During the wedding shoot, you have various moments to capture. Sometimes, it can be difficult to know exactly which photos you should focus on throughout the day to highlight the celebration. Throughout our 127 Shots Guide, we discuss the must-have images your clients will cherish, and ones a publisher will love. Of those important photos are the wedding toast images.
Although they may not be the most exciting images to capture, it is a moment that is anticipated by your clients and those closest to them. Often times, challenges arise when shooting the wedding toast images because of guests and their cell phones, or the speaker is standing in front of the couple as they talk. Here are 4 memorable wedding toast images your clients will love, and a few quick suggestions to help you shoot them with ease.
1. Candid Moments with the Couple
During the wedding day, the bride and groom are already having one of the best days of their lives. The time for toasts is a chance for them to sit down and let someone else take the spotlight for a few minutes. While they listen to the speech, capture candid moments of the couple.
Image Compliments of Justin and Mary Marantz
Keep an eye out for tears when the father of the bride tells a precious childhood story about his daughter, or about how much the groom has changed her life. When it’s time for the best man to speak, make sure to look for the laughter that will likely happen as he shares a few funny stories about the groom. The images you capture of the bride and groom help them to look back at this day and remember exactly how they felt at that moment.
Shooting Tip: Be on the lookout to capture the right expressions from the bride and groom, and even the speaker. This helps you avoid unflattering faces as the only photos you captured. The only exception to this is if the couple, or speaker, are making funny faces to get a laugh from everyone.
Related: How can you capture every emotion from the first dance?
2. Special Moments with the Speakers
When it’s time for the toasts, the speakers differ at each wedding. You have the chance to capture special and memorable moments with the maid of honor, best man, or father of the bride, while they share kind (and funny stories) about the bride and groom. This is a big moment for the speakers, as they stand in front of the couple (and their guests) to share what they mean to the speaker, and how important this day is to everyone.
Don’t forget to grab a wide shot, so you can capture the couple in the background. Get a few close up shots as the speaker reads from a piece of paper, especially if they get a bit emotional. Most of all, look for the smiles and happiness as they share their speech with the couple.
Shooting Tip: Avoid being blocked when the toast happens. Get in close and low to avoid blocking guests view. Also, educate your clients before the wedding day to tell their loved ones where to stand when it’s time for their speech. This ensures they are not in front of the couple to block your shot.
Related: What can you do to create flattering poses for your couples, every time?
3. Genuine Moments with the Guests
Before the wedding, the bride and groom chose the specific people they wanted to be there to celebrate their big day. Although not the main focus of the day, the couple will want to see images of their guests enjoying themselves, and their genuine expressions to the toasts.
Capture photos of the guests listening and reacting to the speeches. Whether they are laughing or crying, the images will contribute to the overall story of the wedding day. These are moments your couple wants to remember, and are images they will love. You can also capture a photo of the couple with the guests, as they cheer on the speakers.
Image Compliments of Justin and Mary Marantz
Shooting Tip: Work with your second shooter to achieve these images. Have your second shooter focus on the crowd and less on the speakers. That way, you can maintain focus on the speaker and the couple’s reactions.[ninja-inline id=14011]
4. Celebratory Moments with Everyone
After each toast concludes, the speaker will interact with the bride and groom. They might hug the bride and shake the groom’s hand, or vice versa, and the couple will likely thank them for their speech. Plus, there will be a toast shared between the couple and their guests. Make sure you capture these celebratory moments for the couple.
Shooting Tip: Get your second shooter involved in this part of the wedding toasts. While you capture the bride over her father’s shoulder, have your second shooter document the groom as he watches their interaction. Do the same with the other speakers, so your couple has memorable photos of each.
There are so many images for you to capture during the wedding day, and the wedding toast photos are no exception. They provide your couple with additional memories from the wedding day. Do you have a must-have image from the wedding toasts you’d like to share, and do you know which ones are perfect for publishing? Our Guide, created with Two Bright Lights, shares 127 images you must capture during the wedding day and which you should submit to a publication! Grab it today.
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