I’m so excited to share another lesson in my photography education series: how to take great wedding reception photos! Photographing wedding receptions can be a little tricky as they’re often at night in low lit rooms. This may be ideal for the event but can make capturing the attendees a little difficult! Luckily for you, I have broken down the reception photography process into four easy steps. I have tried and tested a lot of different methods over my years working weddings which is how I can up with these four steps to creating gorgeous reception photos every time!

Step 1

Ambient light usually just isn’t enough. You need to enhance the available light by adding flash! By using flash to add more light into your photos, you are completely in control of how the final image looks. Not relying solely on available light means you aren’t at the mercy of any windows in the reception venue or low quality lighting from a DJ or other source. Using flash is especially important for receptions after dark!

Another added benefit of using flash is that you won’t have to raise your camera settings quite so high and risk image quality. Say goodbye to all that noise and grain! Your flash will brighten the room and make up the difference you need.

Step 2

It is so important in any photography setting, but especially at wedding receptions, to change your ISO to suit the situation. By adjusting your ISO you can change the background brightness and style of your photos. I like light and bright photos so my ISO is typically above 1000 for all evening receptions! But if your personal photography style is a little darker and more dramatic, keep your ISO setting low and let the flash do the heavy lifting. When you are using a flash, your camera settings have a huge impact on the exposure of your final image. Play around with your settings at home or at a party to see what you like. Photography is fun because we don’t all have to have the same style, but it is important to know your camera settings and how they’ll affect your images.

Step 3

Use both an on-camera and off-camera flash for the most natural-looking reception photos. I have spoken before about my love for off-camera flashes and how they add so much dimension and highlights for natural-looking photos. However, if you completely rely on off-camera flashes during the reception, your images might end up looking a little harsh. This is especially the case if your modifier is small. By combining an on-camera and off-camera flash you’ll be able to fill in shadows and properly light your subjects.

Step 4

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your flash placement! A unique pop of light can add a cool pizzazz to your images and give your photography style a unique edge. Once you’ve really mastered the “safe” images (think standard photo poses and croppings), go ahead and have some fun! Not only can you play around with your composition and angles, but you can play with your flash setting as well. I always like to add in a few more “artistic” images to each wedding gallery once I am sure I have my standard images captured. It’s a great way for me to experiment and stretch my skills so I can give my clients some unique reception photos!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on wedding reception photography! What other subjects would you like to read about on the blog? Please let me know! I am so passionate about providing up-and-coming photographers with helpful and free education to help them make their businesses thrive.