How To Choose Your Wedding Photography Style

The Differences Between Digital vs Film Photography Style

You’ve got the plans in place for your dream wedding; but who do you hire to capture the day? The first step is to take a good look at all of your inspiration photos. Take note of if they’re mainly candid or portrait style and posed. Are they light and airy? Bright and highly saturated? Dark and moody? Once you nail down your desired wedding photo aesthetic, search for the photographers that specialize in those styles. To help understand more of the differences, I took a look at the wedding gallery of my clients, Lauren + Don. With Natalie Joy Mitchell expertly switching between digital and film photography, Lauren + Don combined these styles to bring their Romeo + Juliet movie-inspired wedding to life.

Digital Photography

The most commonly used form of wedding photography style is digital. Photographers love the ease of digital cameras to quickly shoot and view their photos, as well as edit them later. Even within digital photography, there are hundreds of styles. Bright, moody, candid, light flares, B&W, filtered, the list goes on. Digital gives your photographer a lot of creative control over their artistry and how the photos turn out. A bonus for couples is that you can easily find a photographer within your budget.

Film Photography

Film is often said to be softer or have a “painted” look to its digital counterpart. These photos are a highly desired look because it mimics art and creates emotion within a photo. However, it can come with its own set of challenges. It takes a lot more skill to use film. Because it cannot be easily edited, photographers have to be extra diligent about lighting, positions, etc. Additionally, you may not get as many shots as you would using digital. Lastly, in terms of cost, you can expect film to be more expensive. The cost of the camera, actual film, and developing of the film add up quickly. However, you won’t regret getting a photographer that can do both film and digital because the photos will be incredible!

Vintage Photography Style

The final style is akin to the 90’s polaroid/disposable camera look. This style is gaining popularity as couples look to step outside the “status quo” of wedding traditions. Odd angles, bright flash, and sometimes blurry, candid moments are the key to this type of photography style. (As opposed to a romantic film style, which plays off the natural light and uses more posed portraits). As a Millennial, I have to tell you, this trend is bringing back major nostalgia! Especially taking the camera to the store and waiting hours for the film to be developed. Feels like yesterday!

No matter what style you choose, discussing your shot list with both your photography team and planner will guarantee you have memorable photos of your wedding day! If you’re ready to dive into designing a unique, colorful wedding, contact us on our homepage here + let’s get started!