What is a "zap shot"? A zap shot is a digital picture captured at your wedding

reception that is displayed on a big screen. Most of the time zap shots are offered

through your DJ. This has become more and more popular as it does ad to the entertainment

experience. 

Before you consider paying the extra money for zap shots I recommend that you consider the

following. If you are having a photographer with a second or third camera as well as a

videographer you need to take into account the size of the dance floor. This past summer

I worked at Gurney's in Montauk which has a very small dance floor. The dance floor was

packed all night and added to the chaos was three photographers, a videographer, and a

zap shot guy all fighting for the few inches of available space to perform their

hired responsibilities. On a larger dance floor like the one at Majestic Gardens or

at the Inn at East Wind it would not have been so crazy. Those poor people at Gurneys

had cameras snapping in their faces all night!

The new "dilema" with zap shots is that some of the photographers have had heated exchanges

with DJs and their zap shot guys. The concern from the photographers is that the zap shot

guy will follow the photographer around and shoot all of the posed shots. The fear is that the DJs

will give those shots to the bride and groom at the end of the night and the couples will use

those shots for extra prints instead of ordering them through the photographers. In this case the

photographers are right to be concerned. To avoid any conflicts on your wedding day make

it clear to your entertainment that they are to do zap shots during the party only and that

they respect the job of the photographer.

There are a few photography companies who have become so greedy that they are causing

problems related to the DJs and zap shots. It is not enough that they have brought down the quality

of wedding videography by selling their video contracts to subcontractors but now two or three of the larger

 photography studios want to take zap shots away from the DJs. How you get zap shots for your wedding

is really no big deal but if your photographer insists that he or she can not work like that then get a new

photographer. Almost all of the zap shot guys I have worked with are gentlemen and will give way

to the other wedding professionals.