What are the most demanded and highly paid wedding photography styles? Is it better to stick to one photography style or combine several styles of wedding photos? Choose among classical, artistic, themed, lifestyle, naked, fashion, portrait, photojournalistic, drone, etc. wedding photography styles that can make any wedding photoshoot memorable and wonderful.
20 Types of Wedding Photography
A successful wedding photoshoot is always a detailed and long preparation. The first thing you should do is to discuss with your potential clients what photography style to follow. Don’t know what wedding photography styles to offer, read about 10 basic styles, my wedding photography tips, and choose the one/ones you like the most.
1. Traditional Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Alexi Lubomirski
Download Classical Wedding Lightroom Presets.
This classic style is characterized by the predominance of posed portrait photos. As a rule, traditional wedding photography involves the creation of images that will be placed into the album. Usually, the newlyweds, their family, and other guests are captured on these photos. The main task of the photographer is to shoot important moments of the wedding, for example, the first kiss of the newly-married couple.
The work in this style requires a lot of time is usually spent on posing. Newly-weds can express their ideas and wishes regarding the content of pictures and the design of the future photo album.
- View my wedding photography tips for beginners.
2. Artistic Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Haring Photography
Download Artistic Wedding Photo Lightroom Presets.
Artistic wedding photography is distinguished by a special emphasis on creative details. Its main purpose is not only to capture important events. A professional photographer working in this genre seeks to create an image similar to a work of art. In order to achieve this effect, it is necessary to pay special attention to lighting and composition. In addition, such photos require careful and long preparation and image editing. The work definitely pays off, as such creative pictures will never go out of style.
- Get inspired by these 55 wedding photography ideas.
3. Natural Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Tahnee Jade Photography
Download Natural Wedding Lightroom Presets .
Many wedding photographers prefer to work with natural light instead of using a flash. This technique is perfect for outdoor weddings. As a rule, the bulk of such modern wedding photographs are created in the so-called Golden Hour, when the lighting is optimal for creating high-quality images with a predominance of soft and warm colors. In order to start working in this genre, you need to learn the basic rules of working with light, shadows, and white balance settings.
- Read more about pre wedding photoshoot.
4. Editorial Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Dana Fernandez
Download Editorial Lightroom Presets.
If you like to follow the creative trends of glossy magazines, you will definitely like this style. Such weddings photo shoots involve the creation of fashion-based pictures with high-quality backgrounds and interesting poses. To keep abreast of the freshest ideas, you need to look through popular magazines from time to time.
- Find inspiration by looking at these wedding photography poses.
5. Documentary Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by James Day
Download Luxe Wedding Photography Lightroom Presets.
This is one of the wedding photography styles based on capturing true emotions. Unlike many other genres, it does not involve posing. When working in this style, the photographer must become invisible to the guests and keep an eye out for all the important moments. This way, they can get incredibly lively and emotional photos.
In order to work in this direction, it is necessary to have extensive experience and good skills. A professional photographer should be able to focus on the most important things and capture the most touching moments very quickly. Also, a real expert should be able to change the camera settings fast to place the necessary accents properly.
- Check out the best wedding photographers in this genre.
6. Portrait Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Jordan Voth
Download Lightroom Portrait Presets.
The main purpose of this wedding photo style is to photograph portraits of people on their wedding day. This photography direction is characterized by a large number of beautiful images that demonstrate sincere emotions as well as an atmosphere of happiness and excitement. They can be staged or spontaneous. High-quality wedding portraits are usually the ones that couples admire the most.
- Check out these wedding portraits tips.
7. Vintage Style Wedding Photography
Download Vintage Lightroom Presets Collection.
Vintage wedding photography style is all the rage today. People like the feeling of nostalgia, evoked with such photos. Besides, modern retouchers use different photo filters that can turn any image into a retro shot. Many newly-weds hold their wedding ceremonies in a rustic style, which indicates the relevance of this direction.
8. Black and White Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Sergey Lapkovsky
Download Black and White Lightroom Presets.
Some people like color photos, while others appreciate the simplicity of black and white shots. Many photographers often turn their color pictures into black and white to hide some flaws associated with lighting. This is one of the wedding photography styles, where the main focus is on the objects.
- Check out these wedding photography props.
9. Film Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Will Khoury
Download Film Lightroom Presets.
This may seem unbelievable, but film photographers continue to work in many areas very successfully. Photography for weddings is an ideal direction for film shooting. Natural sunlight helps create incredible shots with a film camera. Unlike digital photos, film pictures are distinguished by soft, muted tones, creating a special nostalgic atmosphere.
Outdoor film pics are especially impressive. Such photos are always relevant and original. It is worth noting that such a photo session is quite expensive and can take a lot of time, but it’s well worth it.
- Learn more about film wedding photography.
10. Commercial Wedding Photography
Download Free Fashion Lightroom Presets.
This is a wedding photography style, where the main focus is on various objects like a cake, decorations, flowers. Commercial wedding photography is rather formal. Experts working in this genre can create great magazine-quality photos.
- Read more about how to set a wedding photography checklist.
11. Illustrative Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Matthias Jaworski
Download Best Free Wedding Lightroom Presets.
This popular approach is a mixture of wedding photojournalistic and traditional styles. It is often used for engagement photography. The main feature of this style is the emphasis on composition, background, and lighting. This type of shooting implies spontaneity and demonstration of sincere emotions.
There are also some elements of landscape photography, as much attention is paid to the background. It should be the artistic basis of the photo, together with the pure feelings of the newlyweds. In order to succeed in this genre, you need to master the basics of working in landscape photography.
12. Underwater Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Dina Chmut
Download Orange and Teal Lightroom Presets.
This style cannot be called traditional wedding photography. Despite this, it has a large number of fans around the world. A lot of couples dream to make unusual photos underwater. Such pictures are filled with mystical and romantic images created by the underwater world. The process of mastering this type of shooting is quite complicated. Besides, it requires special equipment. However, the results will be very original and really impressive.
- Follow these underwater photography tips.
13. Aerial Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Federica Cavicchi
Download Landscape Lightroom Presets.
If you want to follow all the latest photo trends and create unique weddings photography, you definitely need to master aerial photography style. It is worth noting that work in this genre requires special professional equipment. First, you need to have a good drone with installed HD camera. You will be able to capture the beautiful landscapes from the bird's-eye view. The composition is not a key element in this style, as any photo typically looks great from high perspective. If the wedding ceremony takes place mainly indoors, you can also find a lot of good angles for aerial photography in such conditions.
- Read more about drone wedding photography.
14. Night Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Jana Snuderl
Download Moody Lightroom Presets.
Twilight photography is the best way to demonstrate your professionalism. Night shooting is a real challenge for many photographers because there are many difficult moments associated with lighting. In order to create good photography for weddings in such conditions, you need to have professional equipment. You could use a radio trigger and an off-camera flash.
The modern market is filled with the most efficient and powerful hardware. Therefore, the search for these devices will not be a problem. In addition, you need to have special knowledge and skills. First of all, you should be able to work with the light and look for right-angle views, as well as set the correct camera settings. However, when you master all these tricks, you can create amazing pictures.
15. Destination Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Jordan Voth
Download Free Wedding Lightroom Presets.
Based on the name of this wedding photo style, it becomes clear that its main purpose is to photograph people in places remote from their place of residence. Most often, such photo shoots take place in other countries. This direction includes several styles. First of all, special attention to the background is paid here, which means that elements of landscape photography are present in it.
In addition, there are many artistic details, as well as elements of the photojournalistic genre. Also, the features of the editorial style photo are present here, where each photo is processed similarly to images created for magazines, focusing on architectural and cultural features.
16. Dramatic Wedding Photography
Download Dramatic Lightroom Presets.
This is one of the most glamorous, theatrical, and posed photography styles wedding. Lighting plays a significant role here. You need to learn how to work with it correctly in order to get beautiful shadows and silhouettes. This style is characterized by dramatic backlit images. You can create unusual portraits with their help. Keep in mind, you have to spend quite a lot of time on mastering the technique of working with additional off-camera flashes.
- Check out what wedding photography gear you need.
17. Fashion Wedding Photography
Download Free Light and Airy Lightroom.
Do you like to photograph fashionable looks? Use a style that places accents on the bridal outfits. This style is called wedding fashion photography. It is ideal for weddings and engagements, allowing you to create romantic and elegant images with a focus on the wedding clothes of the bride and groom. A photographer working in this direction must be very meticulous. Also, this style is very posed.
- Be inspired by wedding dress photography.
18. Light and Airy Wedding Photography
Download Matte Lightroom Presets Collection.
Unlike the previous example, this style is characterized by light and warm colors. Many wedding photographers use it in their work every day. Thanks to the pastel palette, you can achieve a light, romantic mood. If you want to get gentle and elegant photos, you need to try to shoot in this marriage photography style. The background plays a special role here. It should be perfectly white and clean, without much contrast. Use low aperture values to get a blurry look.
- Read more about how not to become a dirty wedding photographer.
19. Dark and Moody Wedding Photography
Wedding photo by Jane Iskra
Download Free Moody Lightroom Presets.
This is one of the newest wedding photography styles. It is distinguished by unusual contrast and saturation of dark colors. It is worth noting that this type of photos is not for everyone. However, it has its own special atmosphere. Dark colors and contrasting combination of light and shadows create a dramatic mood. You cannot find pure white here. Light tones are complemented by shades of other colors. This modern style is something fresh and untrivial.
- View more about Indian wedding photography.
20. HDR Wedding Photography
Download Free HDR Lightroom Presets.
If you prefer more saturated and contrasting colors, you need to turn your attention to HDR marriage photography style. This direction is not very popular today, but still, there are many fans of this photo technique. A special disadvantage of HDR photos due to improper processing is too saturated, unreal colors. Very often, the skin tones on these pictures look very unnatural.
Also, a special difficulty in this style is working with moving objects. To master this technique, it is necessary to pay particular attention to details. This applies to both the photographing process itself and further image editing. You need to try to find the right balance between the over processed and realistic image, since it’s easy to get carried away with this.
Freebies for Editing Modern Wedding Photographs
These image editing freebies are aimed at work on wedding photos created in various styles. They will help you reduce the photo post processing time significantly.
Free PS Action "Perfect Black and White"
Black and white pictures should be in the album of each newlywed couple. This action will help you emphasize the elegance and beauty of the bride. Make the lines softer and eliminate the disadvantages of color and lighting with its help. It’s a must for weddings photo shoots.
Free LR Preset "Greenery”
This Lightroom preset is ideal for wedding photos taken in low light conditions. It will add some light tones and make green shades more saturated. It is worth noting that this preset is not suitable for photos taken on a sunny day.
Free LR Preset "Cold Wind”
This preset is perfect for work in many wedding photography styles. It will help you eliminate the yellow tint. The bride's dress will become white in seconds.
Free PS Overlay "Angle's Glare"
If you want to add a romantic look and glowing elements to your photos, use this overlay. It will create a special festive atmosphere with the help of silver bokeh.
- Check out the best Nikon lenses for weddings.
Free LR Preset "Warm Filter”
This preset is suitable for various popular wedding photography editing styles. If you want to make your outdoor wedding photos taken in low light clearer and add contrast, use this Lightroom filter. It will adjust the amount of shadows and highlights properly.
Ann Young
Hi there, I'm Ann Young - a professional blogger, read more
