How to Choose the Perfect Spot for Live Watercolor Guest Portraits at Your Venue
Choosing the perfect spot for live watercolor guest portraits can make a big difference in creating a memorable and enjoyable experience for your guests. In this blog post, I’ll tell you how to select the ideal location at your venue to ensure your live portrait station is a hit!
Consider the Lighting
Good lighting is super important for any artist, especially when creating detailed watercolor portraits. The biggest thing to consider is the light level because I take photos of guests and view it on a digital screen, my iPad or my iPhone. And the WORST is when I have take more time trying to see whether or not a suit is black or navy because the lighting kind of sucks. So here’s some tips!
Photography by Dewitt For Love Photography
Natural Light: Choose a spot with plenty of natural light if and whenever possible. This could be near large windows or in an outdoor area where there’s a lot of sunlight. Natural light allows for the photos to show more true-to-color images and allows me to see more details.
Supplementary Lighting: If natural light isn’t available or the event is in the evening—trust me I’ve been to a lot of moody venues—ensure there’s enough artificial lighting. By putting me close to soft, diffused lights to avoid harsh shadows, you’ll help create a pleasant vibe as well as a perfectly acceptable space to continue taking photos of guests to use as reference.
Avoid Direct Sunlight: While natural light is ideal, direct sunlight can be too harsh and cause glares on the screens of my iPad/iPhone. If and when you are placing the artist outside, you should opt to place them in a shaded area or use canopies to diffuse the light and provide a comfortable environment for both the artist and your guests.
Location and Accessibility
The location of your live watercolor portrait station should be convenient and accessible for your guests. Depending on your venue and your plans for the evening, I’ll generally work with you and your planner to place me in the most ideal location. As a bonus if you hire me, I don’t bring all that much with me, so it’s pretty easy for me to change locations from, let’s say, cocktail hour to a separate reception space. But here’s are a few things to consider overall:
Central Location: Put the artist's station in a place where everyone hangs out, like near the drinks, the lounge, or the entrance. This way, everyone can see and get to it easily.
Comfortable Space: Make sure there's enough room for people to watch the artist and get their portrait done. Have some chairs for guests who want to sit and enjoy the process! We also take a full body shot, so we need ample enough space for them to be in full frame.
Quiet Corner: While it's good to be in a busy area, try to find a spot that's not too close to loudspeakers or crowded paths. This helps the artist focus and lets people talk without too much noise.
Ambiance and Aesthetics
The overall ambiance and aesthetics of the spot can enhance the live portrait experience. This would also be super helpful to your artist who may what to share some photos of your big day, so let’s make sure every spot is picture perfect ready!
Photography by Dewitt For Love Photography
Decorate Thoughtfully: Add simple decorations that match your event's theme to make the area look nice. Fresh flowers or extra greens you have from your ceremony, fairy lights, or pretty curtains behind the area can make the space feel welcoming and beautiful.
Provide a Table Cover: Set up a nice linen over the table if you want it to be in line with your overall theme. I bring a standard cream or black one with me just in case, but I highly recommend using the same ones as your other tables for a cohesive look.
Carefully Thought Out Outfit: Ask what your artist will be wearing! I always ask my couples what the attire for the event is and if they have any color schemes. It’s my rule of thumb to dress as if I was also attending the wedding. My usual outfit consists of a suit and a bowtie. I prefer to wear my on-brand green suit, but I also can wear a light or dark grey suit with a colored-bowtie that matches your color scheme! Or, if it’s a black-tie event, don’t worry! I’ll be wearing my tuxedo and a butterfly bowtie. We want the whole experience to feel luxury!
Let’s Give Your Wedding that Final Bowtie Touch!
Choosing the perfect spot for live watercolor guest portraits at your venue involves careful thinking about lighting, location, and ambiance. By picking a well-lit, easy-to-get-to, and nice-looking area, you make sure your guests have a great time and the artist can do their best work. These thoughtful touches help make your live portrait station a highlight of the event, giving guests beautiful, personalized keepsakes and unforgettable memories.
For more tips on incorporating guest portraits into your big day, check out my Live Watercolor Wedding Guest Portraits: A Unique Keepsake for Your Big Day blog post!
So, are you ready to give your wedding that final bowtie touch? If so, book a free consult to discuss how we can create some art for your big day! For more info on my own style, make sure to check out my Watercolor Guest portraits page.
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