We are all individuals. People may seem similar in some ways, but no two are ever the same. We all have unique tastes and desires, which carry over into all aspects of our lives. For many women, one of the biggest ways they will ever express who they are and what they like is through a wedding. Though budgets differ across the board, every bride will figure out how to make a wedding uniquely hers, and will seek out vendors to help fulfill her particular vision. One of the most lasting outcomes of her style decisions will be in the wedding photographer, and the wedding photography they perform.
If you think about it, you realize that any tangible memories of the event will literally be seen through their lens, so how they document it and the way the final product looks is incredibly important. After all, if a bride was going for a certain look with her wedding and the resulting images suggest something else entirely, then she will not have a true sense of how her day really was.
So what kinds of styles are out there?
Wedding photography used to be a pretty simple affair, and was done the same way with the same poses. Obviously some were better than others, but the basic concept was the same: Traditional. Now of course, things have changed, and a variety of different types of photographers have entered the wedding market, with each bringing their own unique style to wedding photography. In the last ten years especially, the photojournalistic style of photography has come to be extremely popular, as couples want to see themselves as they are, with the true emotions they had, and not just have a set of poses to thumb through in a 25-pound album.
Also in this time period, a high-fashion look has entered wedding photography, and major advances in Photoshop have allowed still others to create their own conceptual otherworldly look. All in all, the styles that exist most prominently are traditional, contemporary, photojournalistic, fashion, and surreal. Now, some photographers may stick to one style, while others create a harmonious blend of many or all of these styles. So what are you looking for?
Some brides may know right away, while others have never thought about this until now. Here are a few tips to finding out what kind of wedding photographer you are looking for.
1. Make a list of what you are looking for. Do you want mostly portraits, set up shots, or just candid moments? Do you like clean simple contemporary images, or do you prefer conceptualized ones that look more removed from reality? What types of images express the most emotion to you?
2. Do some research. Go check out Barnes and Noble or Borders Books, or whatever your favorite bookstore may be, and skim through all of the magazines. There are a vast array of titles that appeal to anyone’s tastes, and it is here that your journey should begin. What kinds of images draw you in? Do the beautiful, classic bridal magazines really draw you in, or would you rather see something a little more on the edgy side in Vogue?
3. Surf Photography websites. Use your favorite search engine to type in each style of wedding photographer, and look at portfolios. As you go through various bodies of work you will get a better feel of what fits for you, and will make you the happiest. After all, that’s what it is all about!
