Understanding and Finding Your Ideal Wedding Photographer Style: Cinematic, Documentary, Editorial, and Classic

When searching for a wedding photographer, you may feel overwhelmed by the various descriptors used in the industry: “documentary style wedding photographer,” “editorial style wedding photographer,”…the list goes on!

These buzzwords are usually used by wedding photographers to encapsulate the images that the view as defining of their work. I have not met a single photographer her solely utilizes one style for their approach. They may lean more heavily into one style or another, or they might even have a different interpretation of these terms.

Having a general understanding of what these are typically understood to mean may help you move forward in finding the best photographer for you. Today, we will define four key styles: cinematic, documentary, editorial, and classic style wedding photographers.

The Classic Photographer

They say, “the classics never go out of style,” and that’s true for wedding photography, too. For this style, think ‘my parents photographer, with a modern glow up.’ The classic wedding photography style draws from tradition, utilizes knowledge in posing, knowledge of the technical aspects of photography, and the ability to capture all pictures worthy of framing, printing, and displaying. This style draws on tradition and skills to create a wedding gallery.

Final galleries from a classic style wedding photographer will include all of the typical “must-have,” photos, but it will also include candid moments, details, and many photos of loved ones. Classic wedding photography is often very similar or overlapping with fine art photography. Timeless, classic, tradition–these are all adjectives which describe a similar vibe that you might see in a classic wedding photographer’s portfolio.

The Editorial Style Wedding Photographer

Editorial wedding photography draws inspiration from fashion and art, similar to the editorials included in Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. Editorial photographers lean into art and posing to tell the story of the wedding day.

In some (but not all) cases, editorial wedding photographers may be more inclined to create a serious wedding portrait or a carefully-posed and artificially lit bridal party portrait. The editorial style wedding photographer is often heavily influenced by the latest trends.

Editorial photographers often lean capturing details of the day, know how to capture the serious and emotive moments, and have a good understanding of how to use light to create emotion in a photograph. If you can picture a photographer’s wedding gallery in a magazine–it might be a good fit for the “editorial” category.

Most editorial wedding photographers edit their photos to appear true to life, with colors that closely match real life and well-exposed images, without heavy reliance on trendy editing styles.

The Cinematic Style Wedding Photographer

Cinematic wedding photography is a less defined term that has a variety of interpretations. For some photographers, it indicates a certain editing style. For others, it indicates how they direct and pose their clients. Some use it to describe their deeply emotional style. Others use it to convey the raw feelings that occur from capturing a lot of movement. For some, it means a lot of movement and directing for the photos. For other photographers, it indicates the feeling their images invoke (think the ending of LaLa Land, where your heart is breaking and healing all at once).

Just like each movie director has a specific vision for the production, editing, and post-processing of their films, cinematic wedding photographers have a certain vision for how their images fit into the “cinematic” description. One way that almost all cinematic wedding photographers are united is the importance of communicating deep feeling in the images from the wedding day. That may be the feelings of anticipation, the joy felt at the first look, or capturing all of the celebrations that follow.

Throughout the day, cinematic wedding photographers lean into a documentarian approach. They are often focused on capturing the many natural moments that happen. When it comes to portraits, many cinematic wedding photographers direct their subjects through “prompts” rather than poses.

For me, I find myself heavily influenced by classic movies and the storytelling methods their directors employed. Like many film directors, I draw from the environment and the surroundings to tell the story of the day. I blend posing and prompting to create a natural portrait experience.

There is no distinct editing style for cinematic wedding photographers.

The Documentarian Photographer

Documentary wedding photography is perhaps the most used buzz phrase in modern wedding photography. It might also be the word with the widest use. True documentary wedding photography employs no interference by the photographer. They do not create formal flat lays, they do not stage photos, they do not pose their subjects. The true documentarian photographer works around the natural setting and movement of the day to truly document each moment as it naturally unfolds.

In reality, many (though not all) photographers who use the documentarian approach know when to step in and out of directing their subjects. Most of us humans are not models and our environments are not always ready for print-ready photos. We do not naturally step into the most flattering light and we do not naturally create stunning portraits with our partner. With that in mind, depending on your needs and the photographer’s approach, documentary wedding photographers often carefully chose when to document and when to direct.

All photographers utilize the purest form of the documentarian approach at some parts of the wedding day. For example, the ceremony (almost) always unfolds with no interference. The reception occurs mostly unprompted. Candid moments or small details that are captured throughout the day can also be considered as part of the documentarian approach.

All Styles Overlap

In summary, each of these words might mean one thing to a particular photographer, but something completely different to someone else. They almost always overlap. While searching for a photographer, choosing one of these words that inspires you is a good starting point.

• If you are looking for images that are the “framers,” traditional, or the wedding coverage most similar to that of your ancestors, a classic-styled photographer may be the route for you.

• If you, too, are inspired by art + fashion, and want your images to fit into the Vogue covers you have framed on your wall, an editorial photographer might be the best fit.

• If you find yourself inspired by cinematic moments or images that make your heart explode, cinematic is be a good starting spot.

• If you want your love story told in its most natural sense, and want your photographer to be the fly on the wall (rather than the director), a documentary photographer may be the place for you to start.

The biggest step in hiring a wedding photographer is hiring someone you enjoy and connect with on a personal level. Are they someone you see yourself working with through the most intimate and personal parts of your day? Do you trust their skill, their artistic vision, and their ability to problem solve throughout the wedding day? Once you have those questions answered–you can move on to the next step in your planning process: finding which style wedding photography best fits you.

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I am a wedding photographer based out of Chicago, who does not find it easy to choose one buzz word to describe her work. I am fluidly working through each of these approaches to tell the story in an artful, true, and emotive way. I am inspired by the places I’ve traveled, the art I’ve seen, and the people I get to photograph. To constrict myself to one approach would limit that ability. If that approach–and the images included–inspire you, please inquire about your wedding here.