The reception marks the beginning of the most relaxed and joyful part of the wedding. After the intimate opening dance, more and more guests join the celebration, and from that point the evening fills with cheerful and often unpredictable events. Wedding games, the playful “stealing” of the bride or groom, humorous penalties, cutting the cake, the bridal dance and throwing the bouquet are traditions that create plenty of laughter and memorable moments.
For a photographer, quick reactions are especially important because some of the best moments happen in a single second. A genuine laugh, a surprised expression, an uninhibited dance move or friends and relatives joking together all become part of the story of the reception. My aim during wedding reception photography is not to stop or control what is happening, but to preserve the real atmosphere of the celebration as naturally as possible.
Later in the evening, once it is dark and the party is fully underway, I set aside another 5–10 minutes for a short portrait session with the couple. These images have a completely different mood: I use the dark surroundings, special lights and creative lighting effects to create striking, individual and slightly cinematic portraits.
These short evening portraits also provide a quiet pause in the middle of the celebration while adding another distinctive set of images to the wedding story. At receptions in Târgu Mureș and Mureș County, every evening is different, and for me it is precisely the spontaneity and the preservation of the real atmosphere that give these photographs their value.
