Wedding Photography & Video FAQ: Reception, Portraits & Making the Most of Your Coverage

By the time the reception begins, you've already lived through hours of your wedding day.

You've gotten ready, walked down the aisle, gotten married, hugged what feels like everyone you know, taken family photographs and hopefully had at least a few minutes to enjoy being newly married.

Then the doors open and another completely different part of the story begins.

The reception is where schedules often begin to loosen, people relax and some of the funniest, most emotional and completely unexpected photographs can happen.

But there are still a few things worth thinking about before the wedding arrives.

WHAT MOMENTS ARE TYPICALLY PHOTOGRAPHED AND FILMED DURING THE RECEPTION?

Whenever the timeline allows, we like to photograph and film the reception room before guests enter.

You spent months choosing the flowers, centerpieces, place settings, cake, lighting, signs and all of the little details that created the room. Once purses, jackets, drinks, phones and guests fill the space, the room will never look exactly like that untouched setup again.

If timing and the venue allow, another beautiful option is for the newly married couple to see the finished reception room privately before guests enter.

That may also create an opportunity for something we love: a quick private or mock first dance.

It doesn't need to take long. Sometimes even a few moments together in an empty reception room can create beautiful photographs and video before the real party begins.

Once guests enter, the reception story usually moves quickly.

There may be grand entrances, the couple's first dance, father-daughter and mother-son dances, blessings, speeches, dinner, cake cutting, bouquet toss, garter traditions if the couple chooses to

include them, dancing and possibly a special sendoff.

Every reception is different. Some couples love traditional reception events. Others remove many of them and create something completely their own.

Photography and video should follow the wedding you're actually having.

HOW CAN WE GET BETTER PHOTOS AND VIDEO DURING OUR GRAND ENTRANCE?

Try not to rush through it.

When your names are announced, give yourself a moment to enjoy the entrance.

Look at each other. Look toward your guests. Smile. Dance for a second. Stop briefly if it feels natural.

You don't have to perform for the cameras, but moving a little more slowly can give photography and video more opportunity to capture your expressions and the reactions happening throughout the room.

The same idea can apply to the wedding party. If everyone runs through the doors and immediately sits down, the entrance may be over in seconds.

Have fun with it.

WHY ARE THE PARENT DANCES SO IMPORTANT TO PHOTOGRAPH AND FILM?

For many families, these become some of the most meaningful minutes of the reception.

A father-daughter dance or mother-son dance may be one of the few moments during the wedding when a parent and their son or daughter have that space almost entirely to themselves.

Some families have the dances separately. Others may combine them or create a completely different tradition.

However you choose to do it, these are the kinds of photographs and video clips that may become even more meaningful with time.

IF OUR PHOTOGRAPHY OR VIDEO COVERAGE IS LIMITED, IS IT BETTER TO START EARLIER OR STAY LATER?

This depends on the wedding and what matters most to you.

When couples have limited coverage and ask where we would generally place that time, we often recommend protecting more of the beginning of the wedding day.

Getting-ready moments happen once. The dress, rings, invitations and details are still untouched. Hair and makeup are fresh. Parents and family members may be seeing the bride or groom dressed for the first time.

Later in the reception, there are usually many guests taking photographs and video on their phones, and a larger portion of the evening may eventually become open dancing.

That doesn't mean reception coverage isn't important.

If you're planning a special late-night tradition, fireworks, sparkler exit, cultural celebration or another meaningful ending, staying later may make much more sense for your wedding.

But when something has to be shortened because of budget or coverage time, we generally don't like sacrificing the entire beginning of the wedding simply to photograph an additional hour of open dancing.

The best choice depends on what is actually happening during those hours.

SHOULD MY MAKEUP ARTIST STAY FOR TOUCH-UPS?

If it's possible and works with your plans, having your makeup artist available for touch-ups can be wonderful.

South Florida weddings can involve heat, humidity, wind and plenty of emotion.

By the time family portraits, wedding-party photographs and couple portraits begin, you've already been through getting ready, possibly a first look, the ceremony, hugs, kisses and maybe a few tears.

Having someone available for quick adjustments can be especially helpful before important portraits.

If your makeup artist isn't staying, that's completely fine.

It can help to have a bridesmaid, friend, family member or planner nearby who can notice the little things. A veil may need to be moved. A strand of hair may be across your face. The train may need to be spread out. A necklace may have turned around.

Those are small things, but another set of hands can help portraits move more smoothly.

WHO SHOULD HELP WITH MY DRESS, VEIL AND HAIR DURING PORTRAITS?

Ideally, someone who is already close to you and comfortable helping.

That might be a maid of honor, bridesmaid, family member or planner.

This can be particularly helpful when working with a smaller photography and video team. The photographer is watching the light, background, posing, expressions and camera equipment while the videographer may simultaneously be concentrating on movement and another angle.

Someone nearby who can quickly straighten the dress, fluff the train, adjust the veil or move a strand of hair can save time and help everything stay looking the way you intended.

SHOULD I WEAR A VEIL OR CARRY A BOUQUET FOR WEDDING PORTRAITS?

This is personal, but we love what both can add to photographs.

A veil can create movement, softness and dimension. It can be worn traditionally, moved around the shoulders, extended behind the bride or caught by the breeze for a completely different photograph.

For someone who prefers a little more coverage around the shoulders or arms in certain photographs, a veil can provide that option without changing the dress.

A bouquet gives your hands somewhere natural to rest and adds color, texture and shape to a portrait. It can also be held in different positions depending on the photograph.

That doesn't mean you need either one.

A simple dress without a veil can be beautiful, and some brides prefer very few accessories. The point is simply that accessories give us additional possibilities.

HOW CAN ACCESSORIES CHANGE THE LOOK OF OUR WEDDING PORTRAITS?

Sometimes one small change can create a completely different photograph.

A veil can go on or come off. The bouquet can be held, lowered or set aside. A necklace or pair of earrings can change the feeling of a close portrait. A purse, jacket or another accessory can introduce a different look without changing locations.

We don't have to use every accessory in every photograph.

Think of them as additional tools that can help create variety within the same portrait session.

WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT TAKING WEDDING PHOTOS ON SOUTH FLORIDA BEACHES?

South Florida beaches can be absolutely beautiful for wedding portraits.

The ocean, sand, open sky and changing light can create photographs that look completely different from anything inside a ballroom or hotel.

But beaches also come with variables worth considering.

Crowds can be one of them.

During busy weekends, holidays and parts of snowbird season, popular public beaches around Fort Lauderdale, Miami and other parts of South Florida can become very busy.

That doesn't automatically mean you shouldn't use them. It simply means the location, day and time can matter.

Depending on the wedding and where everyone is staying, it may be worth considering a smaller or less heavily trafficked beach location rather than automatically choosing the busiest nearby beach.

The goal isn't necessarily to find an empty beach. It's to choose a location that gives us the best opportunity to create the look you want without spending valuable wedding time navigating unnecessary crowds.

HOW CAN WIND, SUN, CROWDS AND TIME OF DAY AFFECT BEACH WEDDING PHOTOS?

The beach can change dramatically throughout the day.

Wind is one consideration.

A breeze can create beautiful movement in a veil or dress, but stronger wind can also repeatedly blow hair across someone's face.

When possible, we pay attention to wind direction and position the couple so it works with us rather than against us.

If you're planning a beach wedding or significant beach portrait time, choosing a hairstyle that can handle wind may also be worth discussing with your stylist.

Sun direction matters too.

If a couple is positioned staring directly toward bright sunlight, they may spend the ceremony or portrait session squinting and struggling to keep their eyes open.

Whenever the ceremony setup allows flexibility, considering the sun's position can improve both the experience and the photographs.

The middle of the day can bring stronger, harsher sunlight. That doesn't mean beautiful photographs can't be created. It means the photographer may need to use shade, positioning, supplemental lighting or other techniques to work with the conditions.

Sunrise and the time approaching sunset can often provide softer light, but the best timing still depends on the location, weather, season and actual wedding schedule.

South Florida weather can also change quickly, so flexibility can sometimes be just as important as the original plan.

SHOULD WE PLAN A SPECIAL RECEPTION SENDOFF?

If you love the idea, absolutely consider it.

A sendoff doesn't necessarily have to happen at the actual end of the reception.

Depending on the wedding, it may be possible to gather everyone approximately a half hour or another appropriate amount of time before coverage ends and create the sendoff while the photography and video team is still there.

Then guests can return to the party.

This can work particularly well for couples who want photographs and video of a special exit but don't necessarily need professional coverage until the final minute of the reception.

The timing and setup will depend on the venue and type of sendoff, so it is worth coordinating in advance.

HOW DO WE GET THE MOST OUT OF OUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO?

You don't need to turn your wedding into an all-day photo shoot.

In fact, that's the opposite of what we want.

The best wedding photography often happens when there is enough planning that the couple can stop thinking about the photography.

Build enough time into the beginning of the day. Know which family photographs matter. Tell your photography and video team about traditions and surprises. Think about lighting and location. Have

someone available to help gather family.

And then enjoy your wedding.

Laugh. Cry. Dance. Hug people. Let your dress get a little dirty. Forget about the camera sometimes.

Because years from now, your wedding photographs and films shouldn't only remind you what everything looked like.

They should remind you what it felt like.

FAQ

Q: What reception moments should be photographed and filmed?

A: Depending on the wedding, coverage may include the reception room before guests enter, grand entrances, first dance, parent dances, speeches, dinner, cake cutting, traditions, dancing and a special sendoff. Couples can prioritize the events that matter most to them.

Q: If wedding photography coverage is limited, should we start earlier or stay later?

A: It depends on the wedding. We often recommend protecting more of the beginning of the day because getting-ready moments and untouched details happen once, but couples planning an important late-night tradition or sendoff may prefer later coverage.

Q: Should a makeup artist stay for wedding-day touch-ups?

A: If it works with the wedding plans, having a makeup artist available can be helpful, especially before portraits. Otherwise, a bridesmaid, family member, friend or planner can help watch for small

adjustments to hair, veil, dress and accessories.

Q: Are veils and bouquets helpful for wedding portraits?

A: They can be. Veils can add movement, softness and different styling possibilities, while bouquets can add color, texture and a natural place for the hands. Neither is required.

Q: What should couples consider when planning South Florida beach wedding photos?

A: Consider the location, crowds, wind, sun direction, time of day, hairstyle and weather. Conditions can vary considerably, so the best approach depends on the particular beach, wedding schedule and conditions that day.

Q: Does a wedding sendoff have to happen at the very end of the reception?

A: Not necessarily. Depending on the venue and wedding plans, some couples may choose to create a sendoff before photography and video coverage ends and then return to the reception afterward.