What is Traditional Wedding Photography?: this style of photography comes from the pre digital era when wedding photographers would film that was expensive to develop. For every roll of film that was shot only about 25% of the images may have been of sufficient quality for a client. This is because of guests turning away talking or having their eyes closed. The cost of film meant that photographers were more comfortable shooting large group shots as this would both use less rolls of film and draw the attention away from those who may have closed eyes. The arrival of digital photography has allowed wedding photographers to investigate new ways of shooting weddings and has led to the development of the other two main styles in use today Reportage and Contemporary wedding photography.
Traditional Wedding Photography often entails a more formal approach to the wedding photography the other styles such as cor reportage wedding photography. A traditional wedding photographer will photograph to a set list of photographs in order to ensure that specific set pieces are not missed. It is incorrect to think of Traditional wedding photography as simply referring to lots of group photographs as it more accurately focuses on the structure of the day and the key moments, signing of the register, cutting the cake, first dance. A photographer will attempt to photograph the key images for each stage of the wedding in a controlled and posed style arranging group photos and posing the bride and groom for portrait images.
Th ere are advantages to this style of photography because you can be sure that the photographs will cover all of the main points of your day and will give you images that will look good. However it does involve a great deal of control being given to the photographer who will order guests around to get the required images. I was photographing at the West Retford Hotel, in Retford near Doncaster, when another wedding party arrived; the photographer was very ‘old school’ and controlling. I confess I was both horrified and slightly amused when the photographer produced a whistle to bring order to the proceedings. This was just a little OTT from my point of view.
What is Reportage Photography?
What is Contemporary Wedding Photography?