You have chosen your date, you have reserved your place and you have started buying dresses. You are now looking for a wedding photographer. There are many styles of wedding photography, and although people in the industry may know these styles from the inside out, they can be confusing for couples. Also remember that you are not only choosing a style of photography, but different types of wedding photography can make your time on the wedding day different.
Choosing the style of photography you want at your wedding comes down to three things. What style of images do you want, how much time do you want to spend with a photographer on your wedding day, and most importantly, your own personality and comfort in front of the camera.
There are many different photography buzzwords. Vintage, editorial, artistic or contemporary are just a few. Perhaps more confusingly, they are used by different photographers in different ways. Ultimately, it is up to couples to ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research before choosing a photographer, and rely on seeing a full set of completed wedding photos. Don’t rely on the best five or six shots from various weddings to make up your mind. .
Wedding photography styles are a compromise between producing fantastic work and sticking to a schedule. A photographer can produce brilliant photos, but if it takes too long to produce them, you will probably not enjoy the experience.
Traditional wedding photography (or posada)
Many people think of traditional wedding photography as endless sweltering group photos where everyone looks stiff as a board. Worse still, the different collections of people seem to last forever. I think there is a fad in traditional wedding photography, but the actual framework remains the same for most wedding photographers. The photographs may be more elegant, but the actual experience of the day for the bride and groom is very similar.
There is always a trade-off between the type of work a photographer does and the time it takes to photograph him. Photos of more formal poses will take longer to set up and achieve. Any photographer producing posed artwork will need a certain amount of time to produce their best work. It is important that you find out how long it will take and find out how it will fit into your day. There are photographers who dedicate a couple of hours to formal shots. Make sure you are happy to put in that amount of time on your wedding day. If you are not as comfortable in front of the camera, you may find this type of photography more difficult. A good photographer should be able to help and reassure you, but for many people it can still seem a bit overwhelming.
Wedding Photography Report (Wedding Photojournalism)
If posed photography is traditional, then reportage wedding photography is the complete opposite. It’s based on capturing moments as they happen, and it’s more like a documentary about the fly on the wall. This form of wedding photography means that the photographer spends most of their time in the background, which is why it has become increasingly popular with couples. Weddings are also becoming less formal than they used to be. Documentary wedding photography requires a different skill set than traditional wedding photography, so you need to make sure your photographer has the correct photographic background and can show you entire weddings to support this. Wedding photojournalism is more about a complete set of all-day images than a set of a dozen highlights. There are photographers who jump on the latest train to win business, but they still use the same old style. Wedding photojournalism is all about anticipation and being in the right place at the right time. It’s not about directing people closely, which is why it places many traditional wedding photographers outside of your skill set. There are some less ethical photographers who will use the latest buzzwords to improve their search engine presence, but will still take the same tired old photos.
If you are reluctant to have your photo taken, wedding photojournalism is probably your best option. Photography happens without you noticing and you will see yourself in the best natural way.
Although these two approaches may seem like polar opposites, in reality most wedding photographers will offer a combination of these two styles. There aren’t many wedding photojournalists who don’t take at least a few formal photos and traditional wedding photographers will take informal photos as well. Find out what proportion of each one a photographer likes to photograph and, better yet, ask them what they like to photograph the most; this is probably what they do best.
Vintage Wedding Photography
Vintage wedding photography is a style that has come into vogue recently, but in many ways it is difficult to quantify. Vintage can mean anything from using vintage film cameras for part of the wedding to a different approach to post-production to produce ‘vintage’ looking digital files. There are some great photographers out there, but keep in mind that if you receive files that are heavily edited in a certain style, you run the risk of your photos looking pretty dated a few years later. If I were hiring a vintage style photographer I personally would want at least a portion of the wedding shot on film, I am not a huge fan of fakes. As always, ask questions, see examples, and make an informed decision.
Editorial wedding photography
This wedding genre is inspired by fashion magazine fashion editorials, at best it can produce fantastic high-end images. To produce this successfully on the wedding day, the photographer must be very organized and will probably need an assistant to help set up some of the shots in advance, although that would depend on his style. Do your research to make sure the time requirements for this type of shoot fit in with your plans. If you really like this type of photography but don’t want to spend too much time on it on your wedding day, consider booking a separate photo session after the wedding. Often described as trash or appreciating the dress shoot, a separate photoshoot could be the best way to get the wedding day you want and the photos you will love without wasting a big chunk of your wedding day. It also means that you and your photographer can choose the ideal time of day for the right light and have the ability to reschedule if it’s pouring rain. In many countries, particularly the US, high-end wedding photography is evolving into three shots: the engagement session, the wedding day, and an editorial session. Don’t necessarily think that everything has to be done in one day.
Fine art or artistic wedding photography
Essentially an evolution of traditional wedding photography, this type of photography offers a contemporary take on the traditional set of posed photographs, although these are two terms that have been a bit overused by the photographic community, so do your research again. At best, this genre can produce romantic moving images, but some photographers may use the same poses excessively, so it can feel a bit impersonal. Ask to see many sessions, and don’t be afraid to bring your own ideas to your pre-wedding gathering.
Conclusions
There are many styles of photographers, but the main thing is to look beyond the catchy buzzwords and look closely at the portfolios. Ultimately, what really matters is the competence of the photographer you are hiring. Experience, personalized service and professionalism are what guarantee a constant standard of photography from wedding to wedding, and the consistency and ability to deal with the different filming conditions that are presented throughout the wedding day. Your portfolio should show a good balance of shots from the wedding preparations to the first dance. Ask questions about how long they’ll need to complete all those important dating and formal shots, and find out how much time you’re happy to put in. Even with more observational styles, pre-wedding planning and communication is vital to getting the best results and getting them efficiently. Follow the guidelines and you are sure to have a memorable wedding day with matching photos.
