There are many new trends in wedding photography worth considering for your special day.
Are you and your sweetie joining the more than 160,000 couples getting married in Canada in the next year? You might already be thinking of methods to magnify the event’s special moments and have unique memorabilia for years to come. If this sounds like you, check out these new, exciting trends in wedding photography.
Is Film Photography Making a Comeback?
Once the digital revolution was in full swing, some photographers abandoned old-school methods and equipment. Not all professionals completely left these techniques or tools behind, as the industry website SLR Lounge revealed in a January 2017 blog post. Among the five methodologies predicted to rise to the top by the California photography firm Lin & Jirsa, film-based approaches ranked number one on the list. Citing the increasing popularity of the Fujifilm’s Instax camera that is capable of making instant color prints, the duo speculated that film will stay in vogue with its potential for softer images, vintage looks and distinctive color profiles.
Send in the Drones?
With the advent of remotely operated aerial vehicles, drone photography was the next logical step in wedding photography. Like it or not, these aircraft are here to stay, and photographers are repurposing them to take all kinds of stunning overhead photos at formal and semi-formal affairs. The Knot recently described this trend, giving tips and instructions for couples-to-be who wanted to set up their own shoots. If you hire a separate drone photo professional, you’ll need to put him or her in touch with your regular wedding photographer to make sure they coordinate efforts. Nevertheless, Wedding Bells documents that some Canadian firms, such as Toronto’s UProductions, have added this service to their menu of options.
Stop-Motion: Not Just for Claymation Anymore
The Knot contributor Amy Levin-Epstein revealed several unusual, fascinating tools at an event photographer’s disposal. While stop-motion has been used as a filming and animation technique for several decades, Levin-Epstein detailed how a series of still images can be animated and paired with sound and music. These files can then be shared online as part of a digital wedding album or a social media post.
Taking Photojournalism From Magazines to Weddings
In the previously mentioned SLR Lounge piece, Lin & Jirsa also mentioned photojournalistic methods to make a couple’s wedding day images spectacular and visually appealing. For instance, highly stylized journalism takes advantage of hard lighting techniques, which results in firmer edges and more precisely defined images. In contrast, most modern photos use soft lighting, which is diffused and causes shadows to become more indistinct in the final image. Furthermore, professionals might occasionally rely on assisted photojournalism practices, which allow one to “guide” subjects into crafting what looks like a “candid” moment.
Stylized “Selfies” for Social Media Sharing
While photographers aren’t necessarily the ones shooting guests’ or couples’ selfies, they can incorporate these images into a stylized approach to the total wedding day package. “Selfie” stations are becoming more common, and photo professionals sometimes take pictures of invitees and the newlyweds capturing their selfies. This can add to a candid, spontaneous feel to memories of your affair. Not only will your friends have cool photos to share on social media (with your permission, of course), but you’ll crack a smile and reminisce while flipping through images of them snapping their selfies.
Get Creative
Engaged couples can be incredibly creative when they’re planning to tie the knot, and that includes finding ways to make their wedding photography stand out. Special events photographers are employing innovative methods to capture the emotional quality, spirit and grandeur of these events. Newer techniques such as a traditional film-based method, a photojournalism approach, stop-motion shoots and drone photography are being embraced by professionals across North America.
