You’re staring at a Pinterest board with four thousand pins, and honestly, it’s a mess. Your brain is a soup of "light and airy" vs. "dark and moody" and you’re starting to wonder if you actually need a photo of your shoes resting on a velvet chair. Does anyone actually look at the shoe photo three years later? Probably not. But you’ll definitely look at the one where your grandma is laughing so hard she’s spilling her champagne. That’s the tension. Planning the types of wedding photos you need isn’t about checking boxes on a generic PDF you downloaded from a bridal blog; it’s about understanding the different visual languages photographers speak.
Every wedding is a mix of staged theater and raw, unfiltered chaos. If you don't know the difference between a "fine art" approach and "documentary" coverage, you might end up with a gallery that feels like a stranger's wedding. It happens more than you'd think.
The Big Three: Traditional, Photojournalistic, and Editorial
Most people think wedding photography is just... photography. It isn't. It’s actually three or four different jobs masquerading as one.
First, you’ve got Traditional Portraiture. This is the bread and butter. It’s the "look at the camera and smile" stuff. Think of your parents’ wedding album. These are the staged photos of the family, the bridal party, and the couple. They’re formal. They’re structured. While some modern couples think they're "boring," they are the only photos your Aunt Linda actually cares about. If you skip these, you’ll hear about it for a decade. Trust me.
Then there’s the Photojournalistic or Documentary style. This is the opposite. The photographer becomes a fly on the wall. No posing. No "hey, look over here." They’re hunting for moments. A tear running down a cheek. A flower girl tripping over her dress. These shots capture the feeling of the day rather than just the look of it. Renowned photographers like Joe Buissink built entire careers on this "unposed" philosophy. It’s about the truth of the moment.
Then you have the Editorial or Fashion style. This is where things get fancy. It looks like a spread from Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. The lighting is dramatic. The poses are high-fashion. It’s less about the "real" moment and more about creating a stunning piece of art. It takes time. You can't rush an editorial shot because the photographer might spend twenty minutes just perfecting how your veil catches the wind.
The "Must-Have" List vs. Reality
Let's talk about the shot list. Every photographer hates a twenty-page list of types of wedding photos because it turns them into a grocery store clerk checking items off a receipt. When a pro is staring at a piece of paper, they aren't looking at your wedding. They're missing the real stuff.
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However, you do need a framework.
The Flat Lay and Detail Shots
These are the photos of your invitation suite, the rings, the perfume bottle, and the flowers. Photographers usually do these first. They use macro lenses to get that crisp, detailed look. Why do these matter? They set the scene. They provide "texture" for your album. But don't overdo it. If you spend two hours on ribbons and shoes, you’re losing time for portraits.
The First Look: To Do or Not to Do?
This is a relatively modern "type" of wedding photo. Traditionally, the groom didn't see the bride until the ceremony. Now, many couples opt for a private "First Look" before the vows. From a logistical standpoint, it’s a godsend. It lets you get all your couple portraits out of the way early so you can actually attend your own cocktail hour. Emotionally? It’s different. Some say it takes away the magic of the aisle walk. Others say it’s the only five minutes of peace they get all day.
Candid Reception Photos
The reception is where the documentary style shines. You want shots of the dance floor, the speeches (specifically the reactions to the speeches), and the cake cutting. A huge mistake people make is asking for "table shots." You know, where the photographer goes around and asks everyone at Table 4 to stand up and smile while they’re mid-chew? They’re awkward. They’re dated. Most modern photographers suggest "candids during cocktail hour" instead. It’s way more natural.
Technical Nuances: Black and White vs. Color
Wait, is "Black and White" a type of wedding photo? Sorta. It’s a medium choice that changes the entire vibe.
Black and white strips away the distraction of color and forces you to look at the emotion and the light. If your reception venue has ugly orange carpet (it happens), black and white is a literal lifesaver. It makes everything look timeless and sophisticated. A good photographer will usually deliver a mix—maybe 80% color and 20% black and white. If you want a "timeless" look, ask for more monochrome.
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Fine Art vs. Dark and Moody
This isn't about the subject of the photo, but the processing of it.
Fine Art Photography is usually shot on film (or edited to look like it). It’s bright, soft, and pastel-heavy. It’s very popular for outdoor, garden-style weddings. Think of Jose Villa’s work. It feels ethereal.
Dark and Moody (or Cinematic) photography is the "moody" sibling. The shadows are deep. The colors are rich and desaturated. It feels dramatic and a bit "edgy." This style is incredible for winter weddings, industrial venues, or forest settings. But be careful: trends change. What looks cool and "vibey" today might look like a weird filter in twenty years.
The Secret Ingredient: The Second Shooter
If you have more than 100 guests, you basically need two photographers. Why? Because one person can't be in two places. While the lead photographer is focused on the bride walking down the aisle, the second shooter is focused on the groom’s face. That "reaction shot" is one of the most important types of wedding photos you’ll ever have. Without a second person, you’re betting on the photographer’s ability to pivot their body 180 degrees in half a second. It’s a big risk.
Formal Family Portraits: The Necessary Evil
Let’s be real. Nobody likes doing these. It’s hot, people are hungry, and your uncle is probably trying to sneak off to the bar. But these are the photos that get framed on mantels.
The trick to making these work is organization.
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- Write down every single grouping (e.g., Bride + Groom + Bride’s Parents).
- Assign a "wrangler"—usually a loud bridesmaid or a cousin who knows everyone.
- Keep it to 10-15 groupings max.
If you try to do 50 different family combinations, you will be exhausted before the party even starts. Your face will literally hurt from smiling.
Digital vs. Analog (Film)
Believe it or not, film is back. Big time. Many high-end photographers are "hybrid," meaning they shoot both digital and 35mm or medium format film.
Film has a "grain" and a "depth" that digital sensors still struggle to perfectly replicate. It handles highlights—like a white dress in bright sunlight—much better than digital. However, film is expensive and slow. You won't get 3,000 photos if your photographer is shooting film. You’ll get maybe 400. But those 400 will be masterpieces. It’s a trade-off.
Actionable Steps for Your Wedding Photography
Don't just hire a photographer because they’re cheap or their Instagram looks "pretty." You need to dig deeper.
- Ask to see a full gallery. Anyone can curate 10 good photos for Instagram. Can they handle a dark reception room? Can they handle a rainy ceremony? Seeing a full day’s work from start to finish is the only way to know if they’re actually good.
- Talk about the timeline. Your photographer should be your best friend when it comes to the schedule. If they tell you that you need 90 minutes for portraits, listen to them. They need that time to find the light.
- Prioritize the "Vibe" over the "List." Instead of giving them a list of 50 shots, tell them the feeling you want. Do you want it to feel like a wild party? A romantic fairytale? A quiet, intimate gathering? This helps them choose which types of wedding photos to focus on.
- Think about the end product. Are you going to make an album? Or just post them on Facebook? If you want a physical album, you need those "detail" and "environmental" shots to help tell the story. If it’s just for social media, you might care more about the high-impact portraits.
At the end of the day, your wedding photos are the only thing that actually lasts. The flowers die, the cake gets eaten, and the dress goes into a box. The photos are the only thing that keeps the memory from fading. Choose the style that feels like you, not the style that’s trending on TikTok this week.
Invest in the person who sees the world the way you do. If you love the small, quiet moments, find a documentary specialist. If you want to look like a movie star, find an editorial pro. There's no right way to do it, there’s only your way. Just make sure someone gets a photo of that grandma laughing. You won't regret it.