Simplified, wedding photography can be divided into 3 types. We have defined them for you below:
Traditional or Classic Wedding Photography
This is the type of photography that would normally come to mind when you think "wedding pictures". It consists of posed group photos and portraits and for the most part is worked like a script...the same at every wedding. These are the types of photos that hang above the fireplace or sit atop the mantle. However, this type of photography stands the test of time and will be pictures that you are happy with today as well as 10 and 20 years from now.
Photojournalistic Wedding Photography
This type of photography is big right now and if executed properly will do like it's name claims and record the "story" of your wedding day. The photographer will stand in the background and capture images throughout the day, with possibly no posed photos at all. At the end of it all, you will have a wonderful storybook of your happy day. Though it may seem more dramatic, avoid shooting in black and white because you can ALWAYS make color photos into black and white shots but you cannot take a picture shot in black and white and add color. These, for the most part are not the type of pictures that your parents and grandparents will frame and display of you. If you are okay with the lack of formal images and trust in your photographers judgement of what is a good and not good moment to capture then this type of photography can be beautiful.
Contemporary or Fashion Wedding Photography
This type of photography is more difficult to define because it can mean many different things to different photographers and couples. Trends change in fashion just like they do in photography and that being said, it is possible that your trendy pictures may not stand the test of time and be pictures that you like in 10 or 20 years. These are pictures that win awards and look like they come from magazines because of the ideal lighting and settings that are most of the time involved. The downside is that these photos may not provide an accurate record of your wedding day as much as they will a stunning snapshot.
This is the type of photography that would normally come to mind when you think "wedding pictures". It consists of posed group photos and portraits and for the most part is worked like a script...the same at every wedding. These are the types of photos that hang above the fireplace or sit atop the mantle. However, this type of photography stands the test of time and will be pictures that you are happy with today as well as 10 and 20 years from now.
Photojournalistic Wedding Photography
This type of photography is big right now and if executed properly will do like it's name claims and record the "story" of your wedding day. The photographer will stand in the background and capture images throughout the day, with possibly no posed photos at all. At the end of it all, you will have a wonderful storybook of your happy day. Though it may seem more dramatic, avoid shooting in black and white because you can ALWAYS make color photos into black and white shots but you cannot take a picture shot in black and white and add color. These, for the most part are not the type of pictures that your parents and grandparents will frame and display of you. If you are okay with the lack of formal images and trust in your photographers judgement of what is a good and not good moment to capture then this type of photography can be beautiful.
Contemporary or Fashion Wedding Photography
This type of photography is more difficult to define because it can mean many different things to different photographers and couples. Trends change in fashion just like they do in photography and that being said, it is possible that your trendy pictures may not stand the test of time and be pictures that you like in 10 or 20 years. These are pictures that win awards and look like they come from magazines because of the ideal lighting and settings that are most of the time involved. The downside is that these photos may not provide an accurate record of your wedding day as much as they will a stunning snapshot.
So what is the solution? What kind of photographer should you choose? Ultimately, your photographer should be a person that you trust and that you feel CLEARLY understands your vision and expectations regarding the outcome of your wedding photos. A good photographer should be able to capture images in all three of the ways mentioned above if that is what you would like. Maybe you want a little of each...fashion photography for your engagement shoot, traditional for your ceremony and journalistic for the reception. It doesn't matter what is trendy or what your grandparents expect or what former brides are raving and ranting about on The Knot discussion boards! You know what you are looking for in your wedding photos and if you feel like you have found a photographer who understands what you want then your pictures should turn out just like you dreamed they would!
We are lucky enough to have 2 former brides as well as 2 future brides share with us their photography hopes and dreams as well as sucesses and regrets. Read on to learn more!
Tristin is a bride to be and she and her fiance make a great point in what they shared with us regarding their search for the perfect photographer! [They don't have their engagement photos yet, but check out that proposal candid below :)]
"What we required, when looking for a photographer, was professional with alot of prior experience. And that they brought another photographer with them so we don;t miss any of the imortant shots. We also required that they do Engagement Sessions, because we wanted to use the Engagement Session to get comfortable with the photographer so our wedding shots would be more natural."
Ana also shared her photographer must haves with us for her future wedding. She had some specific things that she wanted and if you do too...do not be afraid to ask for what you want and ask and ask until you find someone who can do it (and you will!)!
"The first and most important thing we decided when picking the photographer was finding someone who had a similar personality; Someone we felt we could get along with and carry a conversation with. We knew that this photographer would not only be taking some of the most important pictures of our life, but would be a major part of our special day, so it was extremely important to find someone who we got along with and felt comfortable sharing our special day with. [We AGREE TOO, Ana!]
Another major "must have" for us was having a photographer who would bring a second shooter. Since I can remember from weddings, everyone always looks at the bride when she walks down the aisle, but I always looked to see the groom's face. Seeing that happiness spread as he's seeing his bride for the first time - Their eyes and smile is genuine and pure. So when it came time for our wedding, we not only wanted to capture my face as I walked down the aisle, but my fiance's face as he saw me for the very first time. [Again, we agree...this is shot is PRICELESS and requires a second shooter if it is one that you want captured professionally.]
The third "must have" for us was flexibility, creativity and patience. We wanted to find a photographer who would be willing to take whatever shots came into our and their heads and would always be willing to try something new. We wanted to have our dog in our engagement shots, so we really wanted to find someone who was flexible and ok with working with our very hyper dog. Also, neither of us are used to having a ton of photos taken, so we needed someone who would be patient with us and help us feel more comfortable while taking photos. All in all, our main goal was to find someone who could capture our happiness and love through photography on our special day!"
Another major "must have" for us was having a photographer who would bring a second shooter. Since I can remember from weddings, everyone always looks at the bride when she walks down the aisle, but I always looked to see the groom's face. Seeing that happiness spread as he's seeing his bride for the first time - Their eyes and smile is genuine and pure. So when it came time for our wedding, we not only wanted to capture my face as I walked down the aisle, but my fiance's face as he saw me for the very first time. [Again, we agree...this is shot is PRICELESS and requires a second shooter if it is one that you want captured professionally.]
The third "must have" for us was flexibility, creativity and patience. We wanted to find a photographer who would be willing to take whatever shots came into our and their heads and would always be willing to try something new. We wanted to have our dog in our engagement shots, so we really wanted to find someone who was flexible and ok with working with our very hyper dog. Also, neither of us are used to having a ton of photos taken, so we needed someone who would be patient with us and help us feel more comfortable while taking photos. All in all, our main goal was to find someone who could capture our happiness and love through photography on our special day!"
We shall continue on and share stories of two brides that have already had their special days. Here is what they had to say regarding their photography experiences:
Amanda is a former bride of ours who shared her photography success story!
"When I chose my wedding photographer for my wedding last November I knew exactly what I wanted and I looked for someone that was laid back yet had amazing work. While price was a big concern since I was on a budget I definitely had to rule out photographers that were out of my price range. I ended up finding someone who had great still life shots as well as candids. I like the idea of a story being told without too many posey pictures. I chose Valentine Becker, and he was amazing! One of my favorite pics is actually of the shoes I wore on my wedding day, it looks like it is straight out of a magazine."
Kami is also a former bride of ours as well as a good friend. Her photography tale is less glamorous and a lesson learned. We think her information in INVALUABLE and a MUST read for future brides.
"A brides wedding day is one of the most important and memorable days of their lives. While weddings can be very overwhelming to plan, there are certain areas that corners should not be cut. One of these areas is the photography that is going to document every aspect of your special day. This does not mean you need the most expensive photographer it just means you should take time to research and be organized with what you definitely want captured on that day. As a bride who had an unfortunate experience, there are a few suggesstions I would like to share. While wedding websites and chat rooms are excellent references, don't get caught up in the petty gossip. This caused me to panic and "unhire" an amazing photographer that I will forever regret. Base your decision solely on the photographers previous work, budget, and your heart. When looking at a photographer's gallery, look for their attention to detail: my photos were missing details such as a beer bottle in the group photo of the bridal party, eyes closed in several photos or people moving around, and the 2nd photographer in the photos off to the side. We did all of our photos before the ceremony (which I highly recommend) and didn't have wedding bands on. I feel a detail orienteded photog would have caught this and made the suggestion to put them on. Another example of detail would be in the attatched photo: there were two wooden chairs but the photog put us in a wooden and plastic one. If possible, hire a photographer that doesn't book two weddings in the same day. This way they are not rushed and fresh when they arrive. Also, prior to the day of the wedding, make a list of must have pictures with your family. When I received my pictures, I realized there was not a picture of my grandmother, mother, and myself which I am still bummed about. I also had to ask right before I walked down the aisle for a photo with each of my bridesmaids. Please remember, that even the most seasoned photographer cannot possibly know everything that you have in mind; and the day of you will be so busy that you will not remember everything. This is why it is important that you are organized prior to your big day to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch~ with the exception of you being hitched of course!"
We are so grateful that you shared this experience and we hope that other brides can learn from this as we know WE have!
We hope that all brides, future brides, bridal parties and parents of the bride and groom can read these and learn from everything that both the brides and brides to be had to say! If you have any questions, further comments or concerns regarding photography please do not hesitate to email us (thesummerlinhouse@gmail.com) and if we can't answer it, we will find you someone who can! Thanks to all the wonderful women who shared their stories with us...you have officially helped us create one of the most informative (and one of the best overall) blogs we have had so far! Say "Cheese!"
