Know Your Wedding Photography Styles
March 12, 2020
Picking a wedding photographer for your big day can be so dang hard. I know, I’ve been there. If you don’t have an idea of what you like or what you’re looking for, it can get overwhelming. There are so many wedding photographer phrases out there, it’s hard to keep track of it all and fully understand what they all mean. I’m writing you today to help you understand what exactly it is that you’re looking for when hiring your wedding photographer.
I’m sure there’s something in mind when you think of your dream wedding photos, but you’re not quite sure where to start or what to look for. That’s why I’ve curated a list of different styles from local photographers here in Minnesota to help you navigate the big world of wedding photography. These are not exactly set standards that we as photographers need to follow, more of descriptive words to use when viewing one’s work. Every photographer’s work can be drastically different from one anothers as we mix different styles together to create something that helps us stand out and sets us apart from everyone else. But oftentimes, the wide variety of choices can leave you feeling like you don’t know what you want. There are just so many adjectives to describe how one’s style looks or feels.
Let’s break it down a little bit. There are two different types of “Style”. There’s editing style, meaning which colors the photos turn out to be, and capturing style, which is more about what goes into taking the photo. A photographer can draw inspiration from many of these different styles and mix them to create their own unique style. I myself, would say my style is Artistic/Creative photojournalism (capturing style) with bold & vibrant, true to life colors (editing style). That’s four of the styles touched on below.
If you like more than one style listed below, great! Try and find a photographer that embodies all or most of those characteristics. I’ve made it easy for you and listed my favorite local photographers of each style blow in hopes to help you find the perfect photographer for you!
Let’s get started!
WARM:
Image by Madison Delaney Photography
A photographer who describes their style as “warm” tend’s to edit their photos to feel that way. Think of a nice warm summer day where the sun is shining and a you feel so much joy. What color comes to mind? Most would say, yellow or orange. Photographers with a “warm” style, edit their photos with a more orange or yellow hue to them to give off that exact feeling of warmth and joy. Cool huh? Their photos tend to be full of emotion and joy, to show just how magical life can be.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Warm” Style.
Madison Delaney Photography
Emily Alexander
The Jeno Collective
MOODY:
Image by Luke Payne Photography
This is the style that gives you all the feels. Photographers who label their style as moody, tend to have a darker editing style, but that’s not always the case. They really just want to achieve making you feel something when viewing their work. Like really feel something. Provoking emotion and really creating a connection with their clients, to be able to capture their most true and vulnerable selfs. This style is one of my favorite styles! “Moody” is a mix of both darker editing, and capturing the photo with intention of documenting emotion and how the subjects/day really felt.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Moody” Style.
Audrey Nicole Photography
Ash & James Photography
Luke Payne
TRUE TO LIFE:
Image by Cameron & Tia
This style is exactly as it sounds. When viewing the image, it feels like you were actually there. All the colors and overall feel of the photo are on point to what you’d see in person. This style of editing is timeless and helps your wedding photos stand the test of time, and won’t go “off trend”. To me, true to life color will always be on trend. Everything from skin tone, to the color of the grass is exactly as it is meant to be. Nothing is altered drastically and is a great way to relive your photos and remember what it was like to actually be there. Something I strive to achieve in my work!
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “True To life” Style.
Cameron & Tia
Des Jardins Studio
Scherer Photo Co.
VIBRANT:
Image by Tessa June Photography
This style of editing and the last, go hand in hand. Vibrant photos are almost always true to life, but true to life doesn’t have to be vibrant. To qualify as “vibrant” the colors are more punchy and bold, and the overall feel of the photos have joy and life to them. This style tends to have more contrast and saturation to the colors than true to life, which gives the photos that factor that sets it apart.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Vibrant” Style.
Cameron & Tia
Tessa June Photography
Bauer Creative
LIGHT & AIRY:
Image by Trish Allison Photography
This style is like a breath of fresh air. It’s soft, dreamy, crisp and overall leaves you wanting more. When done right, your photos should be clean, clear and not be over exposed. This style is very elegant and refined and definitely has a high end feel to it. The color pallet is soft, and more often than not true to life. Light and Airy editing is absolutely breathtaking and I for one, am a huge fan.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Light & Airy” Style.
Claire Murray Photography
Trish Allison Photography
EDITORIAL / FINE ART:
Image by Kendra Denault Photography
To me, Editorial and Fine Art go hand in hand because this is the style I think of when I look through a magazine. Fine art photography has a wide spectrum of what is labeled as “fine art”. Every moment and every photo taken is thought out carefully and is turned into a piece of art that you’d be proud to hang on your wall. Every detail of the day is documented so beautifully it seems so effortless. Fine Art can also include a lot of photoshopping to create a stand alone image, but that’s not always the case for fine art photography. Fine Art can be “light & Airy” “Bold & dramatic” “moody” “true to life” but what makes it stand out, is its ability to wow you enough to make you want to frame it and put it on your wall. Even the photos of the details.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Editorial / Fine Art” Style.
Kendra Denault
Shane Long Photography
Ali Leigh
PHOTOJOURNALISM / CANDID:
Image by Natalie Jennings Photo
This is the style that got me all excited about starting wedding photography. There’s no BS, no fuss, no stress. Just authentically capturing the day as it unfolds. Finding all the quirky moments that make your day so unique and you. To be able to document the day photojournalisticly takes more skill than you think. Having that creative edge and artistic eye, the photographer will be able to get different and artistic angels to help tell the story differently than in you were just taking snapshots. The majority of the photos you will get are candid, and a true representation of what when down on your wedding day.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Photojournalism” Style.
Natalie Jennings Photo
Bradley Hanson
Geneoh
ADVENTUROUS:
Image by Narrowleaf Photography
This style is definitely has more of a capturing style than an editing style. Adventure photographers can have any color style to them, and still be fun, carefree and adventurous. These are typically the photographers you hire to photograph your elopement or intimate wedding. These photographers are always down for hiking up mountains, trekking over glaciers, running with the rivers and chasing waterfalls. To be able to capture both the incredible view and an adorable couple having the times of their lives takes some serious talent. There’s a very small selection of adventure photographers here in the midwest as there’s no mountains or dramatic landscapes, but with the right photographer, they will know all the good local spots that’ll definitely take you on an adventure.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Adventurous” Style.
Narrowleaf Photography
Beyond The Pines Photo + Video
Luke Payne
ARTISTIC / CREATIVE :
Artistic portraiture is something close to my heart. This is what can take your wedding photography a set above the rest, by offering a creative twist to your typical gallery. Now, not all the photos you get in your gallery will have this creative & artistic twist, but you can count on a good amount of them to be eye catching and creative. Creative / Artistic photographers use things like creative composition, double exposures, prisms, and tilt shift lenses to create unique imagery, often in camera depending on the camera’s capability. If the photographer is unable to produce the effect desired in camera, they will take to photoshop to create images with the same sort of effects. This is a style I adore and incorporate into my own work.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Artistic” Style.
Brianna Lane Photography
Clewell Photography
Adrian Stein Photography
EARTHY / DESATURATED:
Image by Type & Timber Photography
The Earthy/ desaturated style is very similar to the moody editing, I like to see them as different. Earthy or desaturated styles have more to do with the coloring than how bright or dark the editing is. Desaturated and Earthy tend to be moody, but moody doesn’t tend to be earthy/desaturated. All desaturated means is that the colors have been muted, not drastically, but enough to not look like it does in person.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Earthy / Desaturated” Style.
Type & Timber
Render Photography
FASHION:
Image by Lena Lakoma Photo
This style of capturing the wedding day is unlike any other. It’s a mix of editorial, traditional, and fine art, but with a big emphasis on high-end fashion and details surrounding the day. You will feel like a supermodel at the end of your wedding day and will have photos that should be the cover of a magazine.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Fashion” Style.
Lena Lakoma
Vick Photography
TRADITIONAL:
Image by Mckeehen Photography
This is probably the style you first think of when you think of wedding photography. The traditionalist is one who like to keep things clean and classic. They’re known for using off camera lighting setups to make sure everything is well light and pristine posing to make sure you look your best. Family portraits, bride & groom portraits, bridal party, cake cutting and any other key photo moments tend to be set up or posed and have been thoroughly thought out to make sure they have the best lighting available to make sure not a moment or smile is missed. This style of capturing the wedding day is very classic and tends to be edited true to life. If you’re not one for posing or feel awkward infront of the camera, this may not be the style for you.
Some of my favorite local photographers who have this “Traditional” Style.
Judd Sauther
Mckeehen Photography
As you can see, there are a lot of styles and a lot of photographers to choose from. But if you’re able to narrow down what style you want for your wedding photos, it’ll be much easier to narrow it down and find the perfect photographer for you! Let me know down below, what’s your favorite style of wedding photography??
March 23rd, 2020 at 2:12 pm
This is so much wonderful information for couples hunting for the perfect person. I love how one photographer can also fit in multiple categories.
March 23rd, 2020 at 2:27 pm
This was such a great blog! It’s super easy to get confused sometimes on what means what! So many different ways people shoot and edit 🙂
March 23rd, 2020 at 3:44 pm
This is such a great post! I love all the information, it really helps put a pin point on what all of these photography mumbo-jumbo terms mean, ha! My favorite styles are true to life, light & airy, and adventure! Thanks again!
March 25th, 2020 at 10:14 am
All of those photography styles bring me back to what I absolutely love…it’s so important to choose the right person to photograph your own….great tips for every bride to look through!
June 19th, 2021 at 11:02 pm
Thank you for sharing this. It’s very helpful and I love how you did a breakdown of each category and the examples.
August 18th, 2021 at 11:07 pm
I loved this! Well-written, great links, and Very handy for explaining some of the different styles to someone.
September 6th, 2021 at 6:51 pm
I am really loving the earthy/desaurated look, but i hate to switch over to it as I got redo my entire photo collection. So much work haha. Anyone has recommendation what preset was used for it?
January 18th, 2022 at 7:56 am
This is actually so helpful! Even as a photographer I didn’t realize there could be so many more styles!
October 31st, 2024 at 6:30 am
I love how you capture the beauty of ordinary moments so effortlessly
December 18th, 2024 at 9:29 am
This post was a treasure trove of knowledge! Your ability to break down complex ideas into clear, actionable insights is truly impressive.