As a luxury wedding and elopement photographer, one of my favourite parts of the day is the dance floor. This is where the real magic happens when the nerves have eased, the formalities are over, and everyone is simply present, celebrating.
But to take your dance floor photos from fun to phenomenal, there are some intentional steps you can take in collaboration with your photographer and your vendor team.
Start With the Foundation: Your Team and Timeline
The first thing that will elevate your dance floor photos is your vendor team, especially your DJ or live band, your photographer, and if you’ve hired them, a planner or coordinator. These professionals set the tone and flow of your celebration. But more importantly, we’re tuning in to you.
Are you introverts or extroverts? Are your guests mostly young and ready to party or more formal and reserved? Knowing your dynamic helps us curate an atmosphere that reflects your personal energy and ensures your photographer is anticipating the right moments.
A well-crafted timeline is everything. The dance floor should build momentum not be interrupted for speeches or first dances that dampen the energy.
That doesn’t mean every second of your day is planned, but rather that there’s a clear structure that creates ease, clarity, and confidence for you and your guests.
If you’ve booked me, I’ll take the lead on this and make sure everything flows with intention.
Consider Your Venue Layout and Second Shooter Options
If your venue has multiple levels (upstairs and downstairs), this is the perfect opportunity to invest in a second shooter.
Here’s why that matters: while I’m on the ground capturing those iconic close-up moments, my second photographer can be up high, documenting the entire scene from a bird’s eye view.
This is especially important if you’ve invested in elements like a checkered dance floor, candles, chandeliers, or ground florals. Seeing all of that from above gives your gallery a high-end, editorial perspective your guests will never even experience in real-time. A birds eye view will serve as a staple piece in your wedding album to cherish forever.
And don’t think that just because you’re planning a smaller wedding or elopement that you don’t deserve that same level of comprehensive coverage. If capturing every angle and all the visual details matters to you, we can absolutely add a second shooter. They may just be there for a shorter amount of time and that’s something we’ll talk about during our planning call. It’s all taken care of by me.
Elevate the Look: Styling the Dance Floor
1. Checkered Dance Floors
If you can only add one styling feature, go with a checkered floor. It instantly adds visual depth and timeless elegance, whether your venue is indoors or outdoors, ballroom or barn. It channels old-world romance and editorial polish, and it photographs beautifully from every angle.
2. Chandeliers
Next, add chandeliers—they can be classic gold, dramatic black, elegant crystal, or even coloured to suit your palette. Whether you hang one central chandelier and use spotlighting to enhance it, or go all out with multiple fixtures, it will elevate your reception space immediately.
3. Lighting for Shutter Drag Photos
If you’ve been loving those dynamic party reception photos where the lights are streaked through the image, that’s created using a technique called shutter drag. But here’s the catch—fairy lights won’t give you that look. They barely register on camera. If you want that high-energy editorial style, you’ll need festoon lighting to create the drag effect.
If you’re going for chandeliers and still want shutter drag, I recommend having both chandeliers and festoon lighting. The chandeliers bring that elegant drama, and the festoons make sure you get that creative, energetic party look. That way, you’ll get a diverse and fuller gallery with photos that feel elevated and alive.
WARNING: One important note: please avoid using lasers. While they might look fun, lasers can cause permanent damage to professional cameras and disrupt your photo (and video coverage). Your photographer, (and videographer, and content creator) will thank you for leaving these out of the mix.
Another option to create cinematic, editorial magic? A smoke machine.
Used subtly, it adds an ethereal feel and creates beautiful light diffusion, especially when paired with intentional lighting. It can give you that real Cinderella moment on the dance floor and make your images look straight out of a film still.
And if you’re really looking to bring the party energy….
A live saxophonist on the dance floor changes everything. It instantly lifts the mood, gets people moving, and adds an interactive, electric energy to your night that’s both stylish and unforgettable. The photos of your guests dancing alongside a sax player mid-set are always a standout in the final gallery.
For an added extra, if your venue allows it, dry ice and indoor fireworks pair beautifully with a smoke machine on the dance floor to heighten those cinematic moments like your first dance or a grand entrance. These are subtle, yet powerful additions that photograph beautifully.
Bonus tip, nothing beats visually awesome then some dance lessons and the confidence that comes from that (better posture works wonders too!) or bringing your furry babies on the floor too (I’m talking your dog kids, not human ones covered in chocolate)
With a second shooter, you’ll naturally get more angles and perspectives, and if you’ve styled the space and used the right lighting, you’re giving your team more to work with. The result? Not just flash photos of people dancing, but photos that feel intentional, artistic, and reflective of your aesthetic.
4. Candles and Florals
Candles can be beautiful, but make sure to choose thick, varied sizes to add depth and last longer throughout the night. Tall, thin candles often burn out too quickly, especially if the venue lights them hours before your arrival (trust me, I learned this on my own wedding day).
As for florals, grounded installations around the dance floor instantly elevate the look from every angle. It doesn’t need to be over the top, just well-placed and thoughtful.
Your Vision, Your Day
Every wedding or elopement I photograph is entirely unique. There is no copy-and-paste formula. But with the right timeline, thoughtful styling, and expert guidance, we can create images that feel like your favourite editorial spread—romantic, elevated, and completely you.
If you have a vision or mood board, I’d love to see it. This helps me make the right recommendations for your venue, lighting, and layout. Whether you’re planning a wedding with 120+ guests or a winter elopement with just the two of you/with a small amount of guests, the quality of your photos should match the importance of the moment.
If you’re currently planning your wedding or elopement and want photos that reflect that level of care and creativity, I’d love to chat. You can enquire via my contact page here. Let’s create something unforgettable.
