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Same day slideshows. I’m sure you’ve heard them mentioned a time or two by photographers, but what exactly it is and how you execute it may be somewhat evasive. There are several ways you can do a same day slideshow and none of them are right or wrong, whatever suits you best is important, but there are reasons to provide a same day slideshow at weddings that would encourage any aspiring photographer.
A same day slideshow is just that, a slideshow of the images you took earlier in the day that you put together and share with the bride and groom and their guests right there during the wedding. The bride and groom are almost always surprised when I do this and their guests are impressed. I usually leave my computer up on the bar counter. I leave my iMac and just disconnect the mouse and keyboard so it’s just a nice looking screen. I leave behind some business cards and watch as people laugh and smile and say ‘aww’ as the photos go by. Although I use my iMac I’m using an older iMac from about 6 years ago and it’s worth nothing at all, so it’s perfect for slideshows if anything were to happen. People always take business cards and usually many of them are gone when I clean up at the end of the night. It’s a great way to get referrals and build excitement for your photos!
As I said before, there are many ways to do a slideshow and picking the right time is important. Usually during dinner we make an effort to not photograph – who wants photos of their guests stuffing their faces? So this is our time to put together the slideshow. I don’t take any of the photos and edit them I just chose anywhere from 20-35 images that tell a story of the day and that I feel are the best shots and put them together in iPhoto on the iMac and I’m done. Some photographers use their Macbook or an iPad. Jasmine Star once said she used her laptop and put it on the bar for her same day slideshow.
Here’s a little shot list of the typical shots I try to throw together for the slideshow.
1. Wedding Dress
2. Bride’s bouquet
3. Shoes
4. A couple shots of the bride getting ready
5. A couple shots of the groom getting ready
6. A few first look photos (if the bride and groom did a first look)
7. A few photos of the ceremony (the bride walking down the aisle with her father, the kiss, etc.)
8. A photo of the bride and groom walking together back up the aisle
9. His/Hers immediate family photos so the parents of the couple feel included
10. A few shots of the wedding party having fun
11. A photo of the bride with her maid of honor
12. Groom with the best man
13. 5-10 photos of the bride and groom’s portrait session
If you’re into wedding photography consider how you can start putting together a same day slideshow for your bride and groom and really impress them. Figure out what part of the day is the best part for you to put something together and go from there.
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Holly Cromer Blacksburg VA Wedding Photographer - I have been really dying to try this idea. So you don’t edit at all for your same day slideshow? I think that was part of what was keeping me from trying it (and the fact that I don’t have a laptop – I know, step into the 21st century any time now, right).
Carrie - No editing! I pull ones that look good straight out of camera and just go with it. Guests are usually more impressed when they ask if they’ve been edited and I say no.