Understanding Your Wedding Photographer's Style

The secret to getting great wedding photography starts with understanding your photographer's style.

Because wedding photography is part art and part science, every professional photographer's style is slightly different. Generally, however, there are three primary wedding photography styles: photojournalistic, candid and traditional. You'll discover that many wedding photographers have the skills and experience to shoot all three styles; but it's important to match your expectations with one of those styles. You're then more assured of wedding images, and an album, that show your wedding as you want.

The photojournalistic style means your wedding photographer approaches your wedding like a news event. He or she will make sure to shoot images that tell the story of your event from beginning to end. This style of wedding photographer is often the least intrusive, in that he or she does not dictate the flow of your wedding or request too much of your time for staged photos. He or she records it as you planned it, with the spontaneity of a photojournalist's eye.

The candid style of wedding photography is similar to the photojournalistic. A wedding photographer of this style also records the event as it occurs, but shoots plenty of images of the guests and wedding party interacting naturally, with fewer planned poses. The candid-oriented photographer will also shoot the highlights of your wedding: father and bride walking up the aisle, cutting the cake, throwing the bouquet, etc.; however, all the images may not tell the story of your wedding in as much detail as the photojournalist style.

The traditional wedding photographer will not only shoot the highlights of your wedding, but also typically has more portraiture experience. He or she is able to photograph the bride and groom, wedding party and family members in formal poses. If you want more traditional wedding photographs, then you can expect to spend more time with the photographer. It's best to plan your wedding, so you have time to pose for these traditional photographs and still spend quality time with your guests.

An important point to remember is that no wedding photographer will shoot exclusively in one style only. The best photographers understand all three styles, but know one best. You are more likely to find a photographer who can shoot in your preferred style by working with a multi-photographer studio. The best of these have staff photographers of all three styles, and allow you to select your photographer ins