Wedding Photography: “Shooting on The Dance Floor” with Anesta Broad

Award-winning wedding photographer cuts a shape capturing dance floor moments

May 23, 2020

0 185 4 minutes read

Anesta Broad

Anesta Broad is an award-winning British photographer and entrepreneur with proud Caribbean connections – her parents are from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. As Creative Editor at ACU|BIEN, Anesta shares personal insight into her creative style, which has made her a sought-after wedding photographer. Anesta writes about her method of capturing memorable dance floor moments. Her mantra as a photographer is “Moments Over Mountains“.

“Wedding Confidante”

I am so thrilled to share some of my favourite wedding photographs on my personal journey and experiences seen through the camera lens. I have become a “wedding confidante” for couples, shooting weddings throughout the UK and internationally, including Greece, Portugal and Morroco. It is a unique experience to be trusted to capture what are unique and very personal stories and moments of celebration for couples, their families and close friends.

Starting my early career in fashion, I moved into the not-for-profit education sector before finally pursuing my creative passions as a photographer. It was terrifying to step out of a successful career and the buzz of working in the heart of London’s financial centre and into the unknown. The demands of setting up Anesta Broad Photography, and developing a strong and trusted brand from zero, while juggling a hectic family life is not the for faint-hearted. But I believe my passion to create, a career that demanded attention to detail, empathy, calm reasoning and the experience of working with people from diverse walks of life has helped me to develop as a caring documentary-style photographer.

A caterpillar on the dance floor

My mantra as a photographer is “Moments Over Mountains” and the dance floor is a hotbed for the soppy and the silly. For couples who can’t decide whether or not to have a photographer to stay for the first dance and beyond, these photos are 24 great reasons why you should. These beautiful moments capture first dances; brides getting their feet wet; beer-spilling guests and for good measure, a caterpillar on the dance floor.

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Why “Moments Over Mountains? What does that mean?

Moments over mountains is my heartfelt desire to capture real, honest storytelling. Those genuine moments that happen over a given day: the relationships, the gestures, laughter, tears, and unguarded flashes of pure joy. Those sweet musical notes play on your heartstrings.

Why are dance floor moments important?

I am a visual storyteller and capturing the action on the dance floor is a one-off opportunity to document the collective, liberating celebration of a wedding. The formalities are out of the way, friends and family are relaxed and this is where shoes are kicked off, ties loosen, the drink kicks in, and heads are thrown back in laughter and freedom.

Perfect, but not posed

At weddings, you surround yourself with the people you would take into battle. By that I mean, when you are on that dance floor throwing shapes and charging those glasses, you want to look around and feel reminiscent of how lucky you are to have a bunch of amazing people strutting their stuff by your side celebrating this landmark in your life.

These are the people you would take into battle no matter the fight, no matter how tough the journey. This beautifully visualises my mantra of #MomentsOverMountains.

What makes good dance floor action at a wedding?

From my experience, dance floor magic won’t happen on its own. It’s imperative for couples to create a good vibe: you need a great DJ or live band playing music you and your guests love. An inviting, well-placed dance floor will draw everyone together. Give them plenty of space to do the worm or the floss. Importantly, the wedding couple needs to be on the dance floor too. If they are at the bar, their friends and family will be at the bar.”

Some of my favourite weddings both as a photographer and a guest are when the couple moves away from the strict traditional order of events, creating a custom wedding that is personal to them. If it’s personal to you it would be relatable and conformable for your friends and family. This personal touch really evokes my creativity and storytelling as a photographer.

The first dance, is it important?

The first dance remains as important today as it ever was. It differs from wedding to wedding and culture to culture. An outdoor dance floor is a favourite. A setting against a sunset or an approaching twilight creates such a magical atmosphere, it offers a good photographer a free canvas to paint. However, you need a professional photographer with the skills and experience of capturing fast-changing or fading light who will make your first dance continue long after the music stop and guests have departed.

My approach to capturing dance floor moments?

Whether I am a first or second photographer, we submerge ourselves directly into the action. I am not shy. You can’t be if you want to capture a couple’s real and candid wedding day. I am definitely not afraid to show off my own dance moves. In fact, this frequently works well for my style of photography. While guests are occupied watching my dance moves, they become more relaxed and candid and I am free to capture honest photos.

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What makes me a sought-after wedding photographer?

Couples book me because they really relate and warm to my natural, honest documentary style of photography. I specialise in capturing genuine, candid moments. Weddings are stressful and couples need a team around them they can get on with. Behind the scene, you are capturing intimate moments from the preparation and throughout the day. Of course, you need to be highly professional, you are there to work. However, knowing they are comfortable with your presence helps them to enjoy their special day. As a photographer, I am seeing tears, fears, and anxieties. I am able to quickly forge good relationships and when needed, I am there to calm and reassure my clients – like a wedding confidante.