HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE!

Are you struggling to narrow down what photography style you love? Choosing a wedding photographer can be tricky, but learning about their different photography styles can help. Here is a comprehensive summary of different wedding photography styles out there.

Every couple has different style preferences, from clothing to décor. Choosing a wedding photographer is one of the most significant stylistic decisions. Before you contact your prospective photographers, you should determine what wedding photography style you are drawn to. If you book first and learn about the style later, you may end up with photos that don’t match your vision.

Learning and understanding different styles will make sure that you invest in the right photographer for you. You want to love your photographer’s style as they have worked so hard to master this style and shoot and edit your wedding. It is so important that you pick a style that matches exactly what you want before your wedding to avoid disappointment later. 

Choosing the best wedding photography style is difficult, given the numerous options. You can determine which style suits you best by analysing your social-media saves. Look at your social media to discover which images you save the most on Instagram or Pinterest and look for patterns. You may also create mood boards or start Pinterest boards to see which images you prefer the most. After looking through a few weeks and pinning, you'll begin to notice a pattern.

Want to know about the different wedding photography styles? To make things even more confusing, it is also completely possible that your photographer might fall into more than one category. Here's everything you need to know to help you make a decision about your photographer.

Fine art.

This type of photography has become more of a mix in recent years as it has gained more popularity. It is typically renowned for its light, bright, and open quality.

It’s a softer, more delicate, and cleaner aesthetic than straight digital. Fine art photography goes well with the bright and airy aesthetics often achieved using film. Because they want to achieve that look, photographers either shoot film or are inspired by film.

An amazing example of this style is one of my favourite photographers: Emma Pilkington. 

Black & white.

Most wedding photographers offer at least several images in black and white. Although black-and-white wedding pictures are a matter of editing rather than photographic style, some photographers exclusively use black-and-white cameras or send black and white photos. 

Every photograph has an emotional quality that the photographer can emphasise or de-emphasise with black and white. It is a matter of feeling and emotion, and it's up to the photographer. Some photographers offer both colour and black-and-white versions of each photograph. When I think of this style, Jennifer Moher comes to mind. 

Traditional & timeless.

Some photographers offer a mix of classic and contemporary photographs. Some think these images sometimes not particularly imaginative—they are often photographed at eye level and posed. But they are classic, timeless and beautiful. In 50 to 60 years, these photos will still look good. They are very simple and don’t have typically have any crazy element but they look incredible.  

I feel that Erich McVey and Greg Finck both create truly timeless imagery.  

Documentary.

Many photographers have adopted a photojournalistic style in order to create the most sincere and memorable photographs. These photographs are usually candid and documentative. On wedding days, these photographers behave as if they were documenting a feature story or news item. They let the moments play out naturally then photograph them as they occur, preserving the magic.

Many photographers that photograph in this style state that they are more like a fly on the wall during the entire wedding. They capture the day as they see it. Much like capturing photos to feature on the news - they are telling the story as it is. 

To me, Daniel Kim does an amazing job documenting a wedding in a unique way. 

Editorial.

Editorial images are quite different from those taken during a wedding ceremony. They are almost as formal as a fashion magazine, and many photographers have mastered this technique. It is a more rare approach in the wedding photography industry, but many photographers have developed a successful business through it.

Knowing what they want before they begin wedding planning, the couple set a higher standard for their wedding photography to feel like a feature in Vogue. This makes it feel like the couple are having a photoshoot with a luxurious, high-end vibe. 

When I think of editorial photography, I think Greg Finck, Elizabeth Messina or KT Merry who have photographed loads of celebrity weddings. 

Dark & moody.

It's no secret that dark-and-moody photographs are just as they sound: dark, moody, and dramatic. Photographers use either shadows or harsh lines to create unusual and creative lighting patterns in this look. This look includes a lot of dark editing and shooting. It has become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly with magazines showcasing it.

A really good example of this type of photography is Sandra Vandersteen. 

Landscape & elopement. 

Outside of wedding photography, landscape photography is an established and popular photo genre. It has become increasingly popular as an add-on to wedding photography in remote locations where there is a lot of open space, particularly in the mountains or at the beach. Couples who want to elope often seek this style of photography. Beforehand, the photographer and the couple will often scout out the area to capture an adventurous scene with the couple as part of a landscape photo for scale and magnitude.

Because most of these photographs are taken over a short time period, you don’t receive a lot of them. However you will receive gorgeous, panoramic photos of your elopement or wedding. Anni Graham’s elopement work is a really great example of this. 

In addition, more and more photographers are now providing drone photography as an add-on to their services. You probably wouldn’t want your entire wedding day photographed from the air, but aerial photography is a fantastic complement to photos. It works well for wedding photos, ceremony exits, and reception receptions outdoors.

It's important to ask your photographer if they offer drone photography before signing the contract as well as check that your venue or location allow it. Some employ a separate photographer and charge an upcharge for it, while others don’t offer it at all. 

Though this isn’t every photography style, I feel that these are the most common I see for wedding photography. If you are feeling confused and want to chat more, feel free to contact me!