Though you may have a professional photographer (or two) covering your wedding, it is impossible for him or her to capture every moment of the big day. One solution to this problem is to have cameras set at each table for the reception. While a way to get photos without having to ask all of your guests for copies, it can be a costly option. Before you buy 15 disposable cameras or make instruction cards for them, keep these tips in mind.
Reception cameras, like other photographic equipment, have gone digital. Along with 35mm, you can now rent digital cameras to place on reception tables. It is a very new service but one that will grow as digital cameras become more commonplace. Companies such as YouShoot allow you to rent individual cameras. They also offer services such as setting up one site where those photos (along with photos on other guests%u2019 cameras and even professional photographers) are uploaded and available for purchase. With digital camera favors, guests can delete and retake pictures as much as they want. The photos are then uploaded, and everyone can print only the photos they want. You will have to pay more per camera (between $20 and $40 depending on the model), and any insurance and shipping costs will be extra. Likewise, if a camera is somehow lost, you will have to pay a replacement fee. If you are concerned about loss or damage, you can place cameras at certain tables or set up a system where certain people are responsible for each camera.
If you prefer to go the traditional film route, prepare to do a little planning ahead. Before the wedding, find a photo lab you trust and talk to the people who will be handling the film. Ask them about storage options and what will happen if certain prints are not high quality. You may even want to take photos on a camera like the ones you plan to use and have that roll developed at the lab. This will help you determine the quality of prints you will receive from that lab. After you have chosen a lab, bring the cameras in for development as soon as possible. This reduces the possibility of chemical changes in the film itself due to heat, light and humidity exposure. All of those climate factors will affect the colors in the photos. When you bring the cameras in for development, ask to have them burned on a CD with no prints. This step can save you sorting through subpar photographs and possibly paying for those photos. Having the photos burned onto CD gives you two options for reprinting the photos (from the original negatives and from the CD).
No matter which route you choose, storage is a critical issue. Having prints from reception cameras is a given, but obtaining those prints and what to do with the photo files themselves is not so cut and dry. While CDs are the current standard for photo storage, consider getting a separate hard drive or online storage for digital photo files. If you use 35mm cameras, find a lined container that keeps dirt, dust and light away from the negatives. After that, ordering reprints online is the least expensive method, and depending on the service, you have a choice of pickup options. Most services send you reprints through the mail, but others offer pickup in their physical stores. The average price per print is nineteen cents, but some services offer discounts for large orders. Also consider shipping costs or the amount of gas you would use (if you decide to pick up your photos in the store). Once you have your photos, you can add them to your album. If you%u2019re having the photographer create your album for you, state your intention of having camera favors with him or her when discussing the album. If the photographer does not wish to include camera favor photos in the album, consider a separate album for candid shots. After all, they were taken for your enjoyment. You should be able to enjoy them.
The decision on having reception cameras and what kind to have is best left to each couple. When considering these candid cameras, remember that they can be a little tricky when fitting into the budget of the wedding. Likewise, the size of the reception, the venue and the number of guests with their own cameras should be taken into consideration. Reception cameras offer you a way to remember everything that occurred on your wedding day, not just what happened when you lined up for your formal photos.
Reception cameras, like other photographic equipment, have gone digital. Along with 35mm, you can now rent digital cameras to place on reception tables. It is a very new service but one that will grow as digital cameras become more commonplace. Companies such as YouShoot allow you to rent individual cameras. They also offer services such as setting up one site where those photos (along with photos on other guests%u2019 cameras and even professional photographers) are uploaded and available for purchase. With digital camera favors, guests can delete and retake pictures as much as they want. The photos are then uploaded, and everyone can print only the photos they want. You will have to pay more per camera (between $20 and $40 depending on the model), and any insurance and shipping costs will be extra. Likewise, if a camera is somehow lost, you will have to pay a replacement fee. If you are concerned about loss or damage, you can place cameras at certain tables or set up a system where certain people are responsible for each camera.
If you prefer to go the traditional film route, prepare to do a little planning ahead. Before the wedding, find a photo lab you trust and talk to the people who will be handling the film. Ask them about storage options and what will happen if certain prints are not high quality. You may even want to take photos on a camera like the ones you plan to use and have that roll developed at the lab. This will help you determine the quality of prints you will receive from that lab. After you have chosen a lab, bring the cameras in for development as soon as possible. This reduces the possibility of chemical changes in the film itself due to heat, light and humidity exposure. All of those climate factors will affect the colors in the photos. When you bring the cameras in for development, ask to have them burned on a CD with no prints. This step can save you sorting through subpar photographs and possibly paying for those photos. Having the photos burned onto CD gives you two options for reprinting the photos (from the original negatives and from the CD).
No matter which route you choose, storage is a critical issue. Having prints from reception cameras is a given, but obtaining those prints and what to do with the photo files themselves is not so cut and dry. While CDs are the current standard for photo storage, consider getting a separate hard drive or online storage for digital photo files. If you use 35mm cameras, find a lined container that keeps dirt, dust and light away from the negatives. After that, ordering reprints online is the least expensive method, and depending on the service, you have a choice of pickup options. Most services send you reprints through the mail, but others offer pickup in their physical stores. The average price per print is nineteen cents, but some services offer discounts for large orders. Also consider shipping costs or the amount of gas you would use (if you decide to pick up your photos in the store). Once you have your photos, you can add them to your album. If you%u2019re having the photographer create your album for you, state your intention of having camera favors with him or her when discussing the album. If the photographer does not wish to include camera favor photos in the album, consider a separate album for candid shots. After all, they were taken for your enjoyment. You should be able to enjoy them.
The decision on having reception cameras and what kind to have is best left to each couple. When considering these candid cameras, remember that they can be a little tricky when fitting into the budget of the wedding. Likewise, the size of the reception, the venue and the number of guests with their own cameras should be taken into consideration. Reception cameras offer you a way to remember everything that occurred on your wedding day, not just what happened when you lined up for your formal photos.