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What is Editorial Wedding Photography?
Sometimes what you’re looking for in wedding photography is hard to describe. It’s not uncommon for a conversation with a couple to have a lot of moments where they’re describing things and we’re describing things that you’re hearing a lot of “YES! That’s exactly what I’m talking about”. You can also find the opposite. A term like “editorial wedding photography” has made it into our national consciousness via celebrity chatter, VOGUE magazine, and imagery you love, but it can be hard to truly define what it is. Or perhaps more importantly, if you’re considering an editorial wedding photographer for your wedding day, to understand it well enough to spot it in the wild.
Wedding photography is an essential aspect of any wedding event, and of course if you ask our team, one of the most essential. At the end of the day (or weekend) you’ll have hopefully two things – a beautiful marriage and your photos. Photographs beautifully capture the special moments of the day and allow you to relive those moments for years to come. There are various styles of wedding photography, but one style that has gained popularity over the years is editorial wedding photography.
Editorial wedding photography is a style of wedding photography that was originally inspired by editorial fashion photography. It also sits somewhere in between a more street-style approach (photograph things as they are) and a luxury fine art approach (everything is beautiful). The biggest differentiator is that photographer uses a creative approach to capture images that are not only beautiful but also tell a story. The focus is not only on the couple themselves, but also on the details of the wedding, the venue, the guests, and the emotions of the day.
Storytelling as Wedding Photography
Isn’t storytelling all wedding photography? No, not really. A lot of wedding photography is going to take things as they come. What does that mean? Well, for instance, your photographer might not try and show the overall flow of the events or how you’ve worked to tie them together. They also might light things very differently, not worrying about telling the story, rather just photographing what’s in front of them.
In contrast to that, we photograph and design a wedding day with the wedding album in mind. Each one of our couples has an album included within their wedding collection, something we source from Italy, and custom design for each couple and their families. Because of this, we’re always looking at the flow of the day. We’re literally looking at a wedding day in storybook form. What will it “feel like” as you flip the pages? What will it feel like as you sit with your grandchildren and flip the pages showing them what your wedding day was all about?
Benefits of Editorial Wedding Photography
Wedding photography is vitally important and ultimately an incredibly personal choice. We photograph for a couple who knows they’re going to want something that feels timeless and not even a little bit trendy. We hear the words, classic, and candid, and editorial, a lot… but why might you want to choose an editorial wedding photography team for your wedding? Here are a few thoughts:
1. Unique and Creative Images
Editorial wedding photography is all about creating unique and creative images that tell a story. Our photographers will use their creativity to capture images that are not only beautiful but also have meaning behind them. The images will be different from more traditional wedding photographs. Does that mean we don’t ever take posed formal portraits? Absolutely not, there is a time and place for those! It’s usually a beautiful family formal and it’s usually on grandma’s mantel. But we’re also not going to be afraid to create something different and fun.
We photograph with a team of at least three photographers no matter the size of a wedding day and 4-5 if we’re adding our cinema team as well. When you see us on a wedding day the first thing you’ll notice is that we move a lot. We’re always trying to get as many different unique and creative angles as possible because somewhere in there we’ll find the perfect story.
2. Capturing the Details
In editorial wedding photography, the details are just as important as the main subjects. The photographers will focus on capturing the details of the wedding, such as the decorations, the flowers, the cake, and the venue. Even the small details within a venue that you might not think are noteworthy, these details help to tell the story of the day and create a comprehensive visual narrative. Atmospheric details help tell the story when it comes to editorial photography.
3. Emotional Storytelling
Editorial wedding photography is all about storytelling. The photographers will capture the emotions of the day, from the joy and happiness of the couple to the tears of the parents. If someone is crying we’ll be there snapping a million frames per second. We are hybrid photographers. That means that we use both digital and film cameras. This is a perfect example of why I feel like that’s the right decision for us. I love the look and feel of film and use it whenever possible. But when your groom looks up, sees you standing there and simply can’t catch his breath because you look that stunning, I’ll reach for digital every time and make sure that we have every frame of him wiping the tears from his eyes. These images will create a beautiful and emotional narrative of the day that you can cherish for years to come.
4. Collaboration
In editorial wedding photography, our team works closely with the planner and couple to understand their vision and style. This collaboration ensures that the images captured on the day reflect the couple’s unique style and personality. We love the opportunity to take the time to get to know the couple, understand their preferences, and work with them to create images that they will love. I’m thankful to count so many of our past couples as dear friends. It’s not lost on any of us what a privilege it is to be invited to such a personal and beautiful event.
Why Consider Editorial Wedding Photography?
If you’re looking for a wedding photography style that is unique, creative, and tells a story, then editorial wedding photography might be the perfect choice for you. Below are a number of examples of what this looks like in real life. These images all have a story behind them and frankly if you have time for a cup of coffee I’m happy to talk your ear off about each one. Hopefully, though, they were part of helping to create a beautiful narrative of the day that each of these families will cherish for years. With editorial wedding photography, you’ll have a record of all the special moments that made your wedding day so unique and memorable. Even the little in-between ones that might otherwise be missed.
Need an Editorial Wedding Photographer?
If you’re looking for a wedding photography team who is passionate about the little in-between moments we’d love to start a conversation with you. We photograph weddings all over the world and are fortunate enough to have been a part of literally hundreds of incredible moments for couples and their families. If you’re looking for a wedding photography style that is different from traditional wedding photography but is timeless and classic and truly reflects your individuality, then editorial wedding photography might be the perfect choice for you.
