Same day slideshows are so much fun! I started doing same day slideshows last year and after a lot of trial and error I finally have a system down that is pretty simple!  I usually work on my slideshow during dinner when not as much is going on. My second shooter is my second pair of eyes at this time so just in case anything happens, they’re ready to shoot.

When I do a same day slideshow I use: a laptop (nothing fancy, just an HP Pavilion DV6…holla!), cf card reader, Adobe Bridge, and Lightroom.  Don’t feel like you have to have an iPad or a macbook pro to pull this off. I honestly might keep using the HP Pavilion for same day slideshows even when I upgrade my laptop to a MBP just because my HP only cost me $500…if someone ruins it by dropping it or spilling beer all over it, it’s not that serious.

So, are you ready? Here’s my workflow for the same day slideshow! It’s mindblowingly simple:)

1. Choose images. The first thing I do is go through my images from the day and choose a few for the slideshow. I use a cf card reader in the USB slot of my laptop. I shoot in RAW, so I look through my images using Adobe Bridge. I one star my faves and pull ONLY what I’m going to use in the slideshow into a folder on the desktop named “Bride and Groom Slideshow”. (Note that I’m not transferring every image from the CF card) Most of the time I already have an idea of what images I’d like to use in my slideshow, so culling through them isn’t too difficult/time consuming. I’m usually looking for a few of the getting ready process, a few of the bridal party, and a few of the portraits and ceremony. I love to include these other parts of the day because since most of the guests didn’t have the chance to be there for them, they’ll still get a sense of the overall feel of the day by checking out the slideshow! I typically use about 20 or so images in one slideshow.

2. Import into Lightroom and edit. A lot of the time I don’t have to edit my slideshow images at all…but sometimes I’ll go through and fix the white balance or mess with the exposure or contrast and maybe add some vibrance or change a few into black and white. The edits here are very minimal because people are honestly not looking at how the pictures are edited. They’re not noticing whether or not the pictures are technically perfect, they’re noticing the emotions and the story of the bride and groom’s day. The people looking at the slideshow are the people that love the bride and groom best, so they’re not judging you on technical stuff!

3.  PLAY THAT FUNKY SLIDESHOW WHITE BOY Or Asian girl? JK. I play my slideshow right inside of Lightroom. It’s easy as pie. Maybe even easier than pie! There are lots of options to make your slideshow fancy, but I keep mine simple so that the focus is on the images. I will usually take my slideshow over to the bride and groom first and say “HEY MARRIED PEOPLE GUESS WHAT?? I have a surprise for you!” And I show them the slideshow right then and there so that they’re the first ones to see it. After that I set it up in a high traffic area like the bar or or near the guest book or something and let people enjoy it!  I normally leave it up til my laptop battery dies OR it’s been a little bit and most people have seen it already.

I never tell the bride and groom I’m doing the slideshow ahead of time. Why? Sometimes circumstances prevent me from doing one. Sometimes there isn’t enough time, my laptop battery may be dead, or my card reader won’t read my CF cards (yes, that last thing has happened). I don’t want to let my couples down…instead I want them to be excited about a fun surprise I put together for them if I have the chance to.

So, that’s pretty much it! I hope this post has been helpful! If you have any questions for me, leave them in the comments and I’ll answer as best as I can:) Also, if you have any ideas or things you’d like to see in a future “For Photographers” post, leave them in the comments! I’m having a hard time thinking of things that I think people would be interested in reading about.