30Nov

Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the Hora!

By, November 30, 2017

The Hora is a customary Jewish wedding celebration dance. Once the song Hava-Nagila starts playing, guests instinctively rush to the dance floor, and hold hands to form a circle around the bride and groom. The crowd then lifts the newly married couple up in chairs, to honor and celebrate their union. It is a fun and cardio-centric tradition that will get you off your feet, and get your heart rate up!

The tradition of the Hora started long ago, during the time of arranged marriages. The purpose was to bring the community together in celebration, and put the (presumably nervous) young couple at ease. These days, the Hora remains a highlight of Jewish weddings, and remains a way to honor a Jewish heritage.

As wedding photographers, when we capture the energy and the joy of this moment, we make sure to place ourselves at the perfect perspective. Whether we’re unobtrusively in the middle of the action, or shooting from the sidelines, we make sure to capture the energy and excitement of the moment. Check out the fun photos we’ve captured of some real life “Hora Stories” :)

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Family and friends fill the dance floor for the hora
Bride and grooms looks on to their guest for the hora
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Bride and groom hold hands for the hora
Excited groom lifted up in a chair
Groom is lifted by family and friends for the hora
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Groom huddles with friends
Bride and groom have fun with the hora
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Guest surround bride and groom for the hora
Groom barely holds on as he's lifted for the hora
Mom gets lifted for the hora
Bride and groom enjoying the hora at their wedding
Bride and groom celebrate traditional hora
25Aug

We’ve Got Dancing Covered! | Open Dance Photos

By, August 25, 2017

A lot can happen during the reception, especially on the dance floor! That’s why we advise having us stick around after the traditional stuff (aka speeches, cake cutting, etc) is finished. But how much open dancing coverage do you really need? Probably a lot less than you might think, when you hire the right photographer. By having us there for 20 minutes of open dancing, it will result in photos that make it look like we were there all night :)

The key to getting a lot of great dance photos, in a short period of time, is to get everyone on their feet right away. To accomplish this, ask the DJ to request that everyone hit the dance floor for a song or two. Maybe start with a big group photo, then immediately after the picture, ensure that the DJ puts on the perfect crowd pleaser song. Get that dance floor packed, and in 20 minutes, we will get the spirit of the room covered!

To illustrate our point, here are examples of photographs captured within the first 20 minutes of dance coverage:

Guests and couple having a great time dancing on the dance floor
At Jenn and Nick's wedding, we used a wide angle lens, showing the happy couple celebrating on the dance floor with their guests.
A shot of the bride and groom having a great time.
We always grab some shots of the VIPs having a blast!
Little boy riding on dad's shoulders, having fun.
This happy guy hitched a ride on his dad's shoulders to get a bird's eye view of the festivities.
Wide shot of a full dance floor
To show the full scope of the party, we raised the camera above the crowd, and made use of a wide angle lens. This provided an expanded view of the dance floor, and preserved all the action occurring in the moment.
Group of guests dancig on the edge of the dance floor.
At Ryann and Manuel's wedding, while most of the focus was on the center of the dance floor, we turned the camera around to capture the action on the perimeter. In doing so, we got this great shot of a groomsman dancing to amuse Manuel's mother.
Group of guests smile for the camera
By asking guests to get together and smile for the camera, we can get great group portraits during the open dancing. We even welcome the occasional photo bomber in the background.
DJ getting the crowd dancing.
As the party escalates, your dedicated vendors are working hard, and making sure that everything is awesome!
Group of guests having a great time dancing
By raising above the crowd, we were able to capture this unique perspective shot.
Group of guests having a great time dancing
Groom dancing and laughing while dancing with guest
In some situations, off-camera lighting can give images a dynamic look, which goes perfectly with fun dancing photos.

Keep grooving and check out more fun wedding dance photos.

15Jun

Dance, Dance, Dance!

By, June 15, 2017

It’s been a while since we let loose and did the macarena. We can’t even remember the last time we played that funky music until we died. So today’s post is all about dancing! At a wedding reception, the dance floor is the right time to take your shoes off, let your hair down, and show off your best moves. No matter how young or how old, everyone can bounce along to the beat, and have a great time! Enjoy this fun collection of dance photos from recent wedding receptions.

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At LauraAnne and Neema's wedding reception, the bridal party put on an elaborate Persian dance for the groom and guests!
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The wedding party could not be missed during this loud reception.
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Sometimes, it's the youngest guests who steal the spotlight, with moves well beyond their years.
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This kid has some moves!
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Parents love to shake it up too! You won't have to look far to find the proud parents of the newlyweds enjoying themselves with the rest of the crowd.
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And who knows, maybe after a few drinks, you'll discover some moves you never knew you had!
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After a night of partying, it's your time to shine!
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The beat goes on! Check out more reception wedding dance photos

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