Wedding Photography Styles Explained
Wedding photography is a key part of your big day, creating a lasting record and memento of your very special day. However, when you research wedding photography online or first contact your photographer, you’ll quickly discover that there are many different wedding photography styles.
My post on wedding photography styles is essential for anyone starting their search for the perfect photographer. Take your time finding the right one and bear in mind that this is an area your investment will really pay off.
From reportage to formal photography, here are the different photography styles and jargon you need to know.
1. Black and White Photography
Just like the name suggests, this is photography with no colour, done to achieve a classic and timeless effect. Normally the photos will be taken in colour by the photographer and edited in post-production so you have both options.
My take on it
“Black and white feels very calming, simple, but super effective. It’s where photography started, so that’s where the timeless and classic feel comes in; it’s familiar, and almost old-Hollywood like.”
I tend to produce a selection of B&W photos with every wedding but you will always have the corresponding colour version
2. Contemporary Photography
Contemporary photography is one of the three main styles of photography, alongside traditional and reportage. What it means is the photographer has a modern style which often looks more like a magazine editorial shoot than traditional wedding photography. The style is artistic and creative, using dramatic backdrops, unusual angle and lighting, or focusing on more abstract shots.
If you’re looking for a quirky, creative style of wedding photography, this is ideal. It’s recommended you look through several full wedding albums to make sure you like and understand the photographer’s vision and discuss what you need.
Sometimes you’ll be required to travel away from your venue to a location like a ruin or industrial estate and this can take a lot of time out of your day. While you’ll be left with incredible photos, you need to weigh up how much time you want to spend away from the action of the day.
3. Digital
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make about your photographer is whether they are shooting in digital or with film. Digital is the most popular and common way to shoot wedding photos and has plenty of advantages, including:
Crisp, high-quality photos and prints
Quick turnaround, meaning photos can be back in a matter of days
Better at adjusting to very low-light conditions
Easy to digitally retouch to make your photos look their best
Possible to preview shots as the photographer is taking them to see if any adjustments are needed
Digital negatives are easy to store and won’t fade over time
Unlimited photography as digital has no extra processing fees and camera have a high storage capacity
I don’t use film and don’t really feel it offers anything extra over digital photography
4. Engagement Shoot
Pre-wedding shoots have become quite popular, often as part of, or an add-on to, photography packages. You’ll travel with your photographer to a location and take beautiful couple photos that can be used on save the date cards or your wedding website. An experienced photographer will have scouted out unusual locations for the shoot and may suggest using props or multiple engagement photo outfits.
An engagement shoot is a fantastic opportunity to get to know your photographer, and learn to feel comfortable in front of the camera and taking direction. If there’s anything you discover you don’t like, your photographer will know this for the day. It’s also a great chance to try out some fun engagement photo shoot ideas!
You can add an engagement shoot to any of my wedding packages
5. Formal Photography
Traditional photography captures formal, posed photographs of your day. This used to be the most common type, but now even most traditional photographers will capture candid, reportage-style photos too. A traditional photographer will shoot a standard, almost formulaic set of key points in the day – like signing the register and cutting the wedding cake – as well as taking staged shots of you and your guests.
A traditional photographer will spend time directing you, so it’s worth considering how much time you want to spend away from your guests. This is a great style for anyone looking for editorial style wedding photography.
“It’s normally a bit of an operation, as there will be lots of family members and friends there on the day.”
6. Fun Photography
‘Fun photography’ usually refers to silly or slightly cheesy shots enhanced with editing in post-production. This could be anything from the wedding party jumping in the air to a lightsaber added in with editing software. Whether you want this is a matter of preference; clarify what kind of ‘fun’ shots you’d like to do with your photographer before the big day.
If you like this style of wedding photography, it’s worth asking your wedding photographer if they can do it ahead of booking them, as it’s not something everyone will offer.
I like to do fun shots but it is certainly something you should feel happy about doing and we would discuss this at the pre wedding meeting.
7. Photography Package
Your photography package is the deal you agree with your photographer, which will cover everything from how many hours they’ll shoot on the day to what form the photos will arrive once processed.
A pre-wedding consultation in person or via Skype to meet the photographer
The number of hours of work on the wedding day; could be from the pre-wedding preparations through to the first dance or less dependant on your requirements
Digital download of high-resolution, full-edited digital images from the day (typically around 800-1000, but can vary)
Dedicated online Gallery and a Personal use copyright license
You can get cheaper packages by cutting down on the hours the photographer is working – meaning they also have fewer images to edit. More expensive packages will include a second shooter and extras like a bespoke album of photos.
We like to include a second photographer in most of our packages, so you don’t miss a thing!
8. Portraits
Portraits are close up or full-length photos that focus on one person, or the happy couple. These are often the images that end up going on the wall in your home. On the wedding day, going for a portrait session is chance for the couple to escape from the party and have their first real moments of marriage captured on film.
I like to set aside maybe 20-30 mins on the day to do this.
9. Photojournalistic or Reportage Wedding Photography
Reportage is the common name in the UK for what you might see described as photojournalistic or documentary style wedding photography elsewhere. It’s also one of the most popular wedding photography styles, characterised by natural-looking, non-posed photography that follows the day as it unfolds.
Your photographer will capture the emotions and story of the day, while being unobtrusively part of the action. If you want candid, authentic shots of your day, photojournalism style wedding photography is the style to opt for.
I like to include a mixture of Reportage and Formal coverage of your day, I think if your photographer does not wish to do any formal coverage then you should think hard about whether this would suit you.
10. Sepia/Aged Photography
Sepia tone has been made popular by apps like Instagram. It’s a reddish-brown tint added after your photographs have been taken, giving a warm, retro feeling. If you’re going for vintage style wedding photography, then this could be the effect for you.
I include some sepia toned images in your gallery and if you would like more examples I’m perfectly happy to do some more for you.
How to Choose a Wedding Photography Style?
Being faced with so many different wedding photography styles can seem daunting at first. When choosing your desired wedding photography style, it’s important to consider your own personal likes and dislikes. Check out Pinterest or Instagram as a start.
Another factor to consider is your wedding venue. Make sure the photography style matches your wedding venue well. For example, you can’t expect light and airy photography in a dark barn venue with brick walls and minimum natural light.
Alchemy Photography is based in North Cornwall, we are multi award winning wedding photographers and have photographed over 600 weddings, we also offer Videography and Drone Videography, so there is no need to have multiple teams of vendors at your wedding
