What that first dance comes around, it is easy to think that photographs are essentially over. While your official time for portraits might have come and gone, there is still much to photograph with those iconic first moves across the dance floor.

These can be some of the most inhibited, authentic, raw photos of your day. For the first time, you two will truly be alone with your emotions and thoughts about all that has happened this day. While you may be surrounded by friends and family, it is just the two of you together with the dance.

So, how can you make the memory last with a few good photos? Easy:

1.) ADD MOVEMENT EARLY + REPEAT IT.

The best first dance photographs always contain copious amounts of emotion and movement. If you want to have a gallery that contains images that show ample amounts of smiles, tears, twirls, and dips, it is best to add that movement early into your dance, and repeat it a couple times throughout the song. That will give the photographer a couple chances to get it a couple of times as well as catch it from different angles

2.) USE THE WHOLE DANCE FLOOR.

Couples do not need to feel they have to complete a “Dancing With the Stars”-worthy waltz to get a nice collection of first dance photographs. They should, however, move around. Just a little bit. It is easy to get lost in the moment, and simply sway together to your love song. To add a little variety to your first dance photos, try to use the entire space of the dance floor. This allows the photographer to see the dance from different perspectives, which will allow your images to capture the memory a little more fully.

3.) FORGET THE CAMERA IS EVEN THERE.

Come first dance time, the perma-smile might have already set in—this is a phenomena where you automatically smile when you see the photographer. That’s how it has been all day, so the couple has already been conditioned to respond to the sight of the person with the flash with a grin. Forget them for the first dance. Focus on each other, the music, the moment, and the forever that you are stepping into when you step onto that dance floor. Those first steps of that dance are the first of many, many more to come. Treat this one just like them and just enjoy each other’s company. 

You are making the moves and the moment anyway…make it last a little longer with some epic first dance photographs. The generations to come will thank you.

On Mondays we educate! Check out the blog every Monday for a new post to help you plan your wedding your way! Find past posts here!

Kayla Lee is a Minnesota-based wedding and elopement photographer. She provides services to elegant, authentic, sentimental couples who not only choose their own adventures, but also live them to the fullest!