How To Get AWESOME Confetti Wedding Photos: Tips From Your Wedding Photographer
We’ve all seen those confetti wedding photos, the ones with clouds of perfectly orchestrated colour raining down on the jubilant newlyweds...but just how do they do it!? It’s your wedding photographer here and, having shot many a confetti burst through my lens, I know a thing or two about taking the moment from okay to HOORAY!
Here’s my guide on how to get AWESOME confetti wedding photos, whatever your style and vibe.
How to get AWESOME confetti wedding photos: #1: Brighten It Up!
When it comes to flower petals you may be tempted to use delicate whites and pastel pinks, especially if that’s what you’re having in your bouquet and reception flowers. Stop right there! I’m here to tell you that when we’re talking confetti, brighter is ALWAYS better. If it’s awesome confetti wedding photos you’re here for (and I think it is), ditch the pale petals and go all-in on colour! The brightly coloured stuff always looks better on camera.
How to get AWESOME confetti wedding photos: #2:More, more, more!
My FIRST rule of confetti is this: if you think you have enough, you probably don’t! It’s surprising how quickly it gets used up, and it can result in some seriously lackluster confetti wedding photos. As a general guide, each litre of confetti will be good for about ten handfuls. If your budget doesn’t stretch, get as much as you can and organise your confetti shot to just have your nearest and dearest in. They’ll probably be the most enthusiastic throwers, anyway!
How to get AWESOME confetti wedding photos: #3: Eco-fetti
Always make sure your confetti is biodegradable. It’s so much better for the environment and it means that nobody has to run around cleaning it up after you’ve left. The idea of ‘sustainable weddings’ is becoming more and more popular, and choosing to go eco-friendly for your confetti wedding shots is a step in the right direction! Good eco-fetti choices include flower petals (doesn’t get much more natural than that!), and types of water-soluble and compostable confetti now available. Doing your bit and looking the part, that’s what we love to see!
How to get AWESOME confetti wedding photos: #4: Take A Handful
I strongly advise taking your confetti out of the boxes or bags it came in and decanting it into a decorative basket, box or those little paper cones. Nobody wants unsightly packaging hanging around in their confetti wedding shots! You can ask your bridesmaids or a groomsman to go around with the confetti and give it out to your guests!
How to get AWESOME confetti wedding photos: #5: Put someone in charge
I really recommend putting someone in charge of confetti shots and avoid it being the photographer because they’re busy getting ready to take the photos! Pick someone who will help hand it out and work with the photographer to get your guests in place for the photos. Otherwise, you risk your guests just grabbing handfuls of confetti and throwing it when they think the time is right. If you want iconic wedding confetti photos that just scream ‘we’re married!’, the throwing needs to be controlled and timely! Sorry to be a party pooper.
Traditional Confetti Alternatives
My final note about getting awesome confetti wedding photos is that you can think outside the box for this! You don’t have to use petals or little bits of coloured paper if it doesn’t fit your wedding style. My past couples have used…
bubbles! (yes, really, but you do need a LOT to make this work!)
lavender
Pop a bottle of fizzy Cava!
dried leaves (particularly beautiful in the autumn)
colourful feathers
smoke bombs
sparklers (be mindful of the time of year with this one - in the summer you’ll be waiting until around 10pm to get this shot, at which time people may have had quite a bit to drink! I don’t recommend alcohol and little sticks of fire mixing, so I recommend these for autumn and winter weddings - they can look epic!)
You’re all set for those AWESOME confetti wedding photos now, so go forth and enjoy! If you’re looking for some more inspiration for wedding snaps with pizzazz, check out my portfolio - you’ll find smoke bombs, puppies and even a London bus! Got Q’s about my wedding photography? Drop me a line and I’ll get back to you with the As!
