You want amazing wedding reception photos, and your photographers want to provide them to you! – Here are some ways you can help your photographer out, giving them the setup they need to wow you with reception photos! Tip # 1: Reserve Seats for Your Photographers Reserving a seat for your photographers, preferably near the head table, gives them space to set down their heavy equipment, grab drinks of water, and eat a quick meal before the toasts, all within easy line of sight to the head table so that no important impromptu moments are missed! A special vendor table is fine, as long as it’s still close to all the action! Even if you aren’t assigning seats at your reception, we strongly recommend you specifically reserve seats for your photographers.
Tip # 2: Have Your Photographers Eat at the Same Time You Do Let’s face it, no one wants pictures of themselves eating. Having your photographers eat at the same time as you makes certain that there are no pictures of you eating (except at cake cutting time!) and that your photographers are done with their meals well before the toasts begin, so they can be ready to snap away.
On that note, please know that every photographer I’ve ever talked with sure does appreciate the courtesy of a meal on a long work day (remember, there will be no other opportunities for your photographer to eat). It’s also a good idea to check with your photographers to see if they have any special dietary needs (Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, etc.) so that they can actually eat the meal you’re providing them with.
They will absolutely appreciate the courtesy! Tip # 3: Follow the Light Nearly all photographers prefer to shoot by natural light when possible, so if any part of your reception will be during daylight hours, you can take advantage by doing things like setting up the head table across from (not in front of) a window (so that you’re well lit, not back-lit), setting up your dessert table in an area that has some pretty natural light, and making sure that all of your family and couples portraits are completed while there is still light to spare! Tip # 4: Don’t Surprise Your Photographer If you’re, say, having Bucky Badger come and surprise your wedding guests, or having someone jump out of a giant cake, or any number of fun and awesome surprise wedding reception events, just make sure that your photographer is in the loop on what’s happening, and when it’s happening, so they can best position themselves to get great photos.
Tip # 5: Designate a Go-To Person This could be the Best Man, the Maid of Honor, the DJ, the Wedding Planner/Event Coordinator, or just some nice friend, but the person you designate as the go-to person for your photographers should be in know on reception timing and events, and be able to answer questions that arise, so that you can just sit back and relax, and your designated person can answer any questions that arise for your photographers on timing, events, etc.
Where does the photographer sit at a wedding?
Just wondering how the photographer eats during the reception. Looking back on all the weddings I’ve been to I can’t remember. lol. I don’t think they were ever seated at tables with guests. I’m just having a buffet, but where can they sit to eat? Will they be offended if I don’t have a seat for them at a table?
- Nicole · on June 17, 2018 at 8:45 PM I’ve never seen the photographer seated at a table before. We are providing seats for our photographers because we are having friends do it. Mariah · on June 17, 2018 at 8:45 PM Great, so where do regular photographers sit to eat? Master July 2017 Going to the chapel · on June 17, 2018 at 9:02 PM The venue might have a room for vendors to eat. Check with them. If not, seat the photographer at a table. Devoted July 2019 My venue gives all vendors a vendor meal(included in my price) and they badically sit in the kitchen to eat Super May 2019 c · on June 17, 2018 at 10:05 PM Our venue says they basically stand and eat, lol. Sucks but if they sit the price goes from $20 for a meal to $130 (our cost per head). Mariah · on June 17, 2018 at 10:07 PM Okay, I guess I’ll just ask the venue if there is a spot for them to sit. Devoted July 2019 Hannah · on June 18, 2018 at 6:45 AM We will be having a few vendors so we’re just going to make a table for them behind all of our guests in the back. Devoted September 2017 Most weddings I’ve been to, the photographer sits at a table, usually with other vendors. If they are in another room to eat, they might miss something. In the case where the price goes up so significantly, I certainly would make sure they have a place to sit somewhere, even if it’s in the back. Expert June 2019 Talk with your vendors about it.
- It’s also not a task you can just do away with, as the lack of a proper seating plan can leave your reception in a chaotic mess.
- But before you start planning anything, the first thing you should do is ask yourself, “Do I need a seating chart?” To help you answer that question, we’ve prepared a few points for and against creating a seating chart below.
- Why you might need a seating chart 1.
- You’re planning a sit-down meal If you’re planning to have a full course dinner, especially one with a pre-selected menu, having a seating arrangement planned is a must to ensure all your guests can feel at ease without having to fuss over seats.2.
- Your venue is large enough to accommodate seated guests Having a sit-down wedding reception will definitely give your celebration an elegant feel, but it also requires a lot of space.
Do photographers have to sit at the table?
Just wondering how the photographer eats during the reception. Looking back on all the weddings I’ve been to I can’t remember. lol. I don’t think they were ever seated at tables with guests. I’m just having a buffet, but where can they sit to eat? Will they be offended if I don’t have a seat for them at a table?
- Nicole · on June 17, 2018 at 8:45 PM I’ve never seen the photographer seated at a table before. We are providing seats for our photographers because we are having friends do it. Mariah · on June 17, 2018 at 8:45 PM Great, so where do regular photographers sit to eat? Master July 2017 Going to the chapel · on June 17, 2018 at 9:02 PM The venue might have a room for vendors to eat. Check with them. If not, seat the photographer at a table. Devoted July 2019 My venue gives all vendors a vendor meal(included in my price) and they badically sit in the kitchen to eat Super May 2019 c · on June 17, 2018 at 10:05 PM Our venue says they basically stand and eat, lol. Sucks but if they sit the price goes from $20 for a meal to $130 (our cost per head). Mariah · on June 17, 2018 at 10:07 PM Okay, I guess I’ll just ask the venue if there is a spot for them to sit. Devoted July 2019 Hannah · on June 18, 2018 at 6:45 AM We will be having a few vendors so we’re just going to make a table for them behind all of our guests in the back. Devoted September 2017 Most weddings I’ve been to, the photographer sits at a table, usually with other vendors. If they are in another room to eat, they might miss something. In the case where the price goes up so significantly, I certainly would make sure they have a place to sit somewhere, even if it’s in the back. Expert June 2019 Talk with your vendors about it.
Why does position matter when hiring a wedding photographer?
Why does it matter where the wedding photographer sit during dinner? – It matters because candid moments happen during receptions, and you need to make sure your photographer is in a prime position to be able to capture those moments. Wedding photographers will not photograph someone who is eating, but we will watch what’s going on quite intently and anticipate where the action will pop up next.
Think “whack-a-mole” but for photos! If a photographer is seated central to where the action is likely to be, the odds of us being able to do a quick turn, get our gear to our eyes and capture that moment before it disappears is much, much higher than if we’re at the back of the room or worse – in a separate room.
Candid moments aside, when it comes to determining where the photographer sits during dinner, you also need to consider how obstrusive our walk to-and-from the points of action will be. This means that every time another speech happens, or a toast, or a game or cake cutting, we’re getting up and moving around. 
Should you have a seating chart for your wedding reception?
For many couples, creating a wedding seating plan is one of the most daunting tasks in wedding planning. Especially since you need to wait until you’ve received all your RSVPs and finalized your guest list, it can be difficult to find some time to actually get down to it between the millions of other things you need to do.
Why you might not need a seating chart 1. There is no sit-down meal First things first, you should decide on a reception style and menu for your wedding. If you’ve decided on throwing a cocktail party or a standing party with a buffet-style menu, you won’t particularly need to create a seating chart.2.
Your wedding is very small and intimate If you’re planning a very small and casual celebration, like a backyard party where everybody knows each other well, you can just skip the seating arrangement as people will feel more relaxed and can easily mingle with all the familiar faces.3. You have limited space If you’re inviting hundreds or even thousands of guests but your venue doesn’t seem big enough to accommodate all the tables and chairs for them, you should opt for a standing party instead of a sit-down dinner.4.
You have an irregular seating layout If your venue has a variety of different tables and seating options such as large tables, couches, benches, or even rugs like at this homey wedding, just leave out the seating chart and let your guests choose the seats they are most comfortable with.
If your venue is big enough to fit all the tables and chairs required, we don’t see why you shouldn’t have one.3. You want to have a drama-free reception By having a seating chart, you can avoid unnecessary drama and awkwardness during the reception. You surely wouldn’t want to see couples sitting at different tables or clashing family members sitting next to each other because they happened to come in late.4.
