Re: OT reception planning
    ... Husband used to take wedding photos, ... Might also recommend a good photographer. ... This will save time & get everyone to the reception before the guests ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)
  • Re: Question for Wedding photographers
    ... There are very few photos there that a P&S user - beginner or not - ... Most all interior shots have been lighted with multiple strobes; ... People seem to think that wedding photographers lurk around waiting ... A professional wedding photographer has to create an interesting, ...
    (alt.photography)
  • Re: Question for Wedding photographers
    ... There are very few photos there that a P&S user - beginner or not - ... Most all interior shots have been lighted with multiple strobes; ... People seem to think that wedding photographers lurk around waiting ... A professional wedding photographer has to create an interesting, ...
    (alt.photography)
  • Re: pics Re: OT reception planning
    ... Husband used to take wedding photos, ... Might also recommend a good photographer. ... One bride didn't put "bride w/ groom" on her ... This will save time & get everyone to the reception before the guests ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)
  • Re: Getting started with photography question
    ... but particularly wedding photography you need a sound ... My own wedding was shot by a very experienced pro who ... ideal for photos inside and its beautiful gardens were soaked. ... All the photographer really got ...
    (alt.photography)