written by
Lee Hawley

9 Wedding Photography Styles To Consider for Your Big Day

Wedding Photography 7 min read
wedding photography
There are many different styles of wedding photography to consider.

Everyone knows how important it is to get the right wedding photographer but did you know there are many different styles of wedding photography to choose from as well? When it comes to your special day, you and your partner will want to choose a style of photography that best reflects your personalities and the love you have for each other.

Wedding photography is an extremely broad genre and each photographer has their own signature style. Different styles can also fuse together to give rise to completely different styles. With so many different styles of photography available it can be difficult making a decision.

It’s a good idea to look through different photographer’s portfolios to begin with. This will give you a feel for the different styles to see which one speaks to you as a couple. It’s also important to meet with your prospective wedding photographers in order to find one who can make you feel comfortable. You want someone who will capture you in your best light and give you as much or as little direction as you need.

In this handy guide we explore various different genres of wedding photography to help you find the right style for you.

1. Traditional Wedding Photography

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A more traditional style of wedding photography.

Traditional wedding shots are the ones in which people pose. There are lots of couple shots, family photos, photos of the first kiss, cutting the cake, and so on. This elegant and more formal style of wedding photography is the kind you’ll have seen in you parents’ and grandparents’ wedding albums. Most photographers start learning wedding photography by exploring this style. Finding someone suitable for your big day therefore shouldn’t be difficult.

In order to get these traditional shots, it is important for the photographer to direct people and to make them pose for photographs. Therefore, both the wedding party and the photographer must be comfortable with the idea of the photographer being in charge. Although posed shots are a given with this style, traditional wedding photography also allows the photographer to capture candid moments.

2. Portraiture Wedding Photography

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Portraiture wedding photography can also be quite traditional.

Portraiture can also fall under the more traditional wedding photography heading as subjects are directed to pose for the camera.

Portrait wedding photography provides some of the best photographs. It can be photos of the blushing bride or the happy couple on the wedding day. The most significant advantage of portrait photography is how well it can capture emotions. Key moments include photos of the bride after she has put her makeup on. Once the couple gets dressed for the wedding, they can privately pose for the photo shoot. They can also include their parents. Portrait photography can also capture the first candid moments after tying the knot.

A lot of couples these days are opting for the more traditional style of wedding photography in addition to more creative styles.

2. Documentary-Style Wedding Photography

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Documentary-style wedding photography is gaining popularity.

Some people prefer their wedding photos to be more relaxed and natural. The documentary style of photography embraces the personal, unique nature of weddings. It is the job of the wedding photographer to blend into the background in order to capture the smaller, spontaneous and organic moments of the day. The photographs should tell a story of the wedding as it unfolds.

This style of photography lends itself well to capturing more genuine emotions that cannot be conveyed as well through more traditional posed photographs. It is becoming a more and more popular option for those looking for less direction from the wedding photographer and subsequently less forced photos.

4. Contemporary Wedding Photography

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Contemporary wedding photography can be a lot more fun and relaxed.

The contemporary style of wedding photography is a very broad genre in itself and the different categories within it can also overlap. You will not see any posed, line-up style shots with this style. This category is about utilising the setting, unique personalities of the bride and groom and the specialist style of the photographer in order to create fun, quirky, striking or artistic shots.

This style celebrates the uniqueness of each wedding and allows for the unexpected. A photographer specialising in this genre will be able to make the best of whatever lighting, composition or situation is thrown at them.

If you and your partner are after something a bit more relaxed with a touch of creativity, then one of the more contemporary photography styles could work well for you.

5. Creative/Artistic Wedding Photography

The more creative wedding photographer may play with colour, light and shadow.

If you’re happy to let the photographer guide you in order to capture more unique, fun and varied shots then this style could work well for you. This is a very informal photography style.

Your wedding photographer may have their own signature style and will use artistic angles or compositions. They may also play with colour, light and shadow to create a range of shots that evoke different emotions.

They will use the setting to their advantage whether it’s a beautiful sunset scene or a muddy field! Picture bridesmaids jumping for the bouquet or the bride and groom running through a corn field.

6. Black and White Photography

Black and white wedding photography creates a timeless feel.

This is a great way to capture timeless photographs. Black and white photographs can be classy, sophisticated, and have implicit minimalism. Even though most people prefer colour images, sometimes the lack of it is just what you need to capture the true emotion of the moment. That being said, it is a matter of preference. Monochromatic images allow the composition to be in focus. The photos can really stand out by using mixed lighting conditions. Often, removing the colour takes away any distraction from the photograph and draws the viewer’s attention to the composition, the emotion, and the moment when the photo was taken.

Many couples will go for a colour photography style as their primary option but request a few special black and white images as well.

7. Natural Wedding Photography

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Natural wedding photography makes use of natural light.

Natural wedding photography, as the name implies, makes use of natural light to capture the photos. Use of artificial light such as camera flashes is restricted. This gives the photos a more natural look. But often, the time a photographer can spend taking the photographs is severely restricted by weather conditions (after all, this is the UK!). The best time to take photos using natural light is during sunrise or right before the sunset. During this time, the light is soft and provides ample illumination. This reduces harsh shadows and gives clean and detailed photographs.

8. Vintage Wedding Photography

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Vintage style wedding photos have an old world charm.

With the rise of vintage photo filters, a lot of people are now opting for photos that have an old world charm. A lot of programs can now accurately simulate the look of a photograph taken on a film, appealing to a lot of people with old souls. The old and timeless colour grading can evoke a sense of nostalgia. That is why, even in daily life, we tend to use filters to turn mundane photos into artistic content.

9. Fine art photography

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Fine art wedding photography creates a timeless and romantic effect.

Fine art wedding photography can be defined by its soft focus and creative use of light. It creates a timeless and romantic effect that will stand the test of time.

A fine art wedding photographer will pay attention to every little detail and capture you in the most favourable way possible.

This photography style requires quite a lot of direction from the photographer. It's a good option if you want flattering, dream like and heartwarming images .

Which Style of Wedding Photography is Right for You?

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Choose a photography style that best reflects your personalities and the love you have for each other.

Wedding photos are an essential part of your big day. You want something special to look back on after the excitement of the day itself has faded. It’s important therefore to find a style of wedding photography that suits you as a couple.

Lee Hawley is one of the most reputable wedding photographers in the UK. He will help you create the perfect wedding photos for your special day. Get in touch to see how he can help you.

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