How to Decide Which Wedding Photography Style Is Right for You

There are several different types of wedding photography styles and it can be hard do know exactly what you want. Editorial, documentary, fine art, cinematic, the list goes on and on. So how can you articulate exactly which style you like and which ones you don’t? I am going to define 4 types of popular photography styles so you can articulate exactly what you’re looking for. Let’s get started so you can know how to decide which wedding photography style is right for you!

Editorial

Photo taken at The Manor 1858

Editorial style wedding photography makes your wedding look like it’s featured in a high-end magazine such as Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. It blends fashion photography, storytelling, and intentional posing to create images that feel polished, stylish, and cinematic.

What makes it “editorial”?

1. Fashion-Inspired Posing

Couples are often guided into poses that look natural but are carefully directed — similar to a fashion shoot. Think:

• Strong posture
  
• Confident expressions
  
• Intentional hand placement
  
• Movement that looks effortless but is planned
  

2. High-End, Polished Look

Lighting, composition, and styling are very deliberate. Photos often feature:

• Clean backgrounds
  
• Architectural settings
  
• Dramatic lighting
  
• Symmetry and negative space
  

3. Detail-Focused Storytelling

Like a magazine spread, it highlights:

• The dress, shoes, jewelry
  
• Floral design
  
• Invitations and tablescapes
  
• Venue architecture
  

4. A Balance of Real + Styled

It’s not fully candid. It’s not stiff and traditional either.

It sits between:

• Documentary/photojournalistic
  
• Traditional posed portraits
  
• High-fashion photography

Documentary

Photo taken at Bluemont Estate

Documentary style wedding photography (also called photojournalistic wedding photography) is a storytelling approach that captures your wedding exactly as it unfolds — with minimal posing, direction, or interference.

Instead of staging moments, the photographer observes and documents real emotions, interactions, and events as they naturally happen.

What Defines Documentary Style?

1. Real, Unscripted Moments

Nothing is set up or recreated. The photographer captures:

• Genuine laughter
  
• Tears during vows
  
• Hugs between family members
  
• Kids running around
  
• Quiet in-between moments
  

2. Minimal Posing

Unlike editorial or traditional styles, you won’t be heavily directed.

You might receive light guidance for family portraits, but most of the day is candid coverage.

3. Storytelling Focus

The goal is to tell the full story of your day:

• Getting ready
  
• Ceremony reactions
  
• Guest interactions
  
• Reception energy
  
• Small details in context

4. Natural Light & Real Environments

Photographers often:

• Use available light
  
• Avoid overly dramatic setups
  

Fine Art

Photo taken at Autoshop at Union Market

Fine art style wedding photography is a wedding photography approach that treats your wedding like a work of art — focusing on beauty, light, composition, and emotion in a soft, intentional, and often romantic way. It’s less about fast-paced documentation and less fashion-forward than editorial. Instead, it emphasizes artistry and timeless aesthetics.

What Defines Fine Art Wedding Photography?

1. Light & Airy (or Soft & Moody) Aesthetic

Fine art photographers are highly intentional with:

• Natural light
  
• Soft shadows
  
• Gentle color tones
  
• Film-inspired edits
  

2. Thoughtful Composition

Each image is carefully framed, almost like a painting:

• Balanced composition
  
• Attention to negative space
  
• Elegant lines and symmetry
  
• Subtle movement
  

3. Soft, Guided Posing

There is direction, but it’s gentle and natural:

• Romantic closeness
  
• Flowing movement
  
• Calm, graceful expressions
  

4. Detail-Oriented & Styled

Fine art photographers often collaborate with planners and stylists to ensure:

• Cohesive color palettes
  
• Beautiful floral arrangements
  
• Clean, minimal backgrounds
  
• Elegant flat-lay detail shots

Cinematic style

Photo taken at Heigh Torr Estate

Cinematic style wedding photography is a dramatic, storytelling-focused approach that makes your wedding photos feel like scenes from a movie. Instead of simply documenting events, the photographer captures your day with mood, movement, lighting, and composition that feel like still frames from a film.

What Defines Cinematic Wedding Photography?

1. Dramatic Lighting

Light is used intentionally to create depth and emotion:

• Backlighting (sun flares, glowing veils)
  
• Silhouettes
  
• Moody indoor lighting
  
• Strong contrast and shadows
  

2. Story-Driven Imagery

Cinematic photography emphasizes:

• Emotional build-up
  
• Anticipation before key moments
  
• Reaction shots
  
• Wide “scene-setting” frames
  

3. Movement & Depth

Images may include:

• Motion blur
  
• Wind in the dress or veil
  
• Walking shots
  
• Environmental elements (rain, fog, city lights)
  

4. Film-Inspired Color Grading

Editing often includes:

• Rich, deep tones
  
• Moody shadows
  
• Warm highlights or cool cinematic hues
  
• Slight grain for texture
  

So now that you’ve looked through all of those different styles do you know where you fall? Have you figured out how to decide which wedding photography style is right for you? Are you somewhere between two? My style of photography sort of falls in the midst of all of these. My photos are:

Timeless = editorial

Authentic = documentary

Warm = cinematic

Romantic = fine art

So, if you’re looking for a photographer that makes you feel the emotions when you look at the photos and makes your photos look like they could be in a magazine then I’m your girl. Let’s make your wedding day unique to you! Inquire with me today!