By the time the reception rolls around during your wedding day, there is an all around sigh of relief: the nervous energy of the "getting ready" part of the day, the first look, the ceremony itself, and the post-ceremony group portraits is over! It's the part of the wedding day where you get to truly relax and unwind, and enjoy the precious time you get with your family and friends before it's all over. I love shooting receptions because of the dramatic first dance shots, the creative lighting I get to use, and the challenge of capturing the energy in the air. I spend the reception making sure I have the perfect lighting for the grand entrance, creating dramatic first dance shots (personally my favorite part of the reception), and timing the photos during speeches just right so that your reactions to your loved ones' stories will be remembered. I also use the time while everyone is eating to get those details shots that I haven't had time for yet (the rings, invitation, venue decor) and of course the cake shot before the cake is destroyed.

 

Having said all that, the main focus of the reception as a photographer is documenting the relationships between everyone on your guest list. As as (virtual) stranger at your reception, my job is to look out for things that are meaningful to you as a couple and to document what you don't have time to see. I want you to look through the photos in your reception gallery and feel like you were there and have access to that moment. The time you spend with your friends and family is fleeting and you should enjoy it to the fullest, while leaving the photography worries to me!

 

Check out the gallery above for examples of what your reception photos will look like!