From the dress to the flowers, wedding styles change over the years — and photography is no exception. From how the photos are shot to how they are edited, the look that brides want today isn’t the same as the look from ten years ago. So what are the latest wedding photography trends that couples are looking for? Here are seven looks trending in wedding photography for 2016-17.
A photojournalistic style
Posed formals are out, storytelling is in. The stiff formal poses are falling out of style while more casual setups — like the couple looking at each other instead of the camera — are becoming increasingly popular. Some photographers are even ditching a majority of the posing and simply capturing events as they unfold, or setting up shots with an action instead of a certain body placement.
Soft, warm colors
While some photographers stick with a photojournalistic color palette as well, many are finding success using softer colors. This look mimics film photography, whether that’s through actually shooting film or adjusting the colors digitally in post. This look is best kept to a minimum, however — it’s easy to overdo film presets while the style is really for a more subtle color shift with a slight warming effect or palette adjustment.
Aerial photography
The rise in popularity of aerial photographs isn’t necessarily from a style stand point, but a technological one. Drones are becoming easier to use (and more affordable), making aerial options more readily accessible to photographers. Before you decide to jump on this trend though, be sure to look at both the costs and the laws in your area — countries like Australia and the U.S. require commercial drone operators to be certified.
Smoke bombs
Remember light painting with sparklers? Smoke bombs are the 2016 sparklers, at least according to Brides Magazine. These colorful smoke bombs add a burst of color and an unusual element to wedding photographs. Like any of the more unique trends, make sure using a smoke bomb as a prop fits your own photography style.
Less filters, more subtle edits
Instagram may have brought photo editing into the mainstream, but obvious filters are becoming less common, while more subtle edits are becoming more popular. In line with the photojournalistic posing style, many photographers are skipping out on the faked looks and opting for a simpler approach instead, with minor color tweaks and perhaps some zit zapping but without the airbrushing.
Wedding hashtags
Style in 2016-17 is just as much about what you do with the photos when you’re finished with them. Wedding hashtags help expand a photograph’s reach. Many couples are crafting their own hashtag to mark their day with — to make the wedding day images easy for friends and family to find, use the hashtag when you share, suggests photographer Bethany Cleg.
Just like lace wedding dresses went out of style and then back in again, wedding photography trends change with time. The difference? Wedding photography changes with both style trends and technology. Monitoring the latest wedding photography trends can help photographers determine what style changes to adapt into their work while still keeping true to their overall imaging style.