How to Choose your Style of Wedding Photography
So you're searching for a wedding photographer and you keep encountering descriptions like "documentary-style, editorial, fine art, light & airy, dark & moody" etc. ... but you aren't quite sure what they all mean and how to tell the difference between them?
Well look no further - here is your guide to help you decipher between photography styles and decide which one is right for you!
Documentary, Editorial, Light & Airy, Dark & Moody - What does it all mean & what is the difference?
Posing versus Editing Styles
First, there are two different things that photographers typically describe - their posing style and their editing style. Posing style describes a large portion of the client experience on the day-of and how much direction you're being given. Editing style describes the post-production aspect of the job when your photographer is actually editing photos to display colors, light, and any other important aspects of the day.
Notice that there is a certain amount of overlap - things like "fine art wedding photography" typically describes someone who is both editorial & true to color (more to come about what these actually mean). It's also important to note that not every photographer (or potential client) will define everything exactly the same way. Since this is an art, there is always a certain amount of subjectivity so asking potential photographers to describe their style and tell you what it means to them is an important step in finding the right fit for you!
Posing Styles - Documentary vs Editorial
When describing posing styles, most methods fall under two main categories - Documentary and Editorial which can otherwise be called Unposed and Posed.
While it may seem obvious what the difference between the two style is when it's laid out like this - it can be pretty difficult to see the difference when looking at a photographer's portfolio. Why is that? Because the vast majority of photographers use both styles throughout an entire wedding-day! Moments that are specifically about taking photos (i.e. family & couples portraits) are going to be where the biggest difference in client experience is. But moments like the ceremony & dancing during the reception are almost always going to be more of a documentary-style photography because that is just the nature of those points in a wedding! It would be incredibly inappropriate for a photographer to interrupt a ceremony in order to take the "perfect" photo so most of us (myself included) capture those moments exactly as they unfold.
How do you know which is right for you?
When trying to decide what style photography you want on your special day - imagine yourself during couples portraits. Do you want to spend a short amount of time doing them & have the freedom to move around and be free? Or do you prefer to spend a little more time getting the perfect pose? There is no right or wrong answer & there is also a middle ground if you want the best of both worlds!
How I describe my own Posing Style
I describe my own style as "Documentary meets Editorial" meaning that I see the beauty in both styles & want you to have artful portraits and all of the little in-between moments from your special day too. During couples portraits, we go with the flow of the day and relax into the authentic feelings of the day. If you guys are full of energy - we will do candid photos that feed off of you! Maybe I'll ask you to dance around...maybe a little lift moment if everyone is comfortable?? Alternately, if you both are calm and feeling the intimacy of the day, we may do a more posed session that gives you the time to be still & breathe together. Every wedding is different because every couple is different and I want you to have a experience that is custom-tailored to you.
I know when you take a step back and blend into the background, allowing you to fully experience your special day with your loved ones. I also know when to step in and provide direction to help your day run as smoothly & seamlessly as possible!
Editing styles - Light & Airy, True to Color, and Dark & Moody
After everything is said and done (and you are enjoying newlywed bliss) is when post-processing begins! This is when your unedited photos are backed-up, culled (photo selection) and then edited and delivered to you! This is when those other adjectives come into the mix - like "light & airy, true to color, and dark & moody" to name the most popular buzz-words. Similar to posing styles, these words will mean something slightly different to everyone and you should be sure to ask everything photographer questions about how they use them.
Once you've decided on the posing style you like, the next thing to consider are the colors that & light you like! There are three main camps - light & airy, true to color, and dark & moody - with lots of middle ground in between all of them!
I consider myself mostly true to color & balanced, with a lean towards the light & airy side of things since I prefer sunshine! However, my ultimate preference is to represent your day as authentically as possible so if it's a cloudy, overcast day - you'll see that in the photos!
White Balance - Warm, True to Color & Cool
The last component of all of this is a photographers white balance - which describes whether whites lean towards the warm side or the cool side! This does not mean that anything white will suddenly be yellow or blue - it is a gentle hue/balance that will effect the overall tone of the photo. You will see this mainly in how florals, skies, and skin tones edit and most importantly, you will feel this in your photos.
I consider myself to be mostly true to color while leaning towards the warm side - meaning that I want your photos to be both authentic and nostalgic with that same warm, fuzzy feeling that you had in the moment!
Overlap between all of these categories
Almost every photographer I know takes elements from every type of photography and crafts their own unique style & approach. With that, every wedding day & couple are unique and will have unique interactions with their wedding photographer that lead to a different artistic take to the photos.
I consider it impossible to find a photographer that is truly 100% only one style - so try not to get too bogged down in the details like this one. Find photographers whose portfolio you like and then meet them to see who feels like the right fit for you!
Sending them inspiration photos, especially ones of their own work will also help your photographer get to know your style & how to best bring your vision to life!
Other important aspects to a wedding photographer's style
Black & White photos
B&W photos are often among my favorites in all of my galleries. The raw emotion of the moment is so tangible when you are no longer distracted by any color in the image. Do the potential photographer's you are looking at have any B&W photos posted that you can see? Looking at the B&W is a great way to get a sense of how this person captures emotion.
Check out this color vs B&W below to see how much differently the B&W captures the emotion of the moment!
Film photography, digital, and hybrid photography
Most wedding photography is done digitally, on top-of-the-line gear designed for tack-sharp focus and the ability to manipulate things later in post-processing. However, film photography has recently made a resurgence into the realm of wedding photography, with clients desiring authenticity that simply cannot be replicated digitally. For this reason, many photographer now consider themselves "hybrid" meaning that they shoot both digital & film cameras during weddings so that clients can have the best of both worlds!
I am currently working on adding film photography into my own workflow so check back soon to see if I've made the transition from digital to hybrid photographer yet!
Aerial & Drone Photography
While it would be impractical to photograph an entire wedding via drone, having some small amount of aerial photography is a creative & unique perspective to have on your day if possible! Please note that drones are not allowed everywhere and some places may require certain permitting. Please inquire with your photographer for more details on how feasible this is for your day!
I am also currently working on incorporating drone photography into my packages so check back soon to see if aerial photos will be possible when we work together!
Conclusions
It's difficult to choose your wedding photographer & to know if you are making the right decision for yourself! Having a little bit of knowledge about how wedding photographers generally describe themselves & their work will empower you to make an informed decision.
Remember the three important aspects discussed above and ask yourselves where you fall:
How much posing & direction do I want during my wedding?
How bright (or dark) do I want my photos to be?
How warm (or cool) do I want my photos to be?
Also remember that is subjectivity & overlap to all of these definitions, ideas, and use-cases. Meeting either in person or via Zoom with your potential photographers and asking specific questions regarding all of this will help you gauge whether or not you will be the right fit!