Disposable Cameras: the secrets to getting great pictures
You’ve organised a professional photographer, at considerable expense probably, to take the formal pictures of your special day. You’ve decided to put a camera or two or three (depending on your budget) on each table at the reception so that your guests can take candid pictures of the celebrations. That’s it, right – sorted?
No, not sorted. There are a few more steps you can take, to make sure you get the kind of pictures you’ve always dreamed of. They don’t add to the cost but they really do guarantee that you’ll have pictures to look back on for all the years to come.
- Place small cards alongside the cameras to say something like "Please help us see our wedding reception through your eyes - snap a few pictures and then pass the camera around. Please leave this camera on the table/in the box and we'll take care of the rest!" A really nice touch is to harmonise the cards with your original wedding invitations or with the bombonieres you give your guests. If you have a friend with elegant handwriting, you can ask them to handwrite the cards for a personal touch.
- Appoint a (sober!) person to collect the cameras as the reception winds down, or set a clearly marked basket by the door for people to drop the used cameras into. Consider covering a box with fabric that matches the bride’s gown, or to making a big bow to fix to the side of the box or basket, using ribbon that matches the table decor.
- Encourage your friends to stand up and take snapshots of the other guests by reminding them to call out, ‘Ready your glasses – and cameras – for the toast to ....’
- Explain you'll be taking care of developing the photos: some guests might feel compelled to get the photos developed themselves and that means you won’t get them back until they’ve sorted it out – which could take years!
- Expect a few cameras to disappear. It happens. That’s why one camera per table isn’t enough.
- Ask a trusted friend to drop the cameras in the mail for you. If you use mail-order processing, chances are good that the pictures will be waiting for you when return from your honeymoon.
- Post your photos on a website so everyone can see their handiwork.
- Consider cameras with flashes if the room will be at all dim.
- If you number the cameras with the table number it’s much easier to work out who has taken the pictures! Also it’s less likely that the cameras will ‘walk’ if people know they’re being kept track of.
Five great candid shots that will make your disposable camera photos something to treasure:
A little planning will turn your reception pictures into absolute gems. Pick people you can trust and give them a disposable camera for the reception with instructions to photograph:
- The kids - make sure they know to get down to kid level, those gap-toothed giggles, sleepy eyed moments and childish pranks will bring your memories to life. Shots of sleeping tots, and kids playing and running around, will add the aaaah factor to any album. And you can use the pictures to embarrass the little darlings forever after!
- Peoples’ hands at the reception tables – focusing on the original perfect table, then on people drinking, the mess on the table as the evening progresses, and the way people rearrange their personal space – all this can make for fantastic images.
- Laughter – ask one person to grab every chance to click the giggles and guffaws, the blushes and winks – it will bring the best moments to life for you.
- Dancing – station a friend by the dance floor for action shots. Remind them that shots taken from down low can add movement and excitement to the picture. But beg them never to take photos of people's backs. Nothing is more boring than a group of people with all backs turned to the camera. It just doesn't work.
- The older generation – remember they may not be around for much longer, and nice candid pictures of them will bring back wonderful memories.
And after it’s all over, when you get those photos together into a pretty album, you’ll have a perfect record of your day.
