Where Should I Seat My Wedding Photographer at My Wedding Reception?

Break time at Craig-y-Nos castle

Ah, the age-old question: where should your wedding photographer sit at your reception? Should they be with your Great Aunt Joan, chatting about the weather? Or maybe at the singles' table with awkward small talk? The answer might surprise you (and no, it’s not at the head table with you and your new spouse)!

The truth is, your wedding photographer, as well as your other suppliers, aren't really looking for prime seating at your big celebration. We love you and your guests, but we’ve been on our feet, capturing every giggle, tear, and confetti explosion since early in the day. We need a little break, and time to recharge the batteries (literally and metaphorically). So, I’ll let you in to a little secret: we’d much prefer to be seated somewhere quiet and out of the way.

Why not be a part of the celebrations?

Don’t get me wrong – we adore being a part of your big day. It’s why we do what we do, and bring our all to every wedding. But after capturing all those emotional moments, we photographers (and your other hardworking suppliers) need some time to relax, catch our breath, and grab a bite. No one wants a hangry photographer.

We need time to process the chaos of the day and refresh for the next round of magic moments. A quiet corner, away from the dance floor and the endless stream of “CHEESE!” moments, is the perfect spot for us to regroup and get ready for more beautiful shots. Plus, it gives me a chance to hopefully get some sneak peeks over to you before you’ve finished your pudding. Internet connection dependent. Yes, really!

Food with a view at Barnutopia, Oswestry

Food, glorious food

I always feel a bit awkward asking my couples for this, but feeding your photographer (and other suppliers) is an absolute must. We’ve likely been going full speed since morning, haven’t helped ourselves to your canapés because if feels rude, and just like your phone needs a charge, we need food. When we’re well-fed and happy, you’re going to get the best version of us for the rest of the evening. Trust me, you don’t want a photographer fainting during your first dance (talk about a photo op no one asked for!).

A good meal and some time away from the action give us the energy to go right back into capturing your epic celebration with fresh eyes – and a full stomach. And if you throw in a pudding, you’ll make our day!

Sitting away from the party helps us do our best

Sometimes we’re lucky enough to come away from your weddings feeling like we’re now good friends. However, us photographers and suppliers are not part of your guest list, so seating us somewhere separate lets us take a well-deserved break without feeling like we’re crashing the party, and we don’t have to worry about small talk while trying to eat (awkwardly) at a packed table.

It helps us to recharge, especially if we can get a hold of a cup of tea, and helps us to mentally prepare for all the beautiful chaos yet to come. We genuinely want to bring everything we have to the evening part of your day. I love snapping away at all those wild dance floor moves and sweet late-night moments.

Bottom line

Me, taking a break with a new friend

So, where should your wedding photographer sit? Tuck us away in a quieter area where we can rest, recharge, and fuel up. We usually find that sitting in the bar area or another room in the venue works nicely.

The key takeaway – no need to give us a seat right in the middle of the party. Giving us that break means we’ll be ready to dive back in for the second half of the celebration with full energy and enthusiasm.

We’ll come back refreshed and ready to capture every sparkler moment and dance floor shimmy. If you need us, we’ll still be around even while we eat – because as soon as something magical happens, we’ll have our cameras back in hand, ready to capture those memories for you.