To Pose or not to Pose? {Wedding Photography Style}

You’ve seen your grandparent’s wedding photos right!? You know, the ones where everybody is lined up like chocolate soldiers with a solemn look on their face! Well, chances are you won’t want yours to look like that, am I right? Of course. Times have changed and photography styles continue to evolve. Modern brides want modern photos and this article takes a closer look at traditional wedding photography and the increasingly popular photojournalistic and creative styles.

Spring is in the air and the wedding photography season is here! Countless couples are excitedly preparing for the biggest day of their lives and everything has to be perfect! After all, the bride has been dreaming about this day since she was a little girl. Now it’s getting closer, she’s starting to think more and more about how her wedding photos are going to look.

In the past, wedding albums looked pretty much the same. A more traditional style of photography was used where the bridal party and guests were carefully arranged in groups, with much more consideration for lighting. This was a lengthy process and yielded little originality in the final results. Today, photojournalism is the en vogue style. This is a more relaxed approach to the photography with more candid results and a natural feel to the final photographs. The photographer is afforded greater creativity and wedding albums can be put together with stunning, storybook designs.

Let’s have a look at the differences between traditional and photojournalistic / creative wedding photography…

Traditional Wedding Photography

If you hire a traditional wedding photographer they will concentrate most of their effort on carefully crafted, posed shots of the wedding party and friends/family. They will give a lot more direction throughout the day and will make sure everyone looks absolutely pristine. They will maybe bring special lights that can be arranged in multiple setups to control the light and the ultimate quality of the photos. If you hire a traditional wedding photographer you should allow additional time to make sure you get all the photographs you want…

You can have lots of fun with traditional wedding photography too! Below are 2 examples of slightly more traditional photos. They are both posed group shots of a wedding party. The first one is very carefully arranged with everyone following strict directions on how to stand and look at the camera. The second photo however, is similar in that everyone has been told where to stand and to look at the photographer. But, in this shot a fun element has been added to make the scene a little more modern and in keeping with the journalistic style. It almost looks as though the bridal party initiated this scene by themselves and the photographer simply snapped the image!

Photojournalistic Wedding Photography

A photojournalistic wedding photographer concentrates on capturing candid moments throughout the day with very little emphasis on direction. The pictures generally express more emotion and portray the feelings experienced by all involved. A good photojournalist incorporates interesting angles, lighting and framing into their work. At Blü Studio, we bring our own imagination to the photos and hopefully allow you to experience every moment again and again.

Photojournalism is by far one of the most popular styles of wedding photography at Canadian weddings today. This probably has a lot to do with the glitz and glamour portrayed by Hollywood and cosmopolitan fashion magazines. Brides want to look stunning, just like their favourite actress, and require photos that have a real impact. With photojournalism a picture really does say a thousand words!

Creative Wedding Photography

Creative wedding photography is a style not unlike photojournalism. However, rather than the photographer following around and taking completely candid shots, a creative photographer will place the subjects in predetermined situations and then allow them to be themselves and take the candid pictures from there. Blü Studio are creative photographers with a touch of the traditional. We find that modern couples are mainly looking for a more creative style of shot that captures the raw emotion of the day. However, our parents still tend to be a little more traditional and prefer more staged shots where everyone is organized and looking at the camera. There’s nothing wrong with shots like this and they are not old fashioned either, just a different style. They are often quite charming and can add to the perfect blend of “old & new” styles for your wedding day photography. Everyone can be happy!

Contact us now at info@blustudio.ca to find out how we can capture your story in a beautiful, timeless brilliance that will be enjoyed by generations to come! You may also visit the website at www.blustudio.ca/weddings for more information.