Wedding photography – Styles and trends

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According to many wedding industry sources, when couples are putting together their budget, they plan on spending the most on the reception and venue and second most on their photographer. This is how important photography is important to them, because for most people preserving the memories is a close second to creating them.

When you are evaluating a photographer for your big day, there are tons of things to consider. How much experience do they have? What does their portfolio look like? How much do they cost? Will they be able to capture what you’re looking for? Do they use photography studio software that enables them to stay better organized? And what styles of photography are they proficient in?

As far as this last question goes, here are a few of the current styles and trends in wedding photography so you can decide what suits you the best so you can prepare for your conversations with prospective photographers.

1. Photojournalism style – This style is completely candid and is more of a documentary way of shooting a wedding. Few (if any) photos are staged and everything is shot in the moment, where the photographer roams around the ceremony and reception and captures the event as it’s happening. This style is very in vogue and popular among couples.

2. Traditional posed photography – This is the style of photography that your parents probably used in which most photos are staged, with participants facing the camera and smiling or otherwise posing for the photos. This is akin to traditional portrait style and is sometimes used in combination with the photojournalism style.

3. Fashion-shoot style – For brides who can’t get enough of Vogue or Cosmo, this style is for you. It is a much more modern style of shooting, with different camera angles and closeups, fashion-forward poses, unique lighting and lots of finishing touches with photography studio software.

4. Vintage contemporary – Vintage clothing is back in style, and thus the demand for vintage contemporary photography, which is often staged with vintage or throwback props and attire. In addition, photos can be given an antique treatment with photography studio software.

5. Pre-wedding photo shoots – Because the big day can get so jam-packed with events, sometimes it’s a better idea to get some of the photography out of the way early. Because of this, some couples are choosing to have a photo session with their photographer a day or two before the wedding. This is an opportunity to get more causal photos of the couple as well as family members who have arrived for the wedding.

Hopefully this gives you a start on some of the current trends when you’re meeting with photographers.

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4 Crazy Weddings Ideas for the Hopelessly In Love

Your wedding should reflect you and your future spouse, right? While most couples take this to mean choosing between a traditional or a modern wedding, others take their weddings to the extreme.

After all, it’s your day; why not make it your own?

Here are four crazy wedding ideas for the hopelessly in love.

1. Get Married and Cross Something off Your ‘Bucket List’ at the Same Time

Have you ever wanted to go sky diving? Scuba diving? Bungee jumping? Parasailing? Rock climbing? Surfing? Skiing? If there’s something you’ve both always wanted to do, now is the time. Your wedding day only happens once and the sky’s the limit.  Couples have said their vows underwater, free falling from the sky, and on the side of a mountain. No matter what you’ve both always wanted to do, there’s a way to make it happen as part of your wedding ceremonies.

2. Get Married at an Extreme Location

Is there a special place where you both met? How about a place that you’ve always wanted to go? Whether you’re looking to get married in Italy or you’re thinking about getting married at SXSW (it recently ended but you can still plan for next year), get creative with your partner and dream big.

There’s no reason you should settle for anything less.

Get married on a boat, on an island, in a foreign country, or at a live event to make even more memories that you’ll never forget.

3. Have a Themed Wedding that Matches Your Interests

Themed weddings may seem like a silly idea to those who want a traditional church wedding- but for those hopelessly in love that share the same passions, a themed wedding might be just what you need.

Are you both comic book geeks? Have a comic-themed wedding and enforce a costume-only dress code. Are you foodies? Plan an extreme tasting menu for you and your guests. If you’re both wine aficionados, research local wineries. Photographers can rent a photo booth or decorate their reception hall with shots they’ve taken. Have a sports-themed wedding outside (or in) your favorite venue. Dog lovers can even have their dogs be in the wedding party. Ask yourself what you love to do together, and use that as a springboard for personalizing your wedding.

4. Use Romance as Your Inspiration

Host a fairy-tale wedding, complete with tiaras and rose petals. Recreate a favorite old movie scene. Go horseback riding on the beach at sunset. Invite your guests to a tropical paradise for your wedding. Start by discussing what you both picture when you say the word “romance” and go from there. Do you see an intimate candlelit dinner? How about a picnic near a waterfall?

Do you picture you both languishing with an umbrella drink in side-by-side hammocks?

Even if he sees a cozy cabin and you see candlelight, you can easily combine these two aesthetics so you’ll both have the romantic wedding of your dreams.

There’s no reason you need to follow every wedding rule and tradition in the book. It’s your day, so make it something that you’ll like, with memories you’ll always cherish. Forget what everyone else wants. So what if your family is pushing for a big church wedding? If you want something small and intimate on the beach, do it.

As long as you’re pleasing yourself and your future spouse, it’s sure to be the wedding of a lifetime.

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