Weddingbee PRO

Does anyone use disposable cameras anymore? I hope not. Not when just about everyone has a digital camera.

The downfall of digital cameras is that they trap photos. How many photos do you have on your computer that you've never bothered to print? (I have thousands. Literally.)

And when it comes to weddings, you can bet that many of the photos that your snap-happy guests take during your wedding will never be shared. That's why you need a DIY Photo Download Station! All you need is a laptop, a card reader, and someone willing to man the station.

That's what Nikki, who hails from Calgary, Alberta, did at her May 2008 wedding. She and her groom didn't want any of their guests' photos getting away, so they set up their laptop at the reception and had Nikki's aunt man the “download station.”

“We set up the laptop near the door at the reception. The hall we rented had a coat check area right at the door with a counter that had the necessary plug ins,” she says. “My aunt took care of the station. She did everything, I just gave her the laptop and card reader (which I bought at Walmart for $25) and she took care of the rest.”

The MC and DJ let guests know about the download station throughout the evening, reminding them to copy their photos before they left the reception.

The result?

“It was SO worth the effort. I would have missed some amazing shots as well as some group shots of friends. I ended up with close to 700 extra photos. At no cost!,” she says.

Her advice?

“I would highly suggest having someone take care of the station for you, that way you aren't worried about it. Also, as my aunt loaded photos, she had a slide show rolling for people to watch. There was always at least two people standing around and watching the pictures. It is also so much easier than asking everyone to mail you a CD or trying to track people down to get certain photos of people. I now have enough candids to fill in the parts of the day/night that the photographer missed,” she says.

If you are considering a download station at your wedding, here are some other things to keep in mind:

• Do not leave the laptop unattended.
• Make sure the person manning the laptop gives easy instructions to your guests and assists them in downloading. You don't want drunken guests messing with your laptop.
• Drinks and laptops do not go well together. You are taking your chances if you have guests milling around with drinks in hand.

Another clever option is a Flickr account and cute little cards to remind your guests to upload photos to your account.

I found these cards on Geek Sugar. Why not commission someone on Alchemy to make some for your wedding? Or DIY!

Top photo: Andrew Sansom Wedding Photography