THE RECEPTION

With over 400 (and counting) weddings under my belt, I’m often asked “what is my favorite part about a wedding?” Without hesitation, my answer is ALWAYS the reception. 

Hear me out. If you’ve read over my website, you’ve learned that I love people. The absolute best part about my career is meeting, connecting, and being a guide with my couples through such an important season of their lives. In an effort to make things smooth for all involved, the people I tend to work with couples that I genuinely enjoy being around (no stuffy environments here). Because of this, I genuinely love all the couples I photograph – which means their moments and their people are all important to me, and it’s of the utmost importance I capture their moments and people for them.

Back to the reception. The reason I personally love receptions so much is simple – this is where all of my couples’ “people” are, and they are generally in their natural state. This means no poses, no queued smiles, and no probed reactions.

The reception is where I get to make some magic by being a fly on the wall, and sneakily capturing moments when no one is looking or expecting it. I really love photographing couples’ loved ones in a very candid way. If you look at my portfolio, take note that a good portion of them are also the reception (not just the ceremony, getting ready, or portraits).

The reason I professionally love receptions is much less touchy-feely and much more important. From my perspective AND in my professional opinion, it’s extremely important to tell the couple’s WHOLE wedding day story. And that means giving my 100% all the way through and not letting off the gas or hitting the breaks during the reception. The reality is, the reception is fourth quarter (any football fans out there?) and the game is not over. Some photographers will slow down, enjoy dinner or dessert, and just be sure to snap photos of different folks. They’ve got the ceremony done and their portrait shots, so they’re done, right? 

Wrong! I believe in fully capturing all the elements of the reception. In a lot of ways, your wedding photographer is like your ambassador. Even if you have a small wedding, you can’t be in 10+ places at a given time to see what all your favorite people are up to. On your wedding day, it’s impossible to see everything or all the happenings. Who knows what your fun uncle is doing in the corner, or how your grandma is looking at you when no one else notices, or the big laugh you shared with your parent? I believe your wedding photographer needs to be on their A-game so that when you receive your gallery, you can see the full story of what was happening on your day. 

No matter the season, your reception will most likely be in the dark. Some photographers might be scared of the dark, but I’m not! This allows me to showcase my strengths of creativity, bold color, and dramatic lighting. Not only am I enjoying snapping authentic, unscripted photos of loved ones, but this is also the time for me to exercise my creativity. 

So, in more ways than one, the reception is fun for me! 

Does this ring true to your values? Click here to inquire about working with me or share this blog with your loved one who is planning a wedding.

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Vendors in this Gallery: Old Sugar Mill