Treat Everyone Like They're The Client


When photographers are capturing weddings, our primary focus seems to always be on the couple. We've exchanged so many emails, met over Zoom / in-person multiple times, hundreds of text message, and a handful of DMs thrown in there too. To say that we understand our Couple's vision is an understatement! But then where does that leave the guests? They also took the time off from work, spent hours choosing their outfits, and dropped a pretty penny on hair, makeup, transportation, etc to get to this wedding. So what about them?


I always make sure that we capture my Couple's guests on their wedding day (apparently some photographers don't do this? and it's weird). In my opinion, if these people were important enough for you to invite them to your wedding day, then you probably want them captured to remember that they were there with you!


That is the beauty of having a Secondary Photographer in every single one of my wedding packages because one person simply can't do it all! Like, literally, I cannot be in two places at once it is physically impossible 🥵 So while I'm capturing Family Portraits after the ceremony and making sure everyone looks great, my secondary is capturing all of your guests at Cocktail Hour!


Here's what I tell all of my Secondaries to make sure they get THE BEST Cocktail Hour Photos...

1. Take the time to gently approach a group


If you see a group of people together, approach the whole group! The goal is to capture natural interactions and groups during this time. When I approach groups during Cocktail Hour I'll say something along the lines of, "Oh my goodness you all look so beautiful! Let's take a picture!" This conveys your excitement to capture them for the couple and who doesn't like being told they look good? People tend to be shy so involving them all in a group photo is usually easiest. From there, ask if they want any other combos, if there are any couples, or even if anyone wants a photo of just them!

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

2. Let the people eat!


If someone is snacking, give them a minute to finish chewing their food. Your job as secondary is to capture Cocktail Hour and the guests, so you're in no rush! You got time! Give guests the space they need to finish chewing, make sure they don't have anything left in their teeth, and then pose them up.

Server holding wooden board with appetizers wearing light blue shirt and black tie.

3. Things in their hands? Have them put them down


We want to make sure everyone looks and feels their best. This might be the first time they've dressed up in a loooong time and done their hair and makeup or put on a suit or any sort of fancy clothes. This might be the first time they've been feeling good about themselves in awhile. So let's show them how good they look! Have them put down any food, trash, phones, purses, etc. Some people like to hold drinks (which is a vibe at Cocktail Hour), so I usually let it ride. But also, be aware of when people are trying to hide their glass as they may work in a career where they aren't allowed to show up online with any sort of substance, then offer to hold the drink or put it somewhere safe for the photo. Take a couple extra minutes to make them look fab!

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

4. Take the time to pose them


Again, they look damn good! Wouldn't you hate it if you spent all of that time and care getting ready and then the wedding photographer didn't even give you 2 seconds of attention to pose you up? Come on! Take the time to see how your subject(s) is posing and make the adjustments you'd make for The Couple or any other client of yours. Remember, they are important to the couple so they should also be important to you!! You can still totally capture a natural looking photo during Cocktail Hour while also posing them a bit.

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

5. Be nice...backlight your subjects


On top of backlighting being much more flattering on your subjects and being easier to edit, it's just Hospitality 101. When I was serving tables, I would always stand to where I was staring into the sun and squinting so that my tables wouldn't have to be uncomfortable. So apply this to photography! We don't want super harsh shadows on people's faces (especially if they're wearing hats) and we certainly don't want them squinting! We want them to be relaxed, comfortable, and we want to be able to see their eyes!

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic
How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

6. Find a lovely backdrop


You don't have to go frolicking off into the meadows to find a patch of wildflowers, just use the concept of Patterns, Leading Lines, and Textures. Or there might even be a cutie little photo booth setup! If it's a packed space and you're limited on what you can do, then do your best. Do your absolute best to not pose people in front of things like trash cans, porta potties, etc. All it takes is 2 seconds to look around. Take the little bit of extra time and care and set people up in a nice spot! Using the knowledge of Patterns, Leading Lines, and Textures will help elevate your Cocktail Hour Photos.

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

7. Hype people up


Sometimes people are a little shy or maybe they're not used to dressing up and they need a little extra reassurance that they're worthy of having their photo taken. So don't be afraid to hype people up! Find 1-2 things that you can rave about. Maybe they're matching from head to toe, including their purse! Or maybe someone has a magnificent mustache or beard. Take the time to hype people up so they want to get in front of the lens!

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

8. Be kind


It's weird that I have to say it, but be kind! Be approachable. Be someone that people want to talk to. If someone says no, respect that. Sometimes (if it's true) I'll say that the Couple requested photos of everyone at Cocktail Hour and I'll joke saying something like, "Alright well if they get mad at me because there's not a picture of you, you're going to defend me, right?!" And then it's a nice little banter from there and it's not a completely awkward walk away. So again, if they say no, respect that, but still be kind.

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic
How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

9. Get the details!


As you're walking around the Cocktail Hour and Reception, keep your eyes open! Is there a photo booth setup? What about a Welcome Table? Cool bar? Do they have games setup? Do they have a cool seating chart? Do they have an intricate floral setup somewhere? Are there any unique parts of the day?


The flow I tell my secondaries to do is to shoot wide and then work your way in. Shoot the venue, display, setup, etc from a wide angle, move in a little closer and get some mid-range shots, and then get up close for the detail shots. Then, once all of that is covered, capture the people using each item! Capture people being silly at the photo booth. Get those fun moments of guests at the bar laughing with their friends. Or the bartender mixing up some sexy drinks. Capture those in between moments with the natural laughs. But, whatever you do, try to avoid people mid-bite unless you've setup the shot to be focused on that as that typically makes people uncomfortable 🥴 reminder to always be kind and thoughtful when capturing Cocktail Hour!

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

10. Get spatial shots


Photos of the setting help to set the scene for your Gallery! When capturing a wedding day, you want to also capture images of the setting so that we have context. We can see what the grounds looked like, all of the details the couple poured hours and hours of thought into, and so we can feel like we were actually there. The setting, the lighting, the feeling. That's what we're always trying to capture.

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

11. Anticipate the moment!


This comes with practice but you want to learn how to anticipate the moment. Anticipate each hug, smile, joke, high-five, every tear. You can, for the most part, anticipate each of these moments so you're ready to capture it when the time comes. This is an important skill in being able to capture candids beautifully! If you see a group of people standing around a cocktail table or sitting around a fire pit, you can hear it in the inflection of their voices or in their body language how they sit up straighter when they're excited to say something. Learn how to anticipate the moments and you'll always capture gold.

How to take the BEST Cocktail Hour Photos Barns at Cooper Molera Monterey destination luxury wedding photographer jelau photography rustic

Treat Every Person Like They Are The Client


You never know. After all, they could be the next client.

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