Decoration Ideas for a Photography Spot at a Church Banquet
You don't need to look beyond the church for a variety of photography background and decoration ideas. While church members and guests gather at a banquet, take the opportunity to use the entire church to capture beautiful pictures of the people. There's no reason to line everyone up against the plain white wall of the banquet hall for mug shot-style pictures any longer.
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Using Architecture
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If you're on a limited time schedule, use the architecture of the church as a backdrop. The natural beauty of both indoor and outside staircases makes it easy to photograph a large group of people. Or, ask banquet guests to visit the choir loft. Have the people stand at the front edge of the loft with their backs facing the church alter. If the photographer stands at the rear of the loft, the resulting photos will show the vaulted ceiling and altar area of the church behind the people, creating a beautiful environmental portrait.
Elegant Decorations
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Use a few elegant decorations to enhance the photography location. Floral decorations in ornate vases, indoor plants in decorative pots and portable religious statues look simple and classic in church portraits. Use these items to fill in gaps at the edge of the frame when composing a shot, or place the items on small tables in the background to give the portraits a home-like feel. For example, when photographing the church clergyman, have him sit in a chair next to an end table topped with a small floral decoration. Ask him to casually hold a Bible in his lap. Don't let the props take over the picture. Keep decorations minimal and well-placed.
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Using Existing Decor
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In addition to chairs and end tables, use existing furniture as photography props. Foot stools, settees and decorative chairs found in the church foyer work well for seated poses. Since these decorations are mobile, move them into the church banquet room so guests don't have to travel far from the celebration to participate in the photography sessions. If there are children to photograph, take them outside to a garden or play area to keep them content. Flower planters, memory gardens and even wishing wells work well as photography decorations in children's portraits.
Formal Backdrop
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If the church is under construction or sparsely decorated, bring in a portable backdrop cloth or bed sheet and backdrop stand to create professional looking photos during a church banquet. Choose a solid colored cloth in cream, gray or blue. Patterns or designs on the fabric might appear distracting against some clothing. Using a clean, simple backdrop as a background for photographs, makes the people the focal point of the pictures. Since backdrop cloths come in a variety of sizes, consider renting the largest one possible so that you can take extended group photos such as photographs of the church choir, vacation bible school graduates or the guests of honor at the church banquet.
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