178 Better Available Light Digital Photography
This tender moment between the
bride and young guest happened
right before dinner was served.
Working from a short distance
away with the 24–70 mm f/2.8 L
lens allowed the scene to unfold,
uninterrupted by the photogra-
pher. Had either the bride or girl
noticed the camera, what might
have happened? One scenario
would have both “ham it up” and
smile for the camera. The second
option would have the little girl
turning shyly away. Not only
would the photographic moment
be lost, more importantly, the
intimacy of their time together
would be lost. Often this type of
scene results in Barry’s capturing
several images and one of those
will stand out over the rest. This
is the strongest of the sequence,
because others taken seconds
before didn’t have the same
closeness or facial expression. ©
2007 Barry Staver. uses a tripod because exposures can be long in the darkened
room. A macro lens is perfect for the extreme close-ups, espe-
cially table favors, place-card tags, and cake detailing.
It’s interesting to note that as well planned and timed as these
events are, photographers should always be ready for the unex-
pected. Moments of great tenderness, joy, or more can happen
in the blink of an eye. Covering the reception with your camera
hanging by your side is a surefi re way to miss these moments.
Barry has a camera in hand all the time.
The action picks up during the reception. Preplanning ensures
that the photographer will be in a good spot when the bride and
groom are introduced and make their way to the head table.
Dining rooms are often crowded, and moving between tables
and guests is diffi cult. The wait staff compounds this diffi culty
once the dinner service begins, and that’s a good time for the
photographer to take a break. Besides, no one likes to be photo-
graphed when they’re eating. It’s important not to wander too
far away, because couples do work the room, visiting with their
guests as the meal concludes.
Every story has an ending, and patience is needed to wait for it
to unfold. Sometimes it’s a fi nal dance between the bride and
groom, or an emotional good-bye from well-wishers. A photo-
graph taken from behind as the couple gets into a carriage or
limo to “to ride off into the sunset” defi nitely fi lls the bill at the
end of the album.