Is The First Dance More Complicated Than You Think?
Issue #30
[Read Time < 6 Minutes]
They’re married!
For months, your couple has been planning this historic day, and it’s official!
The ceremony just ended, and we have newlyweds in the house. Now it’s time for what everyone has been waiting for...The Reception!
We have just one more requisite item on the agenda before we can lose the jacket, hit the bar and dance floor (usually in that order).
The First Dance
“The first dance is the traditional opening of a wedding reception where the newly married couple dances together alone for the first time as spouses. It serves as a symbolic expression of their unity and partnership as they begin their life together.” Thanks, Google AI.
For the wedding photographer, it’s something bigger...and no, I’m not being dramatic.
If you’ve ever looked through a couple’s wedding photos, this moment holds a featured place in the story of the day.
This is the transition point that takes us from BEFORE the wedding to AFTER the wedding. It lasts three and a half minutes, and it’s one of the most important parts of the day.
Quick Sidebar - Not every couple has a first dance at their wedding. Some don’t want to be the “center of attention” (this is my favorite laughable excuse), and others don’t like to dance at all. That’s fine.
We’ll stick to the more traditional couples who DO embrace this wedding day ritual.
For those who do eschew the customary dance, I will always ask them if they might consider dancing during a slow song with everyone else. These are great photos, and they really make the story of this day special, so if you can make it happen, it’ll be good for everyone.
Two Schools of Dance
Your couple will choose one of two types of dances for their first dance together - The Choreographed or The Freestyle.
The Choreographed dance has been rehearsed. The Freestyle probably has not.
The big thing to note here is FIND OUT WHICH ONE IS HAPPENING.
The Freestyle is easier because it’s just your couple swaying back and forth and turning slowly.
The Choreographed version is structured so you not only have to keep up with the many twists and twirls, but also focus on getting natural expressions.
Your couple has been practicing something new for weeks to be performed live in front of everyone. They’ll be nervous, and they’ll look like they’re trying to remember every step. YOU have to make them good, and that means finding that little smile or laugh between the mental gymnastics they’re going through.
IMPORTANT NOTE: No matter which version they decide on, ask the groom if there’s a big finish like a dip. You want to make sure you’re in the right position to get a great photo of it. (and it is a great photo!)
On with the show!
Now, there’s a lot of little pieces to this puzzle, so rather than dump the whole box out on ya, I’m going to bullet these out. Take the bullets you like, and load ‘em in your gun. Leave the rest... don’t forget the cannolis.
You need to shoot a lot of photos during this dance - wide, medium, closeups
Pretend this is the only time your couple will be this close like this all night long, and you need these photos
Focus on faces! They might not look at each other, so be ready when they do.
Move, move, move. Get lots of angles
Look at your background - frame them nicely
Vary your shot types.
WIDE SHOTS - Vertical
Head to toe, so you see the full dress
Be patient and get them turning. The back of the dress is just as important as the front (sometimes more)
Go really wide and show off the cool ceiling or lights
WIDE SHOTS - Horizontal
Position your couple on the far side of the frame so you can see the expressions of the parents and friends
Move around - each five shift creates a whole new scene - move the couple on one side, then the other.
This is a great shot for the wedding album.
MEDIUM SHOTS - Vertical
Now you can pay attention to the expressions - as your couple turns, watch how they look at each other - this is the really good stuff.
There’s some real magic between the wide and closeup shots, so again, be patient and shoot plenty.
MEDIUM SHOTS - Horizontal
Here’s where you dance. Watch the couple, their expressions and focus on the parent and siblings in the background. You can see their expressions, and they are priceless.
Keep moving! You can get the couple so many cool backgrounds (the band, groovy lights, friends)
CLOSEUP SHOTS - Vertical
Use this to capture details of the dress (perhaps with the groom’s hands around her waist).
Look for great expressions. This close framing is made for one face, so when you see it, shoot it!
CLOSEUP SHOTS - Horizontal
In my opinion, this is where you’ll get some of your most intimate and memorable shots.
Your couple locking eyes with each other, the bride’s newly ringed finger on the neck of her groom.
Hand holding hand, the shoes, the hair, the dress details - So many details.
I know I mentioned this earlier, but let me reiterate - This dance happens fast. You’ve got to the end of the song to get as many great shots as possible - Wide, Medium and Closeups from every angle you can get to.
Do this right, and you’ll feel like you juggled a basket of kittens while playing the piano and doing a riverdance, but the results are going to be fantastic!
If you have a second shooter, give them the longer 70-200mm for this and tell them to get great expressions.
This will free you up to focus on wide and medium shots and to look for creative ways to use them in the wedding album.
Insider Advice
Talk to the band or DJ to find out what the first dance song is and how long it is.
If you’re familiar with it, you’ll know when it ends and can put yourself in a good position for the dip or big kiss (there’s always a big kiss).
You can also talk to the planner or coordinator at the reception and find out any details you don’t know.
Speaking of not knowing, when you chat with your bride at the beginning of the week before the wedding, this is a good time to ask questions about the reception.
Is the B&G coming straight into The First Dance?
Is The First Dance later, after dinner?
Will there be any special singer for The First Dance?
All of these details will help you be prepared for the most intense and most rewarding 3.5 minutes of the day.
Final Tip
Have fun during this dance. You’re doing your own little dance with your moving and shooting and it is work, but it’s also fun. Everyone is watching the couple and they’re watching you so let the joy you’re experiencing show.
“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.” ― Martha Graham
Photographing The First Dance is one small part of the “inner game of wedding photography.”
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