First dance lighting

[Ajaysdisco]

I don’t know if this has been discussed before, I did a quick search and couldn’t find anything but I was wondering what lighting DJ’s used for the first dance.

The reason why I ask this is because; sometime back I read an article where a person didn’t choose a DJ because the pictures on their website showed the couple dancing with gobos on them.

Now is it best from a photographic point of view that the couple be lit by the disco lights and the patterns they produce rather than a spot/flood light such as LED pars?

From the couples I have spoken to it hasn’t been a problem with me using disco lights, what I normally do is fill the room with slowly moving pink stars.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Acme Pumas only on open white, slow rotate.

[DJWilson]

I have my SSN-1 on static with the colour to fit the wedding colour scheme and the mushroom on static while my dynamos are off.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Whats an SSN-1?

[DJWilson]

Whats an SSN-1?


http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/Full/n85fq.jpg

[JTRS]

If the bride is wearing a white dress with a decent train I will ask her to have her back to me when the track starts, I light her up with a Cham3E with the gobo set to WEDDING or JUST MARRIED.

That makes a really good picture.

Once the track starts the Cham3E gets repointed to either the back wall or the ceiling and a single white follow spot does just that. If they invite other guests on to the dance floor for their first dance the follow spot fades out and 3 or 4 scanners set on slow take over.

This has got me the best feeddback so far so I stick with it

JTRS

[Ajaysdisco]

Whats an SSN-1?
I was going to ask the same question (thanks for the pic).


If the bride is wearing a white dress with a decent train I will ask her to have her back to me when the track starts, I light her up with a Cham3E with the gobo set to WEDDING or JUST MARRIED.

That makes a really good picture.

Once the track starts the Cham3E gets repointed to either the back wall or the ceiling and a single white follow spot does just that. If they invite other guests on to the dance floor for their first dance the follow spot fades out and 3 or 4 scanners set on slow take over.

This has got me the best feeddback so far so I stick with it

JTRS

Thanks for the info; I don’t know about the gobo but the follow spot sounds like a good idea. Are you using a follow spot or using a moving head as one?

[JTRS]

Thanks for the info; I don’t know about the gobo but the follow spot sounds like a good idea. Are you using a follow spot or using a moving head as one?


The gobo idea is a great selling point, when you have your pre-event meeting and you tell the bride you can light her up and show her a picture or two from prevous events they love the idea, but don't forget it's down to her photographer to capture the perfect picture.

I use a dedicated follow spot that's mounted on the top of my lighting rig, I found using a moving head one controlled through my fat frog desk was too much hassle.

JTRS

[Ajaysdisco]

Which follow spot do you use?
All the ones I’ve seen are huge.

I know what you mean about the moving head it can be difficult to get a steady pan with DMX unless you spend a lot on the head and controller.

[Vectis]

If using haze, I tend to go with a very light haze, a pair of datamoons on open white, slow rotate, and a blue or purple LED wash.

If not using haze, I tend to go with a blue or purple LED wash and the 'stars' pattern from an Equinox Sigma on a very slow rotate. The 'stars' are static on the centre of the dancefloor until the music starts.

If the song is a slowie I tend to stick with the same colours and speed for the first dance, but if it's a bit faster then I might flick the LEDs into a slow fade mode cycling through half a dozen pastelly shades.

I regularly win compliments about the lighting which folks have described as "quite touching", "perfectly bright but unobtrusive", "well balanced" etc. and of course the photo & video guys love it.

[JTRS]

Which follow spot do you use?
All the ones I’ve seen are huge.



Currently it's an Acme FS575, but I really want the Selecon Performer.

JTRS