If you’re planning your wedding, you may have encountered the phrase “editorial wedding photography”. As an editorial wedding photographer, I’m equipped to clarify this term for you! Let’s explore in more detail!
In a nutshell, editorial wedding photography is a unique blend of photojournalism, narrative storytelling, and fashion photography, all with the objective of capturing the ambiance and sentiment of your wedding day.
It has gained popularity for luxury weddings as it offers a well-balanced fusion of candid, documentary-style photography, storytelling, and natural posing, as opposed to traditional wedding photography that often emphasizes rigid posing for the couple and wedding party. As an editorial wedding photographer my mission to balance discretion and direction to ensure that I am fully present yet unobtrusive.
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Recognising the couple’s individuality
The approach of an editorial wedding photographer is not to “fit” the couple into their photography style, but rather to adapt their photography to the personality of the couple.
This means that, just like with modern fashion photography, the bride and groom are naturally directed (or, better, guided into emotional contexts) in ways that highlight their personalities and personal style, and the photographer can include details like the wedding dress, jewellery, and accessories to create a cohesive visual narrative.
Stories are multilayered.
An editorial wedding photographer is not trying to create “one definitive image” that encapsulates the wedding. Instead, the event is depicted through a series of images that resemble a storyboard from a movie or a layout from a fashion magazine.
As editorial wedding photographers, we do not perceive a single narrative, but rather multiple interconnected stories. These stories all revolve around the primary narrative of the couple’s connection. The photographer will extract various threads that link the couple to the country, thereby constructing a geographic history. Of course, people remain the most compelling story of all, as even the slightest interaction can be worth telling. Additionally, the editorial photographer will craft a story about the heritage of the venue. And, by narrowing down to small details such as invitations and rings, the photographer will also highlight the couple’s aesthetic choices. Even the cake itself tells a story, from the panoramic image down to the minute details.
Taking full advantage of natural light
To remain inconspicuous, we steer clear of elaborate lighting arrangements and instead rely on natural light, picturesque surroundings, and creative compositions. This serves in retaining a degree of spontaneity and authenticity, but also speeds up the workflow so we can remain present and unobtrusive. In situations where natural light is unavailable, we employ the most compact flash units possible, enabling us to remain nimble and agile.
Experience over “photography for the sake of photography”
In editorial style wedding photography, the photographer is less of a “director” and more of a “curator” of poignant moments. The editorial photographer takes a less-directive approach during the event and when capturing couple portraits. This may involve directing individuals towards emotionally-charged scenarios that elevate the experience of the day, and also add to the gallery, such as a father-daughter first look or the reveal of the dinner setup, as well as promote emotional interactions between the couple during couple photography (instead of asking them to stand in a static pose).
More information
Read more: My philosophy, vision and method
