Photographing the first dance can be tricky. I always take five minutes to have a look at the space, take some test shots and have a chat with the band / dj (is it going to be a fast song, or slow etc.) I also check that there aren’t going to be any surprises like dry ice, or laser lights (or every photographers worst nightmare, both…) These can be tricky to work around as dry ice often gets out of control, engulfing the whole scene in a thick fog, and lasers usually cover the couple in green spots from head to toe… (cue hours of Photoshop to remove). I usually request that these things are held back until the second song begins (although this doesn’t always happen). Once in position you should have three minutes to get clear shots of the couple dancing together, surrounded by the joyful faces of their friends and family, creating the perfect backdrop. However, quite often the lights go out and everyone floods the dance floor within the first 30 seconds, so you really have to be on your toes and get it fast!
The other thing to watch out for, are couples that have practiced a routine… This can be great for action shots, but it’s often a big surprise for everyone, (including the photographer), so if you’re set up for shooting those close in, atmospheric shots, using the available light, there’s a good chance you’ll miss it. I always keep a second camera ready with a wide lens and a flash just in case (You really wouldn’t want to miss that shot of them flying into the cake with a miss timed Dirty Dancing lift…)
