| Frequently over the last many years I have | | | | |
| attended weddings and their receptions. The | | | | The question becomes how do you collect all |
| use of photography in an effort to preserve | | | | of these photos without clogging your email |
| this day is common to all weddings and | | | | with numbers of large collections of image |
| receptions, and the obligatory photographer | | | | files. What you need is a single "big pot" |
| is always present. | | | | where you can encourage all of your guests to |
| | | | dump their photos for sharing with the couple |
| Sometimes the couple will hire two | | | | and the family-at-large. |
| photographers in an effort to get more candid | | | | |
| shots of family and friends throughout the | | | | Today there are online solutions called |
| reception. Sometimes they will hire or | | | | "photo exchange depots" (depositories). |
| designate a family member who's a photography | | | | Just do an internet search and you'll likely |
| hobbyist to capture those numerous shots. | | | | find one. Sometimes single-day events are |
| And increasingly common is the placement of | | | | free to setup. Generally, here is how they |
| disposable cameras on each reception table to | | | | work; |
| encourage family and friends to take photos | | | | |
| throughout the event | | | | The couple establishes their event on one of |
| | | | the photo exchange depots, and receives a |
| There are numerous technical and practical | | | | designated private "EventCode." This code |
| problems with this approach. First off, the | | | | uniquely identifies their event on the |
| disposable cameras don't generally take the | | | | system, and will allow online users (anyone |
| best photos. Second, the cost of developing | | | | knowing the EventCode) to add their photos |
| these numerous cameras is a significant | | | | into a big pool of event photos. |
| consideration. And, third, there's a strong | | | | |
| possibility that the camera will prove to be | | | | The couple informs their guests of this |
| a great toy for some young person � | | | | website and EventCode in their program, or as |
| resulting in photos of the floor and ceiling | | | | part of the place settings and/or table-tents |
| (for which you'll pay to have developed) | | | | at the reception. The guests all access the |
| � or even numerous photos where the user | | | | site (no user login usually required) and |
| failed to activate the flash (usually a | | | | uploads all of their event photos. |
| hold-down button on disposable cameras). | | | | |
| | | | Then, after the honeymoon is over, the couple |
| However, in today's day and age, it is very | | | | and/or their family can view all of the |
| likely that many or most of the guests | | | | uploaded images, and select, download, and |
| brought their own digital camera. I know | | | | save the pictures they wish to keep. At some |
| that I usually do, and that I'll shoot around | | | | point the depot expires and fades away. |
| 50 to 100 pictures during any such event. | | | | |
| | | | This is a simple, low-cost, low-risk, and |
| Digital cameras are usually of a much better | | | | very effective way to capture possibly |
| quality than disposables - resulting in much | | | | hundreds of additional photos from your |
| better pictures. Also, digital photos are | | | | special event. |
| cheap and numerous � because the memory | | | | |
| chips will usually hold several hundred | | | | More pictures, more memories!! Enjoy! |
| photos (unlike the 27 or so available from | | | | |
| the disposable camera), and the cost of each | | | | Dean Brust has been involved in the business |
| image is virtually nothing. It is also very | | | | of Internet technologies and services for 20+ |
| unlikely that anyone is going to allow their | | | | years. He has participated in the |
| child the use it as a plaything, and there | | | | introduction of numerous online services and |
| won't be too many pictures of the floor and | | | | databases. With a personal interest in |
| ceiling - though you wouldn't likely care as | | | | photography and family, he writes for the |
| there is no cost involved. | | | | technology industry. |