Charlotte and Chris’s First Dance

One of my favourite moments to capture at the weddings I document, is the first dance.  

From a technical point of view, I usually capture them using an off camera flash or two. 

For Charlotte and Chris’s first dance, I opted to use just the one – which I positioned on the table behind them in this shot.

Now, I love this shot for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the symmetry in the image; with Charlotte and Chris perfectly placed in the centre, I can’t begin to explain how difficult it is to get a first dance shot that is framed like this.

I never ask a couple to stand in a certain place on the dance floor.  Having been there myself at my wedding, I understand that there is enough on their mind at the moment, without a photographer dictating where they have their first dance.  

Secondly, I love the lighting on Chris’s face here, look how happy he is.  As a documentary photographer, I strive to capture images that tell the story of a wedding day. I am always on the look out for little glances, smiles and reactions like these.

So to capture a shot like this, perfectly framed with a genuine emotional moment, is a real achievement in my humble opinion.

And of course, Charlotte’s dress looks amazing too.