Choosing the right photography style is one of the most important decisions for your wedding day. Your photos are the memories you’ll cherish forever, and the style you pick can completely shape how your story is told. From timeless classics to bold, modern shots, understanding the different photography styles can help you choose a photographer whose vision matches your wedding day.
Here’s a guide to the most popular wedding photography styles, what they mean, and examples to inspire you.
Traditional / Classic
What it is: Traditional wedding photography focuses on timeless, posed images that capture the key moments of your wedding day.
Think family portraits, the first kiss, and the walk down the aisle, everything arranged carefully for a clean, polished look. These photos are designed to stand the test of time, providing a collection of memories that will always look elegant, no matter how photography trends change.
Couples often choose this style when they want a formal, organized album filled with iconic wedding shots.
Why couples love it: Elegant, formal, and enduring.
Photojournalistic / Documentary
What it is: Photojournalistic, or documentary-style photography, is all about capturing your wedding as it naturally unfolds.
Instead of staged poses, the photographer follows the day’s events, snapping candid moments as they happen, tears during vows, laughter during speeches, kids running around the dance floor. This style creates an authentic storytelling approach, giving couples a photo collection that reflects the real emotions, atmosphere, and spontaneous moments of the day.
Why couples love it: Authentic, emotional, and full of real moments.
Fine Art / Editorial
What it is: Fine art wedding photography is inspired by editorial magazines and art photography. It emphasizes composition, lighting, and creative angles to produce visually stunning images.
Photographers may style shots carefully, incorporating dramatic backdrops, flowing fabrics, or natural landscapes. Couples often choose this style for its elegance and sophistication, wanting their wedding album to feel like a curated work of art rather than a simple record of events.
Why couples love it: Elegant and visually stunning; perfect for a sophisticated wedding album.
Lifestyle
What it is: Lifestyle wedding photography strikes a balance between posed and candid shots.
The photographer gently guides couples and guests to interact naturally, capturing real moments with a relaxed, effortless feel. Think of a bride laughing as her partner adjusts her veil or a couple walking hand-in-hand down a quiet path. This style is perfect for couples who want authentic, emotional images but still appreciate a polished, professional touch.
Why couples love it: Real, emotional, and effortless-looking images.
Contemporary / Modern
What it is: Modern wedding photography is all about fresh angles, bold colors, and creative compositions.
Photographers may play with perspective, urban backdrops, or unexpected framing to create dynamic, eye-catching images. This style works especially well for couples who want a trendy, Instagram-ready look for their wedding day photos and enjoy a less traditional, more adventurous aesthetic.
Why couples love it: Trendy, dynamic, and perfect for Instagram-ready photos.
Black & White
What it is: Black and white wedding photography removes color to focus on emotion, contrast, and composition.
The simplicity of monochrome enhances expressions, textures, and moments that might otherwise be overlooked. From tearful vows to joyful dances, black and white images give a dramatic, timeless quality to your wedding album, making each moment feel deeply emotional and classic.
Why couples love it: Timeless, dramatic, and highly emotional.
Cinematic / Moody
What it is: Cinematic or moody photography draws inspiration from film, using dramatic lighting, shadows, and color grading to create an epic, story-like effect.
This style often emphasizes atmosphere, with rich colors or softer tones, and sometimes incorporates motion blur or wide landscapes. Couples who choose this style are usually looking for photos that feel romantic, immersive, and larger-than-life, almost like a scene straight out of a movie.
Why couples love it: Epic, romantic, and immersive, like a movie scene.
Destination / Travel Style
What it is: Destination wedding photography emphasizes the location as much as the couple.
The photographer uses natural landscapes, architecture, or cultural elements to tell a story of place alongside the wedding day itself. Whether it’s a beach in Hawaii, a vineyard in California, or a European city, this style captures both the adventure and romance of getting married somewhere special, creating a photo collection that feels like both a wedding album and a travel diary.
Why couples love it: Combines the story of the wedding with the beauty of the destination.
Tips for Couples
- Browse full wedding galleries to see consistency in style.
- Consider your wedding vibe, is it classic, relaxed, modern, or adventurous?
- Mix styles if you like, e.g., documentary for the day, fine art for portraits.
- Share your favorite examples with your photographer so they understand your vision.
