When you eventually get to enjoy your big day (global pandemics permitting!) it’s important to be in the moment.  But it’s also essential to capture the memories – and that means hiring a professional photographer.  There’s plenty to choose from…and that’s the problem.  You suddenly discover there’s a lot more to it than you initially realised.  In this post we give a quick overview of the different wedding photography styles and terms that wedding photographers tend to use (reportage, second shooter…eh?).

Digital or film?

Digital is the most popular way to shoot wedding photos, for these reasons

•              Digital gives you unlimited shots as no extra processing fees – film means less shots and extra cost

•              With digital you can immediately see the shot and make adjustments as necessary

•              With film it takes longer to get finished images

•              Digital produces crisp, high-quality photos and prints but film adds grain, softness and warmth

•              Digital is more suitable for very low-light conditions

•              Retouching with digital is easy

•              Digital negatives are easy to store and won’t fade over time

You might want to find a photographer who’ll shoot on film and digital to give you the best of both worlds.

Black and white vs colour

Black and white produces a timeless and classic effect.  It also heightens the mood and can be great in poor lighting conditions to put draw the eye to the happy couple.  The normal procedure is to shoot in colour and then edit into black and white so you have both options. 

Photography package

An agreement that sets out what is included in the fee – from how many hours they’ll spend shooting on the day to what they’ll finally deliver.  What sort of thing might be included in a typical package?

•              A pre-wedding consultation to discuss the arrangements in detail

•              An engagement shoot

•              About 10 hours on the day from the bridal party preparations through to the first dance

•              A USB stick of high-resolution, full-edited digital images from the day (400-500 images)

•              Personal use copyright license

Copyright

You’ve paid for the shots but the photographer always owns the copyright.  However, the agreement should give you a personal use copyright license. This this means you can print physical copies and to share the photos online.  You can’t sell your photos or publish them and the photographer may request that images you share on social media carry a watermark.

Traditional photography

This style is formal and captures posed photographs of your day. You’ll get a standard, almost formulaic series of images covering the key moments in the day (like signing the register and cutting the cake) as well as a number of staged group shots of you and your guests. Although this style might sound a bit unimaginative it is important to get these shots for posterity.  Your best solution might be to find a photographer that takes these formal set pieces as well as shots in a reportage or contemporary style.

Contemporary style photography

The photographer shoots in the style used by current magazine editorials.  The style is quite artistic and imaginative, using dramatic backdrops, unusual angles and lighting, or focusing on more abstract shots.  If you’re looking for a quirky and creative then this style is for you. 

However, be clear on what the photographer has in mind.  Review several of their full wedding albums to make sure you are both on the same page.  The shots may take quite a lot of time and require you to go to another location (for instance, Clevedon Pier) – you have to decide if you want to spend this long on your wedding day to get these shots. 

Reportage style photography

One of the most popular styles right now, a very naturalistic and informal way of capturing moments and emotions as they happen – a style that’s very like photojournalism.  If you want candid and authentic shots without wasting time on posing this is the style to go for.

Fun photography

Light-hearted, comical or slightly cheesy shots directed by the photographer. These shots may range from the bridal party jumping in the air to a staged shot of the groomsmen and bridesmaids in a tug of war to pull the happy couple apart. Whatever your idea of fun is!

Shot list

A list of must-have shots, like the groom waiting at the altar or the bride getting dressed.  Keep the list short and give your chosen photographer lots of freedom – they are the experts.  Having said that there will be some group shots that are essential.

Proofing, retouching and editing

The post-production stage.  You’ll be sent a link to a password-protected online gallery that friends and family can also look at. You’ll agree which shots to put to one side (someone was blinking or there are better shots of the same moment).  This is a chance for you to ask for any final edits on a few of the photos, especially the ones you plan to print.

The photographer will correct and enhance things like colour and exposure plus adjust things that don’t turn out exactly as you’d like – from removing unwanted shadows and confetti to combining two photos to create a group shot that was missed.  This can include skin retouching, eyes highlighting, smoothing creases in clothes and removing stray hairs.

Boudoir shoot

A set of images for the eyes of your spouse only.  These are quite different from regular wedding shots so best done by a dedicated boudoir photographer who’ll have the knowledge of the best angles and lighting.

Bridal sessions

A formal portrait session several months before the wedding with the bride in her wedding dress and with a replica of her bouquet, almost like a test run for the big day.  These were more popular in days gone but are still a lovely way to get portraits of the bride in a private relaxed setting.

Second shooter

One photographer can’t be in two places at once so you might want to pay for a second one to make sure nothing is missed. For instance, one photographer might shoot the groom getting ready while the other captures the bridal party preparations.

With a big wedding one photographer will struggle to cover all those memorable moments. A second shooter will be able to go around your guests during your reception drinks, catch a different angle on the walk down the aisle and first dance, and get photos of all the details (cake, table setting, flowers) while your main photographer does your couple shots.

Anything else you need to know?

That’s not everything there is to know about wedding photography but it’s certainly enough for starters.  If you have any further questions, not just about photography but any aspect of planning your big day, give us a call – the team at Clevedon Hall have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share.