Photo Styles.
What do we mean by 'photo styles'? Perhaps we should call them 'genres'.
They represent different interpretations of the theme or feeling for the wedding day. Some categorised them as; formal, romantic, reportage, candid, natural etc. I'm sure if I spent more time then I could come up with more sub categories, however you get the idea. Magazines love to give lists of categories and somehow portray that there is a huge difference in photographers who specialise in one form or another. The truth is that there are photographers out there that don't like change and to adopt a modern or new fashion it's all to much for them. Or if they have adopted a fashionable 'genre' then they portray the fact that this is the only type of photography that the do! Anyone at the top of there game is more than willing, in fact would encourage you to be a little experimental with some of your images. Equally they should remember that it is important to provide the client with a quality service that covers all the bases. That wild wide angle 'french tilt reportage' shot of the couple looks great and would make a brilliant image blown up and framed or in the A3 Bellisimo Album, but the same thing on every page with Uncle Tom and your Gran looking as if they are drunk and falling over. Well if the whole album had this theme, genre,style (you chose) then it would be a little nauseating after the first couple of pages. Equally the dramatic shot of the bride with the veil blowing in the wind and the dark threatening sky looks great. Would the same effect applied to candid shots taken in the hotel look as good or did the photographer just apply a heavy 'vignette' to all his or her shots to give them that 'romantic' style so loved by many photographers and clients. Please note I do like these effects but only when they are applied to the appropriate setting and requested by the client, not a whole album of over PhotoShopped 'artistic' effects!
Any good photographer will have his or her own recognizable style and by that I do not mean 'genre' but a distinctive look from their images. Sorry but this is a very intangible concept to describe. Put as simply as possible their pictures should be recognizable from others. If you have a preference for one genre over another then make this known during your first meeting with your chosen photographer. He or she should be able to cross over from one genre to another with consummate ease, during the day. However some photographers tend to concentrate on one particular 'genre' and are unable or unwilling to move from one to another. It is after all photography and the best photographs are taken by the photographer who 'sees' the image before he or she has taken it. Premonition! No it's experience, visual or artistic flare, an eye for what will work and what doesn't and a common sense. Sometimes called 'pre-visualisation' . For myself I shoot the entire wedding in my mind before I leave for the venue. Weird, no, although my wife might might disagree! It allows me to see a structure to the day, and to plan for unforseen circumstances, well most but not all! My wife calls it 'story boarding'. I know the venue, I know where I am going to shoot a particular image and why I'm taking this image. Could you say your chosen photographer does?
What do we mean by 'photo styles'? Perhaps we should call them 'genres'.
They represent different interpretations of the theme or feeling for the wedding day. Some categorised them as; formal, romantic, reportage, candid, natural etc. I'm sure if I spent more time then I could come up with more sub categories, however you get the idea. Magazines love to give lists of categories and somehow portray that there is a huge difference in photographers who specialise in one form or another. The truth is that there are photographers out there that don't like change and to adopt a modern or new fashion it's all to much for them. Or if they have adopted a fashionable 'genre' then they portray the fact that this is the only type of photography that the do! Anyone at the top of there game is more than willing, in fact would encourage you to be a little experimental with some of your images. Equally they should remember that it is important to provide the client with a quality service that covers all the bases. That wild wide angle 'french tilt reportage' shot of the couple looks great and would make a brilliant image blown up and framed or in the A3 Bellisimo Album, but the same thing on every page with Uncle Tom and your Gran looking as if they are drunk and falling over. Well if the whole album had this theme, genre,style (you chose) then it would be a little nauseating after the first couple of pages. Equally the dramatic shot of the bride with the veil blowing in the wind and the dark threatening sky looks great. Would the same effect applied to candid shots taken in the hotel look as good or did the photographer just apply a heavy 'vignette' to all his or her shots to give them that 'romantic' style so loved by many photographers and clients. Please note I do like these effects but only when they are applied to the appropriate setting and requested by the client, not a whole album of over PhotoShopped 'artistic' effects!
Any good photographer will have his or her own recognizable style and by that I do not mean 'genre' but a distinctive look from their images. Sorry but this is a very intangible concept to describe. Put as simply as possible their pictures should be recognizable from others. If you have a preference for one genre over another then make this known during your first meeting with your chosen photographer. He or she should be able to cross over from one genre to another with consummate ease, during the day. However some photographers tend to concentrate on one particular 'genre' and are unable or unwilling to move from one to another. It is after all photography and the best photographs are taken by the photographer who 'sees' the image before he or she has taken it. Premonition! No it's experience, visual or artistic flare, an eye for what will work and what doesn't and a common sense. Sometimes called 'pre-visualisation' . For myself I shoot the entire wedding in my mind before I leave for the venue. Weird, no, although my wife might might disagree! It allows me to see a structure to the day, and to plan for unforseen circumstances, well most but not all! My wife calls it 'story boarding'. I know the venue, I know where I am going to shoot a particular image and why I'm taking this image. Could you say your chosen photographer does?
Photo Styles