When lovers plan a wedding, they hope that it will be the only one in their life, and they will never part. Therefore, it is important for them to do everything perfectly, preserving as many memories as possible in photographs.
For this purpose, there is a photo zone - a place specially created for photographing both newlyweds and guests. The venue, decorated in the same style as the celebration, allows you to get many beautiful photos without putting in much effort.
What is a photo zone?
Photo zone is a space for organizing wedding photography , specially decorated in the theme of the celebration.
Important advantages of its use :
- stylish exclusive background allowing you to create original photographs;
- entertainment for invited guests (opportunity to take self-photos in a beautiful space);
- eliminates the possibility that unnecessary objects and strangers ;
- an unusual note in the decoration of the room as a whole.
Dimensions
At a wedding celebration, the classic version is often used - 2x2m or 3x2.5m (usually no more than 5 m on one side).
The determining factors when choosing the appropriate photo zone size are:
- planned budget (rent, self-registration);
- wedding theme (some styles require a minimum number of decorative elements, while others, on the contrary, require an abundance of decor in the design);
- location (the place where this zone will be located must have such dimensions as not to block the passage in the banquet hall, not to impede the movement of guests, not to interfere with dancing, active competitions and the direct work of the photographer and videographer);
Another important requirement : the choice of a photo zone should be carried out in such a way that guests can freely pose against its background without fear that unnecessary details (fasteners and frame) will get into the frame due to its small size.
Decorator
To decorate a photo zone, you can use not only whole books, but also individual sheets. For example, they can be used to wrap glasses or candlesticks. Karina Rumyantseva
Bouquets of flowers go well with a book photo zone. The most commonly used are simple and spray roses, peonies, eustomas and hydrangeas in pastel shades. If desired, fresh flowers can be replaced with artificial ones, for example, made from fabrics, ribbons or paper. Giant buds installed on the floor or ground in decorative pots look original.
A photo zone in the form of a book for a wedding is suitable for a book celebration, as well as some styles associated with fairy tales, novels and other works of art.
For example, the created decor will harmoniously fit into the concept of a celebration themed “Alice in Wonderland,” Harry Potter or the Lord of the Rings. If you use books with engineering drawings and ingenious inventions in the design of the photo zone, you will get a harmonious setting for the steampunk style.
Where to place it?
There are two main options:
- accommodation in a restaurant (cafe, any banquet hall);
- outdoor placement (for outdoor ceremony).
In the first case, it is convenient to place a photo zone near the entrance to the establishment , but so that it does not block the passage. In the second case, the photo zone is placed near the place where the buffet will be held (order special signs in advance so that guests can find their way around).
In addition to size, you must adhere to the following principles :
- attractiveness;
- harmony (matching the theme is great if it doesn’t stand out too much from the rest of the holiday decor);
- selected accessories.
Additional Tips
When designing a photo zone, you need to use your own imagination so that the result is original. For example, a giant book can serve only as a background, and in the foreground there will be a table for tea for two or a vintage sofa.
In addition to popular ideas, there are also creative solutions - they are below.
- An arch of stacked books. Such a photo zone is usually organized in nature, and all the elements are well connected to each other.
- Books can be hung in an abstract order in a casual position. It is desirable that the threads be camouflaged to create the feeling that the works are floating in the air.
For people whose main hobby is reading, it will be easy to design a photo zone using their favorite works. You just need to connect your creativity and taste. Books create unusual and atmospheric photographs in the background, so all guests at the wedding will be satisfied with the result.
Anastasia Belozerova
Wedding planner
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Design options
Below are the most popular ideas and techniques for decorating a photo area for a wedding.
- Living plants . Buds of fresh flowers or a picturesque “green” wall (decoration with ivy, maiden grapes) can be used. It is advisable to entrust this design option to a professional florist, because... It will be difficult to fix flowers on a vertical surface on your own (use a special floristic oasis). During a photo shoot in the cold season, you can use stabilized flowers, dried flowers, and natural materials that are more resistant to temperature changes.
- Artificial flowers . An alternative option for floral decoration is fabric or paper flowers. It should be noted that the use of paper decorations outdoors requires taking into account weather conditions.
- Chalk (slate) background . Against such a background, you can write or draw anything - the name of the young spouses, funny congratulations, short wishes, drawings. A large area for wedding photography can be painted in advance with colored chalk.
Tip : there is a risk that guests will touch the slate and the drawing or inscriptions will be smeared. To avoid this, you can ask the decorator to place some kind of limiter in front of the stand . For example, a composition of flowers or other decorative elements.
- Fabrics . The area decorated with fabric drapery looks very beautiful and elegant.
- Press wall . This is a wide-format banner on which the initials of the newlyweds, wedding symbols, the date of the event, and other decorative elements are usually printed. This banner is installed on a special frame.
- From balloons . A simple and budget-friendly design idea is to use balloons of the required color (single color or a combination of several shades). The newlyweds can pre-order printing on the balloons (names, wedding date).
- Fairy lights . An area decorated with garlands and other lighting fixtures looks very impressive in the evening.
- Interior . To create it, part of the surrounding interior is used. Any piece of furniture can be used - a sofa, armchairs, chairs, a chest of drawers, a table. As a decoration, the area is supplemented with decorative elements of the existing interior (for example, pillows, candlesticks, lamps, vases).
This is interesting read about how to decorate the presidium here .
Any of the listed types can be supplemented with interesting accessories if desired:
- small flower arrangements;
- ribbons;
- bows;
- gift boxes;
- volumetric letters;
- umbrellas;
- framework.
Photo zone for a wedding: ideas and photos
Photo zone is a fairly new phenomenon in the field of wedding decor. However, those who tried to use it in practice will tell you that they would never go back to standard wedding photographs, when random photos of guests on the dance floor or at tables turn out boring, ugly, and blurry.
- Wedding, evening hairstyles, weaving
- Children's bed.
- Photographer
A photo session of the bride and groom has long been an integral attribute of the celebration, but guests who also want to get beautiful pictures for themselves from a professional photographer are often disappointed: either the angle is wrong, the background is wrong, or strangers are included in the frame.
A photo zone for a wedding in this case solves all these problems. Firstly, the pictures turn out to be original, colorful, in the style of the wedding, and the guests approach the issue of photography consciously, posing against the backdrop of the scenery. Secondly, this way guests feel that they are valued and given enough attention, that their impressions and emotions at your wedding are also important, because guests are not decorations for a photo of the bride and groom, but full participants in the holiday!
Video: What is a photo zone and why is it needed. Opinion of a professional photographer
How to set up a photo zone for a wedding?
You can do the following:
- Make it to order by inviting a designer or make a press wall, i.e. printing stand.
- Rent a photo zone and save a lot;
- Make an effort, prepare in advance and make a wedding photo zone with your own hands . In this case, your imagination is limited only by the size of the room, your level of creativity and the theme of the ceremony. You can make exactly what you like, spending mere trifles.
Video: The stupidest mistake when creating a photo zone that will ruin everything
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What should you consider before making a photo zone for your wedding?
Wedding style. The design of a place for photography at a wedding should not deviate from the general style. The better the decorations and colors are chosen, the more stylish and interesting the photos of the bride, groom and their guests will be.
The tastes of the lovers themselves. This is their holiday, and the newlyweds should be pleased to look at their wedding album and remember the fun and touching moments of the wedding.
Environment. Depending on whether the banquet or outdoor ceremony will take place in a restaurant or outdoors, the photo zone can be designed differently. Indoors, you don’t need to be afraid that wind, rain or “unfortunate” sun rays will ruin your photo. And photo zones made from natural materials will look better outside; you won’t be limited by the size of the decorations, placement and lighting options. You can even implement several wedding photo zones outside.
Place. The photo zone for shooting should be located in a non-passable place, where other people will not get into the frame, but also not block the view of guests, and foreign objects should not get into the frame.
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Dimensions. It's not that simple here. The minimum photo zone should not be less than 2x2 meters to look beautiful. However, the size of the room where the wedding will take place does not always allow it to be accommodated comfortably. This is important to consider.
Attributes. To make a wedding photo shoot truly original, fun and set the mood, use a variety of attributes: mustaches, glasses, hats, suits, flashlights, objects, stickers, balloons, umbrellas, boards with wishes, masks, comic signs and much more. However, make sure that the fun does not turn into bad taste and that the attributes do not go beyond the scope of the wedding style.
Season. Photo zones decorated according to the season will look most successful. In winter, these are dry branches, snow and snowflakes, dry plants and pine cones, candles and lanterns, garlands, red apples. In spring, pay attention to flower arrangements, butterflies, birds, willow branches, fresh and delicate colors, lightness. Summer is a time of bright and rich colors, and against the backdrop of the greenery of nature, the landscape will look good, for example, a photo zone in the form of a decorated tree or a swing on a tree, hanging ribbons, floral curtains or a curtain of small light bulbs, translucent fabrics fluttering in the wind, etc. .d. In autumn, the decor will look better in brown-gold, burgundy tones and their variations; you can add a samovar, gifts of nature in the form of grapes, apples, pumpkins, and autumn flowers.
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Ideas for decorating a photo zone for a wedding with photos
Presswall or banner
A universal, fast and quite economical solution. You can implement anything you want on a printed canvas, indicate the names of all the guests, the wedding date, a landscape, a collage or fragments of a love story, and much more. In addition, the press wall is light and mobile, there is no need to install anything specially and figure out where to put the decorations later. Frames for such banner stands can be rented, which will cost much less.
Frames in Polaroid photo style
An original solution that does not require extra costs. They can be made to order, or you can make them yourself by signing the names and date of the event.
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Slate
A universal attribute on which you can embody many ideas, from drawings to inscriptions. A plain background, chalk inscriptions, and drawings perfectly highlight the outfits of the couple and guests, because... the board is black or dark brown.
flower wall
This is not a cheap solution if you want to decorate it with fresh flowers and moss. But the background of paper flowers is no less impressive, and the larger they are, the more fabulous the wedding photos will look. You can make these flowers with your own hands!
Floral curtains
These are flower heads strung on a thread or decorative rope. They very gently emphasize the image of the bride and, like a flower wall, will look most advantageous against the backdrop of wildlife, which will complement the atmosphere.
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Ribbons and flags
Long ribbons reaching to the floor, which can be hung around a frame, wall, stand or tree branches, look very gentle and unusual, especially if they blow in the wind. Combine different textures, fringes, colors, you can add garlands, flowers, in general, do not limit your imagination.
Openwork screens
You are unlikely to be able to make them yourself. But it’s easy to rent or buy ready-made ones. A screen for a wedding can be not only a decoration for a photo zone, but also a decoration for a banquet hall, for example, behind the newlyweds.
Frames
Antique and modern, large and small, frames of different shapes can be played up by hanging them, placing them on the floor or on furniture, combining them with flowers, mirrors and other wedding decorations.
- Leather steering wheel cover.
- Printing development
- Video and photography
Wall imitating a living room interior
Such a stand will be an excellent backdrop for the first joint photos of a new young family, their family and friends.
Antique furniture
It can be placed against a decorative wall or just in nature. Most often, this technique is used when decorating photo zones for weddings in vintage style. Old and antique furniture will look no less successful in a photo of a wedding in a classic and royal style.
Paper decor
Paper of various colors and textures allows you to create light and romantic decorations. These can be paper flowers, cranes, pinwheels, pompoms, garlands, confetti curtains and much more.
Video: Paper flowers for a wedding photo zone
Tree
Natural materials look simple and elegant, gentle and rough at the same time, emphasizing the ease of the atmosphere and making photographs more vibrant and stylish. It could be just a tree in the garden or yard, decorated with wedding decor, there could be wooden arches (carved and from unprocessed trunks and branches), a wall of wooden pallets, wooden boxes, round cuts of wood, fences and fences, just boards, a wall of wooden houses, as well as empty wooden window frames and even halves of old doors!
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Hedges entwined with flowers
They are suitable for floral decoration and for a classic wedding, as well as an eco-style wedding. They look good against the backdrop of wildlife, in greenery.
All kinds of lamps
Large and small lamps, in a simple or decorative shade or without one at all, stands with lamps, garlands or entire curtains of lights look very touching and romantic, giving photographs tenderness, some additional intimacy, closeness and warmth, romance. Usually used for photos at the end of the holiday, when it is already dark. And in nature, on trees or in the form of luminous arches, they look simply fabulous!
Video: DIY photo zones
Drapery
Fabrics, their combinations, design options are another simple idea for decorating a wedding photo zone. You can fold them in the form of folds, in the form of curtains, let them go down to the floor at random, intercept them with small bouquets in several places, attach beads, frames and other decor to them. If the fabric looks rich or dark in color, do not overdo it with decorations, otherwise the photo will ripple and guests will simply get lost in the background of the decorations. Also, dark fabric should not look too gloomy and mournful.
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Nature will tell you
If you have found a beautiful corner of nature, then you don’t have to work too hard on the photo zone and its decoration. Everything will be done by nature and its natural colors. You can complement the decor with some elements, add bright accents in the form of bouquets of flowers, apples, pine cones, fabrics and flags blowing in the wind, etc. remember the time of year and its colors. Winter landscapes need to be complemented with bright accents, spring landscapes with delicate flowers, summer greens harmonize well with white, pale blue, soft yellow and light pink, and the gold of autumn will complement woody shades, red, burgundy, dark blue and emerald colors, and also white.
Thematic
Often, photo zones are designed in full accordance with the chosen wedding style , supplemented with accessories that match the theme:
- In rustic style (pastel shades, light chairs, light wooden background, flowers, barrel, straw hat and other attributes).
- Marine style usually involves a blue and white color scheme, and the area itself imitates part of a sea vessel (ship, boat, yacht or separate cabin). Possible decorative elements are a fishing net, ropes, anchor print, inflatable lifebuoy, steering wheel, etc.
- “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” – turquoise color and similar shades (blue, mint, silver), flowers, draperies, vintage font and black/white photographs printed on the banner.
- In nature - just choose a beautiful natural location with a picturesque landscape (garden, park, river bank). The option does not require complex preliminary preparation or high costs, but there are risks - weather and seasonal conditions.
- The autumn photo zone can be decorated in yellow-orange tones (decor - natural materials - physalis, fruit baskets, pumpkins, tree branches, voluminous paper flowers, leaves, etc.).
- Popular winter decorations are New Year's and Christmas themes (red and white shades, a small Christmas tree, candles or garlands, lanterns). An interesting winter option is to use a decorated bright sleigh as a shooting location. In a room, an area with a stylized fireplace is often chosen.
- The summer zone offers the widest choice of options and allows for almost all of the ideas listed. It is in the summer that most outdoor ceremonies are held, so natural locations are often used.
- The spring photo zone involves decorating with delicate fabric draperies and flowers.
In this case, a combination of several stylistic options and appropriate decor is possible.
Additionally : We have compiled for you a detailed list of accessories for on-site registration and recommendations for decorating the ceremony (read) .
Price
In most cases, agencies provide photo zones for rent. The rental period is usually no more than a day, with installation and dismantling included in the cost of services.
The average cost of such services ranges from 6,000 to 20,000 rubles . If you need to create larger-scale compositions (with many decorative elements, additional furniture or installation of prefabricated structures), the cost can start from 35 thousand rubles.
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Binding of a huge edition
Books are often used in wedding decor, in most cases when decorating a photo zone. Old editions with beautiful covers fit especially well into celebrations decorated in European styles. Using books creates a romantic and slightly mysterious atmosphere. The “Book” photo zone for a wedding is suitable for a couple who met in a bookstore, at an exhibition or in a park, where the girl was reading when the future groom approached her.
A corner for a photo shoot using books can be designed in two ways. The works can be used as decorative elements, for example, to create improvised shelves, mount publications on the wall, opening them on different pages, or fold some sheets towards the middle in the form of droplets, and then hang the books at different heights. Some create interesting compositions by cutting out figures from the inner stack of sheets and painting them with paints.
In addition to books, you can use antique-style chests of drawers and tables for the photo zone. Furniture is decorated with lace fabric, and publications are decorated with colored ribbons or decorative bookmarks.
Miniature and massive candles in candlesticks or without them, as well as a typewriter or inkwell with a feather will complement the ambiance.
Photos (examples)
In the photographs below we have collected examples of photo zones decorated in different styles and colors.
