Brides Corner
Basic information about wedding photography.
Most of you have not spent time learning the styles used in photographing weddings. Nor should you have because that's the job for your photographer. But this section is intended to give you an quick overview of the styles currently used by wedding photographers.
If you understand how today's wedding photographers' photograph a wedding then you'll have an easier time choosing one. Here are the four styles used in photographing wedding today. They are:
1)
The Traditional style includes close and full length portraits of bridal party and family as well and candid photographs that tell the story of the wedding.
The candid shots are not posed or have limited instructions from the
photographer. Good traditional style portraits feature
dramatic and flattering lighting to insure better quality. For most clients this is the most practical
and offers what is generally expecting.
2) The photojournalism style
does not use posed photographs and all pictures are candid shots
without any instructions from the photographer. This style became
popular in the 1990's. It is designed to tell the story of
what happens that day without the photographer actually taking an
active part. He is passive and only shoots what he sees.
Perhaps this method produces the most images but none of the
portraits of the family together.
3) The Illustrative style has
grand poses and scenery. It many well have a theme. Every detail is composed to produce a
photograph with impact. It resembles fashion photography is
that all photographs are staged. There are no candid photographs although some
appear to be but are in fact composed by the photographer. Usually
this style is geared around expressing romance and fantasy
as the
photographer sees it. Because the photographs are all posed
the total number of pictures is limited and follow the theme the
photographer wants ot convey as opposed to recording the events of
the wedding. Usually extensive off camera lighting is used as if in
a studio.
4)
The creative or impressionistic
style is creating images in unusual angles and altering
filters. It is the photographers artist impression of
the wedding. This style usually renders a very limited number
of photographs of the wedding. The are no formal pictures.
Many may be posed but with an artistic idea in mind.
I, as many, use a mixture of all four concepts when covering a wedding in anything but the very basic plans that I offer. It makes sense to vary the style used to cover your special day. you may like one style while other members of your family and friends may like another. It is great to have a mix of photographs to choose as keepsakes. It is your day and I believe in giving you options.
That being said my style is heavily weighed toward the traditional and photojournalistic styles since that seems to satisfy most clients. I believe there is value is have portraits, candid shots, posed shots that appear candid as well as some impressionistic shots mixed into the total images offered. However I believe my job is to tell the story of the wedding as YOU planned it and not as I imagine it should be. It is your day and should be records as such.
It is good to take the time to interview your photographer since usually between 8% and 20% of the total cost of the wedding is spent on your photographer.
Make sure you get quality Images.
