Defining Wedding Photography Styles (+ Why You Don’t Need to Know Them!)

When browsing through wedding photos, you’ll often encounter terms like “editorial,” or “documentary-style,” or “fine art,” which photographers use to describe their specialty or posing aesthetic.

While considering different wedding photography styles can help you narrow down your search for a photographer, it’s important to understand that these terms can be subjective and may vary depending on the photographer’s perspective and approach. The exact “style” a photographer offers may not neatly fit into one of these categories and can be open to interpretation. Plus, there are different portions of a standard wedding day that can tend to traditionally lean towards one style more than another. 

While we do have a distinct and overarching aesthetic to our images over here at Daring Romantics, we believe that photography posing shouldn’t be rigid rules but rather a starting point. Our approach isn’t as much about being confined to a particular style of posing. We’re here to understand YOU and your unique vision for YOUR wedding. We recognize that the intricacies of your day and your story may not align perfectly with any single “style” listed. And you know what? That’s perfectly okay cause we’re the same way, haha! Rather than confining you to a photography term, we’re here to listen to you and tailor our approach to make sure your final gallery of wedding images prioritizes the moments of your wedding that truly mattered most to you.

Below, we’ll outline some broad types of wedding photography posing. Are any of the ways we described them here different from what you expected?

Traditional Posing

• Classic and timeless poses often seen in formal portraits.

• Utilized for family portraits, bridal party shots, and posed couple portraits.

• Examples include the couple standing face to face, holding hands, or with the groom’s arm around the bride’s waist.

Candid Posing

• Natural and unposed shots captured spontaneously.
• Used to capture genuine emotions and interactions.
• Perfect for capturing moments like laughter, tears, and intimate glances between the couple.

Editorial Posing

• Emulates the style of fashion photography with a focus on composition and artistic flair.
• Incorporates dynamic poses and creative angles.
• Ideal for capturing dramatic and visually striking portraits of the couple in their wedding attire.

Lifestyle Posing

• Focuses on capturing authentic moments in a relaxed setting.
• Emphasizes the couple’s personalities and relationship dynamics.
• Often involves posing in natural environments or familiar settings that hold significance to the couple.

Documentary Posing

• Captures the wedding day in a storytelling manner without interference or direction from the photographer.
• Emphasizes capturing the day as it unfolds naturally, without posing or staging.
• Ideal for capturing the raw emotions and genuine moments throughout the wedding day.

Artistic Posing

• Incorporates creative and unconventional poses to create visually stunning images.
• Utilizes unique compositions, perspectives, and lighting techniques.
• Allows for experimentation and artistic expression to capture the couple in a distinctive and memorable way.

Environmental Posing

• Incorporates the surrounding environment into the poses and compositions.
• Utilizes elements such as architecture, landscapes, and natural light to enhance the imagery.
• Ideal for outdoor weddings or venues with unique architectural features.

Dynamic Posing

• Involves movement and action to create dynamic and energetic images.
• Incorporates poses that involve walking, twirling, or interacting with the environment.
• Adds a sense of vitality and excitement to the wedding photos.

Cultural Posing

• Incorporates poses and gestures that are traditional or culturally significant to the couple.
• Reflects the couple’s heritage, customs, and traditions in the wedding photos.
• Includes elements such as traditional attire, rituals, and symbols that hold cultural significance.

As you can see, posing in photography offers a multitude of styles, each with its own unique charm and purpose. But here’s the thing, knowing these terms and what they mean doesn’t matter at all! This is your wedding day, not a photography final exam, haha. So give us a call! We’ll chat with more real life lingo and set you up with the style of posing that’s most comfortable to you.