Lighting is really popular right now. Done correctly, architectural lighting (also called uplighting) can add great color and ambiance to your wedding reception. Dance lighting or a color wash on the dance floor can make for more interesting reception images.  But for some photographers it can be an absolute nightmare. By my talking to other photographers, I’ve learned that many hate the dance lighting, and have even asked for the DJ to turn it off.

It’s a balancing act really. The photographer you choose should be flexible enough to deal with the changing light conditions, and creative enough to use the light to their advantage. Your photographer should be able to wash out the color when the situation calls for it. But they should also be able to use the light to keep the ambiance and overall feel of the room that you paid for.

The best way to make sure that a photographer can work in different lighting situations is to watch for many images of reception lighting in the portfolio of the photographer you meet with. The more images in their portfolio the better the feel that you can get for their ability to shoot in different situations.

So if you are even thinking about having  lighting at your wedding, make sure that the photographer you choose can correctly capture the wedding reception that you dreamed.