I’ve talked to a lot of wedding photographers who think dance floor photos don’t matter. Get the first dance, the cake, a few shots of people dancing, then pack up and go home.
I see it the opposite way. The dance floor is where your wedding stops being an event and turns into a party. It’s the part of the night you’ll remember the least clearly, and the photos you’ll love the most.
What other photographers tell me
The reasons I hear are always the same. It’s dark. The light is bad. It all looks the same. Nobody’s going to print a photo of their uncle sweating through his shirt. The couple won’t miss it.
Some of that is true. It is dark. The light is bad. That’s exactly why most dance floor photos look the same. Somebody stood at the edge of the floor for ten minutes with a flash, got a few safe frames, and left.
But “the couple won’t miss it” is just wrong. Ask anyone a year after their wedding what they wish they had more photos of. It’s almost never the centerpieces.
Why I care about the dance floor
Look at who’s on that floor. The friends who flew in from across the country. Your parents, who haven’t danced together in years. Your grandma, who swore she wasn’t going to dance and then didn’t leave. Your college roommates, losing it to the one song they always lose it to.
That’s your people, all in one room, all at once. That’s not going to happen again.
It’s also the most honest part of the day. Nobody’s posing. Nobody’s thinking about the camera. By the time the dance floor really gets going, everyone’s stopped performing and they’re just having fun. That’s the stuff I want to photograph.
It’s harder than it looks
Dance floors are hard to shoot. It’s dark, everyone is moving, the DJ lights are changing color every two seconds, and you’re trying not to get an elbow to the lens.
That’s where I came from. I came up shooting news, where you don’t get to ask for a do-over and the light is never ideal. You learn to get close, move fast and read what’s about to happen. A packed dance floor is the closest thing to that at a wedding.
So I get in there. I’m not standing at the edge. I’m in the middle of the circle when your best friend starts breakdancing, and I’m right there when they lift you up.
If the party’s still going, I usually stick around
Here’s the thing about a great dance floor. It usually peaks late. The first half hour after dinner is people warming up. The best stuff happens when the DJ finds the right song and the whole room goes at once.
So if the party is still going strong when my coverage is up, I usually stick around. Not because anyone asked me to. Because that’s often when the best photos of the night happen, and I’d rather be there for them than driving home.
At Taylor and Jace’s Brindare wedding, that meant a band, karaoke and a silent disco that went until 3am. At Cori and Chase’s, it meant glow sticks and a Harvest Room that never emptied.
A few of my favorites
These are some of my favorite dance floor photos from the last couple of years. Different venues, different crowds, same energy.
What to ask your photographer
If the party matters to you, ask about it before you book.
- Can I see a full gallery, including the reception and dance floor?
- When do you usually leave the reception?
- How do you shoot a dark dance floor?
- What happens if the party is still going when coverage ends?
A portfolio full of golden hour portraits doesn’t tell you anything about how someone handles the dance floor. A full gallery does.
Questions couples ask
Are dance floor photos important at a wedding?
Yes. They’re the photos of your people having the time of their lives, the friends who flew in, your grandma on the floor, your college roommates losing it to one song. Couples end up sharing those photos more than almost anything else from the day.
How long should our photographer stay at the reception?
Long enough for the dance floor to actually get going. The first song after the first dance is usually not it. I’d plan for at least an hour of open dancing in your coverage.
How do you photograph a dark dance floor?
Flash, getting in close, and moving with the music. The goal is photos that feel like the party did. Sharp where it counts, with a little motion and color from the DJ lights.
Do you stay if the party is still going?
If the party is still going strong when my coverage ends, I usually stick around. Those are some of the best photos of the night.
The bottom line
The dance floor is where your people show you how much they love you, without saying anything. I treat it like one of the most important parts of the day, because it is.
If that sounds like your kind of wedding, send me your date. And if you want to see what a full day looks like, start with the portfolio. You can also read why a wedding photographer is different from just a photographer.
Keep reading: True to Life Color: Why I Don’t Edit Every Wedding the Same and Pricing.