Wedding Photography Styles
Wedding Photography Styles
Wedding photography styles differ and if you are not already familiar with them it might be a bit overwhelming. You need to decide which style fits your needs the most. The way one wedding photographer shoots a wedding can be very different than the next. Hopefully, I can explain some of the basics here to at least provide a general idea for you to start your search.
Editing style is different and will be in a future blog post. Editing style is something that I am very passionate about, which is why I feel that topic deserves a separate post.
The three main types are Photojouralism, Classic, and Artistic/Editorial
Most photographers will blend their style between two of these and some will incorporate all three into their flow.
Photojournalism
Photojournalism -the art or practice of communicating news by photographs, especially in magazines.
This style is the art of candid photography that communicates the narrative of the story. There is no prompting from the photographer at all. The photographer is a fly on the wall and just an observer. The art of knowing body language, reading actions and how those actions will cause people to react is an art. The skill of photojournalism comes from immersing yourself in various types of personalities. Good photojournalism requires talent, experience, ability to read people and predict possible outcomes of reactions.
Classic
Classic photography puts emphasis on mastering the art of photography. Lighting, exposure and posing are the fundamentals of classic photography. The elements of master portrait painters carry through into the classic photography. Learning the foundations of how a classic portrait is executed is crucial. You should have a solid understanding of all fundamentals before you break the rules. Therefore classic is the most traditional out of the three. I hate to use the word traditional because I do feel that classic can be modern.
Artistic/Editorial
This wedding style pushes the rules of classic photography, making the ordinary something extraordinary. This is great for those who want something that defies tradition. An editorial image looks more like an ad in a magazine. Many photographers will set up a scene and direct you on what you should do. Learning how to purposely defy the rules, and still execute a beautifully crafted image takes practice, skill and talent.
Define Your Style
With all of this you have to decide what style fits your style.
How do you go about figuring that out? My suggestion is to look around at what items in your life you have already bought.
Are you into fashion and art?
Are you more conservative in your clothing choices?
Have you picked out patterns and loud colors to decorate your home?
Wedding photography styles differ. My wedding photography style is a blend of all of these. I have learned the core fundamentals, and strongly believe there is a time when classic refined portraiture is needed.
Communicate and Ask
In all of my years shooting weddings, I have never come across a couple that didn’t do a formal portrait at all. There has always been a request for at least a couple. In the beginning of planning, I have had some couples say that they were not interested in formal family portraits. When it came down to the day, some relative wanted a formal portrait. You have hired a photographer for that day and you have all your family and friends, why not take advantage of their skill and having everyone in one place.
Without a doubt all photographers today do photojournalism. Documenting the ceremony is the act of photojournalism. The moments during the reception are pretty much solely photojournalism.
TAKE NOTE: If you would like your photographer to take party pics or table shots of your guests please let them know. This is not the practice of all photographers and is falling out of style more and more. I do not always do them if not requested. If I feel my couple is more on the traditional side I instinctively know that I should, but it is not something I always do.
Use Your Photographer as an Example
If you want the editorial and artistic wedding photography styles then make sure you look through your photographers portfolio to let them know what they have done that you like. It is okay to share a few examples from other photographers portfolios but know that they are not your photographer. We all have a different set of eyes and each wedding is different. If you provide an artistic example that was created in the summer on a mountain top and you are getting married in December downtown in a hotel that might not happen. I would still provide it to your photographer with the chance that it is all about technique and less about environment. Be open to the feedback your professional photographer gives you. Ask your photographer how much time will be needed to create an artistic image.
Some artistic editorial images take time to set up and might be better suited for a pre wedding shoot or day after shoot. Curious about those? Check out my post on pre wedding shoots
A really good idea is to chat with a wedding planner if you still feel lost on wedding photography styles. An experienced planner knows several photographers. Most importantly, you can be candid with them on your likes and dislikes. They might be able to help you narrow down a style that fits your particular wedding based on the design you are going after.
Check out Everly Wedding Planning Service
My Wedding Photography Styles
I posted a couple of examples above. If someone were to ask me what is my wedding photography style I would say a blend of all three. I focus on the people and the relationships of the wedding as opposed to the things.
I believe in family formals. They document this period in time and your celebration. Formal family portraits are cherished by family members other than you. By providing these images you are giving your family a gift. It is respectful and a great way to say thank you. I am efficient and able to get a large number of groupings done in a relatively quick time if I prepare with you before hand.
The majority of the wedding for me is photojournalistic. I was a story of what happened. I feel it is my job to explain through photographs the events of the day.
Artistic and editorial imagery is fun, challenging and rewarding. Since these types of images require more prep time I aim for 5 and realistically get 2 or 3 depending on the timeline. If your timeline does not allow for it these might not happen. Most of my artistic images happen out of the blue and somewhat unexpected. Light is the dictator of photography.
