Wedding photography comes in many flavours, each with its own distinct tone and approach. Whether you lean toward elegance, spontaneity, or artistry, understanding the various photography styles can help you make the right choice for your day. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular wedding photography styles and what they each bring to the table.

1/ Fine Art Photography

Fine art photography is as much about the artistry as it is about the moment. With an emphasis on composition, lighting, and a painterly finish, this style turns your wedding album into a curated gallery of dreamy, magazine-worthy images. Often using film or film-style editing techniques, fine art photographers focus on beautiful details—think flowing veils, floral flat-lays, and romantic couple portraits that look straight out of an editorial shoot.

Emily Jayne Weddings

Through The Glass Paris

2/ Photojournalistic or Documentary Photography

If you value authenticity over perfection, the documentary or photojournalistic style may be for you. Rather than directing the day, documentary photographers take a fly-on-the-wall approach, capturing genuine emotions and unplanned interactions. These are the spontaneous giggles, teary-eyed hugs, and fleeting glances that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Camera Shi

Rachel Sorensen Photography

3/ Editorial Wedding Photography

Stylish, glamorous, and a little bit dramatic—editorial wedding photography is inspired by the world of fashion magazines. Think dramatic lighting, model-like poses, and cinematic scenes that make you feel like the star of a glossy photo spread. Photographers using this style often collaborate with couples to create composed and highly styled images that reflect their personal brand and fashion choices.

Emily Jayne Weddings

Adriana Alier

4/ Traditional Wedding Photography

For some couples, the tried-and-true approach of traditional photography offers exactly what they need. This style focuses on capturing all the key moments—walking down the aisle, cutting the cake, the first kiss—with structured, posed shots. Family portraits and group photos are a significant part of this format, ensuring that every important person is included in your album.

Ruby Olivia Photography

Samm Blake Wedding

5/ Natural or Ethereal Wedding Photography

Light, airy, and full of romantic softness, natural or ethereal wedding photography capitalises on ambient light and outdoor backdrops. It’s a style that leans into the beauty of the environment—whether that’s a sun-drenched meadow, a quiet woodland path, or a windswept beach. These images tend to be less posed and more organic, with a pastel or filmic edit that enhances their dreamy quality.

Emily Jayne Weddings

The Manos

6/ Vintage Wedding Photography

With a soft, nostalgic look and feel, vintage wedding photography takes inspiration from decades past. Photographers might use old-school lenses, film cameras, or editing techniques that mimic faded colours and grainy textures. It’s all about evoking a sense of timelessness and romantic history—images that feel like they’ve been lovingly passed down through generations.

Meara Grace Photo

- Gráinne