Maine & NH Wedding Photographer | Why I Still Love Traditional Reception Lighting (Yes, Even in the Age of Direct Flash Everything)

Okay, real talk:
I know direct flash is having its moment. It’s trendy, it’s punchy, it’s chaotic in a fun way, and yes — I absolutely use it. There’s something about blasting people with a flash paparazzi style during the dance floor chaos that just hits. Like, “Here’s your night in all its sweaty, unfiltered glory.”

BUT.
When it comes to the formal parts of a reception?
Give me my off-camera flash setup like the responsible adult I pretend to be.

Here’s why I’m still a diehard fan of traditional reception lighting for things like:

• First dances

• Parent dances

• Toasts

• All the emotional, don’t-screw-this-up moments

1. Timeless > Trendy
Look… direct flash is cool now. But will it still feel cool in 20 years?
Or will it be like that early 2000s vignette-filter era we all pretend never happened?

Off-camera flash gives you something clean, intentional, and classic. Not basic — just timeless. The kind of lighting that won’t make you cringe when you’re showing your grandkids your wedding album (while they’re like “why did people even get married in 2025?”).

2. I Want You to Actually Look Like Humans
Direct flash during your first dance can make you look like a deer on the highway.
Off-camera flash?
Flattering, romantic. Beautiful shadows. Actual depth. Skin tones that don’t make you question your life choices.

3. It Lets Me Control the Chaos
Receptions are basically dimly lit emotional circuses.
Off-camera flash is my way of saying, “I’ve got this.”
I can shape the light. Highlight the moment.

4. It Just… Looks Freaking Good
There’s something about a classic first dance shot with a backlight glow and soft directional light that will NEVER go out of style. It’s cinematic without trying too hard.

Now — the dance floor?
Oh, baby. That’s where direct flash thrives.
Sweaty. Wild. Unhinged.
That’s when I whip out the direct flash and let it cook.

But for the important stuff — the moments you’ll frame, print, and keep forever — give me the off-camera flash. Every. Single. Time.

It’s not old school. It’s not boring.
It’s just the best way to make your memories look as good as they actually felt.