Rehearsal dinners offer a glimpse into the heart of a wedding weekend. They are filled with anticipation, family stories, laughter, and often deeply emotional toasts. Photographing rehearsal dinners is about capturing relationships at their most relaxed and heartfelt.
Start by reading the room. Every family dynamic is different. Some gatherings are formal and reverent, others casual and spirited. Adapt your approach to the energy you feel.
Focus heavily on connection. Photograph parents speaking to their children, old friends reminiscing, small groups laughing over shared memories. Wide angles set the scene, but it is the close details clasped hands, smiling glances, tearful embraces that carry emotional weight.
Lighting is often more challenging at rehearsal dinners, especially in cozy, dimly lit restaurants. Prepare for low-light techniques without disturbing the ambiance.
These gatherings are also perfect opportunities to build trust with guests before the wedding day, helping them relax into your lens without resistance.
