How To... Get The Perfect Confetti Shot

As today is all about confetti, I think a little insight in to how to get the perfect 'confetti shot' is called for. Having worked on hundreds of weddings myself, I say 'throw above, not at' - guests hurling handfuls of packed together petals is never going to produce a great photo. But, to get the real scoop on getting the perfect picture, I've asked two of my very favourite photographers, Melanie East and Courtenay Hitchcock, to pass on their top tips and words of wisdom...

So Melanie, what are your top tips for getting a great confetti shot?

"Guests need at least a couple of handfuls of whatever is being thrown and they should definitely throw over the couple and not at them! Have as many guests as possible tossing the confetti and I always make sure that the key players, parents and the like, are nearest the bride and groom. Don't rely on guests to bring their own confetti so if you want the confetti moment, consider providing your own." Image above - Melanie East Photography

Courtenay has a couple of great confetti related tricks up his sleeve, depending on the type of shot you want - the first of these is 'The Tunnel'...

"Get all the guests lined up either side of the exit door (or from wherever the Bride & Groom are coming from), confetti in hand. Make sure you have a good wide pathway for the Bride and Groom between the guests. As Bride and Groom enter the human tunnel guests throw the confetti. The important thing is for the guests to throw the confetti high and wide to give a petal rain fall effect, this will be far more effective in the shot, and will help the couple from being completely obliterated!" Image above - Dorset Wedding Photographer - Courtenay Photographic Ltd

Image below- Melanie East Photography

Courtenay's second shot style is 'The Height Surround'...

"Use a staircase, or grassy bank, get the happy couple in the middle of the throng with a gap at the front so you have a great vantage point. Again get the guests to throw the confetti high into the air not straight into the couples faces. This is also a nice group shot and can often be used instead of another posed shot of everybody attending the wedding."

And the final shot is 'The Stealth'...

"Plan this with a member (or one or two) of the wedding party. A surprise attack from behind on the couple, not necessarily the best posed or prettiest shot, but can provide some great expressions that are totally natural from the couple who have been showered unexpectedly from behind." Image above - Dorset Wedding Photographer - Courtenay Photographic Ltd.