Different Styles of photography - BC PHOTO blog at BridesClub.com

There are four different approaches that photographer’s use: Traditional, Photojournalistic, Illustrative and Creative. Read below for a description of each..

Traditional photography...
is any formal or informal portraits of the bridal party, family, and friends in close-up and full length, as well as candid photographs of key events at the wedding. Most brides choose this mixed version of photography for their wedding day.

Photojournalistic...
means no posed photographs - all pictures would be taken without any instruction from or awareness of the photographer.

Illustrative photography...
looks like the photos that you see on billboards, and magazines. This is set up like a commercial photography shoot; the photographer arranges every detail of the image.

Creative or Artistic photographer...
takes pictures from unique angles, lighting, etc. This type of photographer creates his or her artistic impression of your wedding day.

For myself, I tend to use a mixture of all these styles, focusing on the traditional style for group shots; which parents of the bride and groom like, but I will always look for ways to make it different. I.E. Creative. Then I blend the Creative style with the Photojournalist style for most others.

When meeting with photographers, view not only a portfolio of a mixture of weddings, also ask to view an album of a full wedding. Make certain the photos were from current weddings and that he/she was the photographer. (Larger companies and even some smaller ones may have multiple photographers that shoot for them, or even sales representatives that meet with you.)

While looking at the photographs ask yourself these questions about style:
Are the posed photographs well lit and pleasantly arranged?
Do the candid photos show emotion?
Do the illustrative photos have a focus point or convey a meaning of romance?
Are these the type of photos that I would want taken at my wedding?

If any of the photos do not please you, ask the photographer why the picture is this way or that. For example: One particular Bride asked me in the interview process, why I bothered to take a photo of a hairspray can in a window. It does seem odd for someone not intimate with that particular wedding. But it just so happened that when the Bride and her Bridesmaids were getting ready, the nozzle broke off and began spraying everywhere non stop. They all thought this was quite funny. So to an outsider it meant nothing. To the Bride, however, it painted a smile across her face as it made her remember her day.

So.. Will your photographer film details that may mean nothing else to anyone, but mean everything to you?

If you are viewing their portfolio most photos should be pleasing, free of distraction, and convey emotion.

Interviewing a photographer should almost always be done in person. If you will be traveling to another state for your wedding or a photographer is flying in to you, you should view an online gallery that consists of their resent wedding work and a full wedding, as well as talk to them over the phone. Most brides interview at least three different photographers before deciding on one they enjoy, and like the style of. Expect to invest 10% or more of your wedding budget on a professional photographer.