We all know that photo booths at weddings have become a cliche. They're still loads of fun, no doubt, but everyone has done them before. Every wedding needs a keepsake that captures the joy and love of the event, and although photographs are great for this, nothing beats a painting done by a master.

The Definition of Live Painting

"Plein air" (outdoors) painting is a style employed for live painting during weddings, which captures a moment in time. A professional artist will show up to the wedding with a canvas and all the necessary art tools to create a live painting of the event.

Portraits take much longer than a fast snapshot, so most weddings still hire a photographer in addition to the live painter, but portraits frequently capture really important and private moments that a photograph cannot.

Meet the professional

Professionally, Brittany Branson operates as a specialty instructor for artists and a destination wedding painter. She has made the District of Columbia her present home.

"It still amazes me that my husband and I can look at a unique piece of art that was made on our wedding day thanks to the presence of a live wedding painter. We love our painting, and it's a gift to be able to provide the same experience to other couples and customers.

Whether you're just learning about the concept of a live wedding painter for the first time or you're ready to hire your very own, we've put up a detailed guide to address all your questions.

The Average Price of a Wedding Portrait Done Live

Depending on factors such as distance traveled, canvas size of portrait painting, and quantity of artwork desired, you may easily pay over a thousand dollars. The cost of Branson's live wedding painting packages ranges from $2,199 to $3,000, with the price fluctuating based on the difficulty of the painting.

In addition to creating a unique work of art like a wedding painting that you and your loved ones may admire for years to come, you'll also get to share a once-in-a-lifetime event with your nearest and dearest.

Do not allow the cost of an artist's out-of-state trip to prevent you from hiring them. To continue on the topic of appreciating an artist's body of work, Branson advises, "If it's financially viable, and the artist you love isn't nearby, don't turn away their excellent work because of their lack of proximity to you." "I provide installment plans for my live painting packages. If you need extra time to pay for things like your artist's travel expenses, you can always ask if they'd be willing to work with you on a payment plan."

Advice on Locating a Local Painter or Sculptor

Live wedding painting is becoming more popular, but finding an artist that is both available and suits your tastes may be challenging. According to Branson, "there aren't too, too many of us live artists out there," making Google a good place to look. Locating live painters in your state is one way to reduce your options; yet, proximity isn't everything.

Even if you can't easily get in touch with your favorite out-of-town musician, you may want to show your appreciation. Check out their portfolio, read reviews written by satisfied clients, and learn more about them by exploring their website. "When a couple is considering hiring a live artist, I believe they must develop a deep appreciation for the artist's body of work and aesthetic.

Don't procrastinate if you and your fiancé are set on having a live painter at your wedding."

Because there aren't that many live artists around (even on a national level), I usually advise engaged couples to schedule one as soon as possible. My couples often hire me eight to fifteen months in advance of the wedding day.

Live Painting Techniques

To narrow down your search, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of the three main categories of paintings."

All the wedding painters out there have their distinct styles  of wall art , but they can be roughly categorized as either "realism" (your painting is so lifelike that it could be mistaken for a photograph), "impressionism" (not quite realism, but an "impression" of the people, light, and atmosphere), or "abstractionism"