If you’ve never planned a wedding before it can be overwhelming. There are many different suppliers and components to planning a successful day, and often there are a lot of different styles to choose from. It can be tricky to navigate. I’m going to help break down a few different photography styles and things you might want to consider when choosing the best photographer to document your day.
Go into your search for a photographer, and really any supplier, not with money at the forefront (I know that’s often easier said than done) but with the notion that these photographs are going to last you for the rest of your life. Bear in mind that if you choose to expand your family, these will serve as part of your legacy for generations to come. Moments turn into memories, and what better way to remember big moments in your life than through well-documented photographs. Can you think of a moment that you only remembered because you’ve seen photographs to remind you? Yup, me too! This is why we do what we do.
Here is a brief breakdown of different photography styles and approaches to make your search a little easier. After reading this you’ll start to see a difference when looking at photography websites, no longer will they all look the same leaving you with 42 tabs open and paralyzed by choice. Let’s get into it!
P. S. – Drink every time I say approach! (But please don’t, it’s a lot.)
1. Editing Style
Ever wondered why some photographs look all light and bright and others dark and moody? I’m here to break it down for you! This is what we call editing style and every photographer edits their images differently. However, most editing styles slot into one of a few different genres. Editing style plays a huge role in the final photographs. Here are some different looks you may want to consider:
Light + Airy
Also known as ‘fine art’. If you google either term, you’ll pull up lots of examples of brightly exposed pastel coloured images. This style is based on the photography film tones of Fuji + Portra, these are commonly sought after looks. Many light + airy photographers are either fully film or hybrid – meaning they shoot both digital and film together. Of course, not every photographer will offer this, but it’s definitely something to look out for if that’s what you’re after!
Here’s a great example of a light and airy photographer (who happens to have been my wedding photographer, HIGHLY recommend!) suzanneliphotography.co.uk
Dark + Moody
On the opposite end of the spectrum is this moody, underexposed, and shadow embracing style. To me, this style is perfect for dramatic landscapes like Scotland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. It can also be described as being romantic, serene and thoughtful – so if that’s the kind of wedding you’re going for this might be the style for you!
The Kitcheners (based in Scotland) have nailed this look thekitcheners.com This might be a hard look to achieve if you’re getting married somewhere very sunny though.
True to life
If you want your wedding photographs to be an absolute reflection of the day then you might want to look for someone whose work is very true to life. This can mean taking the bad with the good though! If it was a dark, dull day then your photos may reflect that. A good example of a true to life photographer is Ian Weldon – though this style is not for everyone!
Vibrant + Punchy
Bright, colourful, cheerful – some people prefer muted tones, and others, don’t! If this is your jam, try searching for words like vibrant, fun or colourful wedding photographers + your location
How To Tell?
A good way to check photographers editing style is to look at the colour of the grass in their images, does it look like grass? Then they edit true to life. If it looks quite mint coloured then they desaturate their colours to make everything look a little more even (light + airy). If it looks browner than it should then they probably add warmth to their images to make everything look warmer/moodier (dark + moody) .
2. Approach
By this, I mean the way that a photographer shoots. Are they a fly on the wall or do they take control. A photographer’s approach to a wedding day is just as important as their editing style. Here are some different approach styles.
Classic/Editorial
A more poised and stylised way of shooting. Typically a more formal approach to the day (which doesn’t always mean stiff!) – this style might be handy for those who like everything just right and more direction on how to stand or pose!
Documentary/Storytelling/Journalistic
This is how I best describe my own style; less formal, more fly on the wall, natural, and candid. Some photographers go completely journalistic – meaning they don’t interfere with the day at all, and only capture things as and when they happen (see Ian Weldon, as above). Others, like myself, will step in to give some light direction or fix a flyaway hair or two, and thus a little bit more of a hands-on-hands-off approach.
Alternative
Sometimes I use this to describe my style, as I wouldn’t say that I’m completely ‘timeless’ or fully hands-off ‘documentary’. Truly, it’s a way to let potential clients know that this photographer does the opposite of the traditional or the norm, and is not who you should seek out if you want stylized posing.
3. Method
Hands-on vs Hands-off, and somewhere in between.
For myself, I’m hands-on; I genuinely like my couples, I want to know the plans for the day (so that I know what to expect, surprises are not as exciting to me for what I do on the day!) and get a good relationship going. My best work comes out when my couples have trust in me and are relaxed while I’m shooting. I also like to give any helpful tips when building the timeline – I’ve been to enough weddings to know that an hour for portraits, groups, impromptu photoshoots, candids, getting the details AND travelling to/from a different ceremony location, just will.not.work.
For others, the hands-off approach suits them and their clients best, and this is something to chat with your photographer about. You may want them as involved, or uninvolved as possible, and they may want the opposite! Making sure you’re on the same page as your photographer will make everything easier and smoother!
How to find YOUR perfect photographer…
Some keywords to search for – add photographer to the end of your search, along with your location (or not if you want to cast a very wide net);
Timeless, classic, light and airy, dark and moody, documentary, alternative, edgy, bright, fun, colourful, relaxed, unposed, storytelling, romantic, adventure, elopement, intimate {+ wedding photographer + location}.
Just remember: look around! Look at many different photographers and their work, ask them questions. Each photographer is their own artist, with their own approach that suits them best. The above is a guideline, and not a rule – there’s photographers who fit in the above categories, and many in-between/mixing much of the above together. Understanding a wide range of styles is the best way to narrow down and hone in on what you love most. Start a Pinterest board and pin images you’re drawn to – see any correlation between them? That’s the style you love and should seek out!
If you’re still reading, the approach tally is: 10
Not as bad as I thought, unless you have a penchant for shots.
So if you’re searching for wedding photographers GTA then hopefully the above will help you on your search! Or, ya know, you could just start here.
For more resources on how to find wedding suppliers, check out my other blogs here.
