While choosing a planner, venue, fashion, or décor are key decisions that determine how you’ll experience your wedding day, it's important to understand that wedding photography styles can make a major impact on how you look back on your nuptials for years to come. And even if you might think anyone with a camera can capture your wedding photos, shooting a wedding is an art that takes plenty of skill, stamina, creativity, and experience. You should invest in a photographer that is not only talented, but has a wedding photography style that reflects the aesthetic you want to capture throughout this milestone event.
“The role of the photographer—whether more photojournalistic or more fine art—is to go into a wedding with a sensibility and vision, but being open to the wonderfully unexpected moments,” explains wedding photographer Corbin Gurkin. “Find a photographer whose work you feel so deeply connected to that you cannot imagine any other person interpreting your day. You are hiring this person for his or her eye and that should really guide the decision. If you look at this artist’s images and think to yourself, ‘this is how I want to feel’ in my photographs and you can imagine the visual spirit of your wedding being honored in those images, then this is your photographer.”
Photographer Adriana Rivera adds that it’s important to connect with a photographer before choosing to hire them as well. “Couples also need to think how the person they trust to capture their wedding will greatly influence their overall wedding experience, contributing their energy to every moment,” she says. “Rather than simply choosing your photographer solely on talent, look for chemistry, connection, and an understanding that the process is just as important as the outcome.”
It’s also important to have a knowledge of wedding photography styles to begin searching for a vendor that can fit your vision and budget. However, don’t let yourself be too prescriptive with what style you think you want. “My typical advice to couples is to not actually put too many words into what they think they are looking for,” shares Lisa Raffo Ashley, who represents wedding photographers as the owner and curator of The Wedding Artist Co. “What one person thinks is editorial, another person might think is classic or artistic.”
Before you check hiring a photographer off your planning checklist, see a breakdown of each style to get a clearer picture of how your wedding photography could look.
1. Traditional Photography
The wedding style you may be most familiar with is a traditional look focused on staged portraits with the couple and family, capturing key snaps from the ceremony and reception, and curating a clear picture of the day. Ashley says, “Those with a checklist of key shots to be captured may opt for this style and can expect a more structured and posed photo session, ensuring all crucial moments are captured meticulously. Traditional photography offers a classic and timeless approach to wedding photographs.”
2. Editorial Photography
If you want your wedding photos to have a curated, magazine-spread-like feel, you should look to editorial wedding photographers. They may give more directive to a couple to best capture their day with beautiful light and angles. These shots could also have a fashion focus. “An editorial photography style encompasses creatively compelling, visually driven, and narrative-rich images,” says Rivera. “Creating meaningful and beautiful photographs requires time, trust, and preparation. Take a moment to reflect on what truly matters to both of you, and share these details with your photographer.”
3. Photojournalism
For those seeking a more organic feel to their wedding photos, look for photographers who have a documentary-style approach to their shooting methods. They will find beauty in those in-between moments, movement, and the raw emotion found throughout the celebration. “Every wedding day has a story. Photojournalism is an approach where the photographer captures the moment as it unfolds without interrupting, using images to narrate the feelings, moments, and nuances that collectively tell a bigger story,” says photographer Twah Dougherty. “The photojournalism approach on a wedding day has the ability to create authentic images that hold the most meaning while portraying the beauty in the story.”
“There’s also an editorial photojournalism approach which is the preferred method for most photographers on a wedding day,” adds Dougherty. “Strict photojournalism is where the photographer does not interject any direction into certain aspects of the day. A hybrid approach of editorial photojournalism allows the photographer to occasionally give light direction or influence the scenario to optimize the couple’s best angles. This does not take away from moments when true photojournalism is needed to tell that authentic story.”
4. Fine Art Photography
If you want to have your wedding feel like, well, an ethereal piece of art, you should gravitate towards fine art photographers for your celebration. This style can capture your florals, fashion, and overall event with a dreamy feel thanks to the photographer's editing style. “Fine art photography is often a must-have for couples getting married,” explains Ashley. “It requires a keen eye for detail while creatively using lighting and angles to create beautiful, timeless imagery that transcends typical photography. Fine art photography is optimal for couples who value a creative, artistic touch to their wedding photos.”
5. Film Photography
While the majority of wedding photographers shoot on digital, there’s been a significant rise in film photography across the space. While some shoot exclusively on film, others use it as a supplement to their digital shots for a diversity of imagery. This style also can be translated into videography as well. “Film photography for weddings often evokes a timeless and romantic aesthetic,” share Trent and Dara Bailey of Trent Bailey Studio. “It's characterized by its soft, warm, and dreamy quality, which can be quite different from the sharp and pristine look of digital photography. Film has a unique way of capturing textures and details, which can add depth and character to the images. It may introduce a subtle grain or imperfections that give the photos a sense of authenticity, and impart a timeless feel. The charm of film photography lies in its ability to craft a timeless and evocative visual narrative that invokes a sense of nostalgia and creates an enduring, sentimental connection to the memories of this unforgettable day.”
If you love the look of film photography, it’s important to note that it doesn’t always require actual film to achieve the aesthetic. “We get people all the time who insist they want a film photographer but end up falling in love with a photographer who actually shoots digitally and their work just looks like film,” says Ashley. “So when it comes to figuring out what you want, I recommend digging into portfolios and visually pulling references of things you like. When it comes to a visual medium like photography, it's better to let the images speak for themselves.”
6. Dark and Moody Photography
While some couples want their photos to be clean, light, and bright, others might opt for a more dark and moody photography style. When shooting in this aesthetic, a photographer may work more with shadows, darker editing filters, or vintage film styles to achieve a dramatic tone and ambiance.
7. Lifestyle Photography
Love the look and feel of documentary-style photography but want your photographer to provide you with a bit more direction on how to pose? Then you might want to find a vendor who offers lifestyle photography. The photographer will lead the way when you and your wedding party take portraits, yet they will still try to capture more natural, genuine moments from the session.
