Your Guide to Wedding Photography Styles

At Lineham Farm we love celebrating the unique nature of each and every wedding. With our blank canvas wedding venue, we have the privilege of seeing a host of beautiful and different celebrations each year, from the cool and quirky to the classically romantic.

Each couple has a different vision for their big day. It’s no wonder then, that finding the right wedding photographer to immortalise your celebrations feels like such an important decision. Whether you want a low-key photographer who can blend into the background and capture those perfect, intimate shots, or a photographer with a high-end vision for your wedding snaps, a great wedding photographer will slot seamlessly into your big day.

But what style of wedding photography is right for you? Find out everything you need to know in our guide and take a look at our wedding photography styles examples.

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Different wedding photography styles

On the quest for your dream wedding photographer, it’s important to find a photographer with a photography style that aligns with your own. Many modern photographers have a clear brand or aesthetic that they will stick to, so taking the time to find a style you’re drawn to will ensure your big day is captured exactly how you want.

Here are the main wedding photography styles explained, as well as some wedding photography styles examples.

Traditional wedding photography

Traditional wedding photography is classic, simple, and will always stand the test of time. This is probably the most instantly recognisable of wedding photography types – posed photographs, family portrait style, usually shot at eye level with the subjects facing the camera. Traditional wedding photography tends not to be too quirky or “out there”, and is a wonderful, fail-safe option for timeless photographs that you’ll cherish for decades to come.

Traditional wedding photography styles tend to capture the couple, wedding guests and venue all at their very best. A traditional wedding photographer will likely spend a little time getting everyone into the correct poses and arranging different groups of people, and you’ll usually spend some time before the wedding coming up with a list of must-have shots. For many couples, though, this small amount of extra effort is more than worth it for the stunning resulting photos.

If you’d rather your photographer blended into the background a little more, a more candid photography style may suit you better. But, if you’re after timelessly classic photographs that will never go out of style, traditional is the way to go.

Barnaby Aldrick Wedding PhotographyLouise Barry Laura Calderwood PhotographyLaura Calderwood Photography

Contemporary wedding photography

Contemporary wedding photography tends to eschew tradition in favour of more unique or quirky aesthetics. Often very editorial in style, a lot of modern wedding photography wouldn’t look out of place in a glossy fashion magazine. Think unique lighting and angles, a blend of posed and unposed shots, and a distinct art direction.

Quirky wedding photography, fine art wedding photography and editorial wedding photography all fall under the umbrella of contemporary. Contemporary photographers often have very recognisable styles that can differ greatly between each photographer, so it’s important to make sure that you and your photographer have an aligned artistic vision – the last thing you want is an unexpected surprise when you see your wedding snaps for the first time.

Whether your style is dark and moody, colourful and quirky, or high-end with a luxurious feel, there’s most likely a contemporary wedding photographer who can bring your vision to life.

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Photojournalistic wedding photography

Also known as “reportage” or documentary photography, photojournalistic wedding photography focuses on candid moments and intimate details. The end result will be less formal than other photography types and shot in a more journalistic, ‘fly on the wall’ style, as opposed to more traditional planned and posed pictures.

Photojournalistic wedding photographers are often looking for those small but special moments between a couple, and you may find yourself with shots that a more traditional photographer would miss – from intimate, romantic moments between the happy couple to special flashes of guests letting their hair down.

A photojournalistic wedding photographer generally won’t get too involved, preferring to blend into the background and capture the day’s scenes as they unfold. This is perfect for any couples who don’t want to think too much about their wedding photography on the day.

Shutter Go Click Marni V PhotographyToast of LeedsLaura Calderwood Photography

So, that’s the main different wedding photography styles explained. A lot of wedding photographers incorporate elements of each style, but it’s always best to be open from the get-go about exactly what you’re expecting from your wedding photos to ensure you’re happy with the result. There are a lot of different styles of wedding photography out there, so it can be tricky to decide what’s best for you, but hopefully you’re one step closer to deciding which style is right for you.

Lineham Farm offers a blank canvas weekend wedding that’s the perfect backdrop for the wedding photographs of your dreams. If you’re planning a wedding in Yorkshire, we welcome couples to come and visit us for a tour. The potential of Lineham Farm is best appreciated in person, and we’d love to meet you! Get in touch with our team to arrange a visit on 0113 3783939 or weddings@linehamfarm.co.uk.