5 Different Photography Styles Explained! What’s Your Style?

Before you begin your wedding photography search, you will want to know what styles of photography you like. Do you like light, bright colorful images or darker, more moody versions? Each photographer will specialize in a specific style, so knowing what style you prefer can make finding a photographer a little easier. Most wedding photography will fall into one of these 5 different styles or a mix of a few.

1. Classic

When you choose a classic photographic style the images stand the test of time. The photographs are typically true to color and traditional black and white images, carefully posed and meticulously planned. This style tends to be a bit more forma,  but can always be given a modern twist. Classic photographers tend to focus more on portraiture than candid images during a wedding.

2.  Artistic

Fine art images are photographs created purely for their aesthetic and imaginative qualities. Fine art photographers create work that goes beyond merely capturing what is in front of the camera. This style of photography tends to capture special moments in unique way. Fine Art photographers know composition and lighting well and refer to the great masters in painting for inspiration. If you are open and willing to have a bit of fun with your photographer you will be amazed by the results.

3. Lifestyle

Lifestyle is a type of documentary photography with a bit of a twist. Most images will appear to be candid, and most often they are. However, this style mixes candid, natural shots and posed images with some direction and staging without being overly obtrusive. The primary goal of lifestyle photography is to tell stories about people’s everyday lives in an artistic way.

4. Dramatic

While all styles will use different types of lighting, dramatic images make it a key component. This style will showcase a variety of different lighting techniques or editing styles that the photographer has mastered to create truly breathtaking portraits with extreme visual interest and mood. Oftentimes, photographers will use artificial or off-camera lighting more often than natural light to create dramatic contrast in images.

5. Documentary

If you are not into the traditional posing or styling of shots, then a documentary wedding photographer is probably one you will want to consider. The documentary style focuses on candid and spontaneous images that truly capture the entire essence of your wedding day. Oftentimes, a trained photojournalist will best achieve a documentary style of imagery as they know how to anticipate what will come next and can read and capture moments as they unfold.

In general, most photographers will specialize in one of these 5 areas, but are also capable of doing a mixture of different styles. It is best to let your photographer know which style you prefer most and ask if that is a style they enjoy shooting. A true professional will be able to hear and understand your vision and make it come to life in your wedding photographs regardless of their style, but choosing a photographer for the style to which you are drawn most is key to a successful wedding gallery showcasing your day.

Check out my portfolio to see more of my work and how I combine classic and documentary styles to create stunning, timeless images!