Welcome! My Name is Celeste – a destination and candid wedding photographer based in Muskoka, Ontario.
My team specializes in a documentary style of photography mixed with classic and artistic portraits. I believe it is important to understand what these different styles are to ensure you pick the right photographer for YOU.
Photography styles can vary – and not every style may match your vision of your DREAM wedding photos. Taking the time to choose the right photography style can transform your genuine moments into works of art. Choosing a style that doesn’t vibe well with you is, well, not so good. But with so many styles to choose from, how do you know which is right for you? Let’s dive into some popular wedding photography styles to help you find the perfect fit for your big day.
1. Traditional / Classic Wedding Photography
What It Is: Traditional wedding photography focuses on classic, posed shots. Think family portraits, formal couple photos, and well-composed group shots. All wedding days should probably consist of at least a *few* traditional images.
Pros:
- Classic and timeless
- Comprehensive coverage of key moments
- Easy to direct and plan
Cons:
- Can feel staged and less spontaneous
- May not capture the natural flow of the day
Best For: Couples who love classic, posed photos and want a formal, structured album.
Not good for: Couples who want natural and candid images of them and their guests.
Do We Offer This Style? My team only uses the traditional photography style MIXED with candid prompts for large group photos. For example, we take the boring posed lineup of each group, but also prompt some group hugs, laughs, and smiles together.
2. Photojournalistic / Documentary / Candid Wedding Photography
What It Is: These 3 terms you will hear a lot, but “candid” seems to be the most trendy word. Photojournalistic wedding photography aims to tell the story of your day as it unfolds naturally. The photographer captures candid moments and real emotions, much like a journalist covering an event. The photographer does not interrupt moments as their goal is to preserve that authentic emotion and memory exactly as it happened.
Pros:
- Genuine and spontaneous
- Captures the essence and emotions of the day
- Less intrusive and more natural
Cons:
- Less control over the final outcome, so things such as weird lighting, objects in the way, or double-chin laughs can occur
- Might miss certain key posed shots (if using this style ALL day)
- Candid images only happen when candid moments happen
Best For: Couples who prefer a natural approach and want their wedding story told through authentic moments.
Not Good For: Couples who want every little detail corrected and made sure is perfect.
Do We Offer This Style? YES! This is actually one of our all-time favorite styles of photography. We believe that the best images are the ones with authentic emotions and moments of genuine human connection.
3. Fine Art / Editorial Wedding Photography
What It Is: Editorial wedding photography combines artistic vision with wedding documentation. The focus is on creating beautiful, high-art images with an emphasis on composition, lighting, and mood. These images are highly directed and posed to create the best of the best outcomes
Pros:
- Creative and aesthetically striking
- Unique and often has a magazine-like quality
- Artistic approach to capturing the day
Cons:
- Can be more experimental and less straightforward
- Involves extensive direction and posing
- Takes a lot of time to create a small amount of images
Best For: Couples who appreciate art and want their wedding images to have a high-fashion, magazine cover feel.
Not Good For: Couples who want to spend less time taking photos, and more time spent at their wedding.
Do We Offer This Style? We may sprinkle a little bit of editorial style into portraits, or moments like detail shots where we have the time and space to do so. We tend to lean towards getting done efficiently and quickly with our couples as most of them value the time spent with their loved ones. This means we get a hand full of amazing natural-feeling images, over spending 10+ minutes to curate 1 or 2 posed images. If our couples request more posing, we are happy to help.
4. Modern/Trendy Wedding Photography
What It Is: Modern or trendy wedding photography embraces current trends and techniques. It often includes a mix of candid shots and stylish, posed photos with a focus on current aesthetics. For example, 2024 trends in photography include tilted horizon levels, direct flash, and blurry images.
Pros:
- Trendy and up-to-date with modern styles
- Offers a mix of posed and candid shots
- High on creativity and style
Cons:
- Trends can date quickly
- Might not suit those who prefer classic styles
Best For: Couples who want a fresh, stylish approach and are excited about modern photography trends.
Not Good For: Couples who want images that will stand the test of time. Do you like what you did with your hair when you were 16? If you replied no, then you should probably avoid trendy images as a bulk of your gallery.
Do We Offer This Style? We sometimes will take a few trendy images if the timeline permits and the couple expresses liking a certain style. We NEVER put a large focus on trendy images as we feel timeless images will resonate with most couples long-term. Will the blurry photo of you walking be the one that’s printed largely on your wall?
6. Destination Wedding Photography
What It Is: Destination wedding photography involves capturing weddings in unique locations outside the photographer’s usual area. This style often combines elements of photojournalism and fine art, adapted to the local environment.
Why is it important to find a photographer who specializes in destinations? Each new destination comes with a heck of a lot more work than a wedding in your local area. You want to make sure your photographer is going to take the time to scout the area if it’s new to them and that they know what challenges the location can bring. For example, the high humidity of Costa Rica can play a huge challenge for cameras fogging up. Are they aware of this and prepared?
Pros:
- Embraces the unique setting of your destination
- Can incorporate local culture and scenery
- Offers a blend of styles tailored to the location
Cons:
- May involve additional travel and logistics
- Can be more expensive due to travel costs
Best For: Couples having a wedding in a special location who want their photos to reflect the beauty and character of the setting.
Not Good For: Couples who want a logistically simple wedding or have guests who cannot travel.
Do We Offer This Style? 100% YES we specialize in destination weddings. From across Europe, to the Caribbean, and beyond. We always take the time to properly prepare for each unique destination wedding to make sure we deliver an exceptional result for our couples.
7. Vintage / Film Wedding Photography
What It Is: Vintage wedding photography evokes a sense of nostalgia by using techniques and editing styles reminiscent of past eras. It often involves sepia tones, black-and-white images, or classic film looks.
Pros:
- Timeless and nostalgic feel
- Can add a unique, romantic touch
- Great for couples who love historical aesthetics
Cons:
- May not appeal to those who prefer a modern look
- Some may find the retro style less versatile
Best For: Couples who adore vintage charm and want their wedding photos to have an old-world, classic quality.
Not Good For: Couples who simply do not like these aesthetics.
Do We Offer This Style? We do NOT offer sepia-toned photography styles. We do, however, offer film photography and black-and-white images.
Choosing the Right Style for You
When selecting a wedding photography style, consider your personal tastes, the atmosphere you want to create, and the kind of memories you wish to cherish. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to picking a style for you.
It’s essential to communicate with your photographer about your vision and expectations. Most importantly, choose a style that resonates with you and complements your wedding day perfectly.
With the right style, your wedding photos will not only capture the essence of your special day but will also become treasured keepsakes that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
BONUS TIP!
Once you have selected the style(s) you like, you should ensure that both your wedding photographer and wedding videographer have similar styles. This is important so their workflows will blend together at your wedding much easier than if they have very different ways of approaching your wedding. Have them connect and hop on a call before your wedding so they can prepare together.
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