Wedding Photography Styles
A summary of the main styles and their pros and cons with sample images.
With over 25 years of experience in wedding photography, I’ve witnessed a spectrum of styles evolving over time, particularly during the digital transformation from 2003 to 2008 roughly. As styles fluctuate in popularity, blending them to suit each couple’s unique taste has become a hallmark of my approach. No single style fits all; while some couples may favor a predominantly candid approach, their families often appreciate traditional posed shots capturing both family and friends.
The Blend of Wedding Photography Styles
Today, wedding photography styles range from traditional and candid to more nuanced forms like editorial or fine art. Each style carries unique requirements and outcomes, influencing their suitability for your special day. Here is a basic and by no means exhaustive list of some main styles with a few pros and cons.
1. Candid/Documentary – Style Wedding Photography
Candid/ photojournalistic-style wedding photography captures candid moments or spontaneous pictures of people, decor and events at your wedding. The focus here is a real telling of the day as it unfolded and the raw emotions of the day. This style is one I use heavily for first looks, ceremonies, first dances and hair and makeup before the ceremony. I love it when I deliver images and a couple comment they never saw me take the shot they love. A classic moment here would be the grooms face as the bride walks down the aisle or a father wiping a tear away in a daddy daughter dance. This style may or may not employ any extra lighting. I often set up off camera flashes at receptions, but maintain a very candid style.
Pros:
– Captures genuine moments and raw emotions.
– Minimally disruptive to the event.
Cons:
– High volume of shots needed to capture perfect moments.
– May require occasional posing to optimize photo quality.
2. Traditional Wedding Photography
Often heavily posed these classic images stand the test of time. Everyone looking at the camera and smiling or everyone serious. People arranged very purposely and posed with tradition and printed albums in mind.
Pros:
– Delivers timeless, classic photos valued by families.
– Ideal for archival and generational memories.
Cons:
– Organizing group shots can be time-consuming.
– Additional lighting may be necessary, depending on the venue.
3.Illustrative/Fashion
This has become a very popular style in recent years. Commonly utilized for pre-wedding photo shoots, illustrative wedding photography focuses on composition, lighting, and background. In this style, couples are positioned within striking, picturesque settings. This approach creatively merges elements of traditional and photojournalistic wedding photography, producing visually captivating results. Huge advances in off camera flash and portable small studio strobes have opened up this style to weddings more than ever. This style is all about artistic fashion and magazine styled photos. These images are crowd pleasers in any photographers portfolio. Younger couples especially love these images. Unique venues planned in advance and multiple lights add to the creative mastery of these images.
Pros:
– Produces high-impact, magazine-quality images.
– Carefully planned poses and lighting enhance aesthetics.
– Cons:
– Setup and execution can be time-intensive.
– Not all photographers may successfully replicate pre-visualized images under wedding day constraints.
It is worth mentioning here as a word of caution that a new trend for many photographers is to go on portfolio building workshops where another professional working with paid models will build a set and lighting and then a new photographer walks in and takes the photos they did not actually plan or set up. They then add these images to their portfolio as wedding samples. But it sadly becomes evident on wedding day that a portfolio of styled shoots like this will not create a photographer that can reproduce this style on the fly in a time crunch without models and hours of time. A good sign of this is an inexperienced photographer with a portfolio of exotic locations not in their wedding market and no bridal parties, just couples in their portfolio. This is a sure sign they went on a portfolio building trip. Nothing wrong with these, but if that is their main portfolio it is a big red flag.
4. Editorial
Editorial wedding photography is among the most popular and authentic styles, capturing the essence of your special day as it unfolds. This approach, similar to photojournalistic photography, focuses on portraying the couple and events in their truest form. It skillfully captures candid moments, such as tender exchanges between the bride and groom or an emotional embrace between the groom’s parents during the first dance. The primary aim of editorial wedding photography is to encapsulate the emotions and atmosphere of the occasion, offering a gateway for the couple to revisit the fleeting, precious moments they might have overlooked amidst the day’s excitement. This style blends these authentic candid moments with posed moments to build a narrative of the whole wedding day. I personally love this style and my own blend of candid and illustrative styles with attention to details could most likely be summed up by editorial.
Pros:
– It provides a balance of posed and candid photos
Cons:
– It has become a buzz word that many photographers claim but few can actually balance posed and candid images without extensive experience.
5. Light and Airy / Fine Art Wedding Photography Styles
Another popular wedding photography style at the moment. Very well suited for outdoor venues with nature or venues awash with natural light. These images are bright, crisp and often minimally posed with movement and emotion to match the light bright editing style. I love this style mixed with a candid style for outdoor weddings.
Pros:
– Emphasizes a natural, organic look, excellent in natural light.
– Often requires less artificial lighting, blending seamlessly into the day.
Cons:
– Limited flexibility in poorly lit conditions, needing adept use of off-camera lighting.
6. On-Camera Flash (Paparazzi)
This is an old wedding photography style making a comeback. A few high profile celebrities have recently had their wedding portraits done in this style. It is often high contrast and has heavy shadows with string highlights in the centre of the images. News and celebrity photographers on the red carpet live this style because off camera flash is just not an option. I find this style a life saver for sparkler exits when time is a factor ad I have o run and gun. This centre weighted highlight makes the couple pop while allowing sparklers to show up and not get lit up on the edges of the frame by the flash. I also use this occasionally on the dance floor with a slow shutter to create blurred light effect. The technical term is rear curtain flash sync and it is really fun with some great dance moves. But you certainly don’t want a whole reception shot like this. I mostly prefer to bounce off a ceiling or use off camera flash at receptions. But a few artistic blurs are so much fun.
Pros:
– Quick and effective for adding extra light.
– Useful for dynamic scenes like dance floors and evening exits.
Cons:
– The direct flash can be obtrusive.
– Overuse can diminish the creative appeal of your wedding photos.
7. Dark and Moody
This wedding photography style is not as popular as it was a few years ago, but it is still a classic. Photographers place couples in shadows and areas of contrast for dramatic effect. The shadows and hidden details tell as much of a story as the details in light. I seldom use this style but can for a few images when needed. Much of this style depends more on editing than the photography and many photos shot as candid images can be edited in a moody style. For posed images in this style, silhouettes and dark shadows are popular.
Pros:
– Creates striking, dramatic imagery through deep shadows and contrasts.
– Can be forgiving in less than ideal venues.
Cons:
– May overshadow the inherent joy of the occasion with its intensity.
8. Black and White / Vintage
Long ago this wedding photography style was a choice made before the weddings and affected film choice. In the digital age we can mix this in and out of the day. I love Black and White photography and always include several images like this on wedding day.
Pros:
– Offers a timeless aesthetic, eliminating concerns about lighting inconsistencies.
Cons:
– Color details planned by the bride can be lost, affecting the visual narrative of the wedding.
Final Thoughts on Choosing Your Wedding Photography Style
Selecting a mix of wedding photography styles is crucial and should resonate with your vision of the day. It’s vital to align this choice with a photographer whose portfolio reflects the desired aesthetic—ensuring they can authentically reproduce the style under real-time constraints. Remember, an experienced photographer can seamlessly integrate multiple styles to capture the essence of your celebration in a way that candidly reflects your personal love story.
In essence, understanding the pros and cons of each wedding photography style will profoundly assist in making an informed decision that enhances your special day, ensuring memories that you’ll cherish forever.
Further Tips for Prospective Couples
Discuss your preferred blend of photography styles with your photographer to ensure a comprehensive coverage that matches your vision. By doing so, you can guarantee your wedding photos will vividly recount your day just as you remember it.
I hope you enjoyed this blog about Wedding Photography Styles. If you want to learn more about my own wedding photography in the Chicago region please follow this link and then get in touch.