The difference between photojournalism and traditional wedding photography

Photojournalism vs. Traditional wedding photography

"We are surrounded by infinite numbers of moments nobody captures!" - one of my colleagues said: - "Open your eyes, freeze what you see for a moment and imagine: This could be a picture!"

What can I do for you?

I am an experienced photojournalist and can feel the moment while artistically "frame" it in my mind, and can see the final photograph even without looking into the camera. My camera is a only a tool I use to bring my art to life. I believe my experience as a photojournalist and artistic vision gives me one up on the competition. I can easily pose portraits to satisfy your desire, but what I bring is the experience that will bring your wedding album to life!

Traditional vs. Photojournalism Styles of Wedding Photography

When choosing a professional wedding photographer, one thing you may want to consider is the style of a photography. The most common styles of wedding photography are traditional and photojournalistic. While similar equipment is used in both, it is the technique and approach that set them apart.

The following is intended to help you understand the differences between styles. The one you choose is completely up to you.

Traditional Style of Wedding Photography was given many names including: traditional, classic, posed and so on. Whatever name you use, it doesn’t set the style. So, what should you expect from a Traditional Wedding Photographer?

Traditional photographers concentrate most of their efforts into posed portraits, and rarely capture candid moments. This style is sometimes viewed as disconnected, old fashion, and can add stress by needing time to setup every shot. The final result is usually an album full of posed portraits, that often look more like a photo shoot than a wedding day. The quality of traditional photography judged by very factors such as sharpness, lighting, correct skin tones, and the use of the background.

The Photojournalistic Style of Wedding Photography has also been called many names including: modern, documentary, artistic, fine art and so on. While similarities exist between traditional and photojournalistic approaches, the main expectations of each style are very different; Traditional style is being portrait oriented, and Photojournalism is being candid oriented.

An excellent photojournalistic photographer will add a unique charm based on his visual perception, so the results are emotional and artistic photos showing the essence of the wedding day. The Album will be more like a storybook, rather than series of posed portraits. Most wedding photojournalists also offer magazine style albums which is combination of photographs and graphic design.

There are no strict rules for photojournalism, angles, framing, lights, it is all about the artist vision and ability to properly document the day. And so when wedding photojournalism is reviewed – the only thing that matters is the client!

What style is best for you?

It is common for people to want a slice of both styles. The reasons are simple: it’s a good time for portraits because everyone is looking their best, and on the other hand the bride and groom want to remember their wedding day the way it really happened.

Traditional Style Wedding Photography may be best for you if:

- You want your photographer to be the director of your wedding.

- You want to spend a lot of time posing the bride and the bridal party. You want to know when you’re being photographed.

- You’d like to pose with all your family and guests. You think candid images, for example: a wedding shoe simply lying on the floor is pretty silly.

Photojournalism Style Wedding Photography may be best for you if:

- You want lots of candid images of your guests. You want to know your photographer is working, but not worry about it.

- You would like to spend as little time as possible on family portraits and go on with the wedding.

- You don't want a bunch of photography equipment everywhere.

- You like candid photos such as: a flower girl and ring bearer whispering to each other during the ceremony.

You may not be able to answer a clear yes or no, but the idea is to give you a clue of what you should expect. Consider this, every photographer is in business. Their objective is to sell artwork. Keep in mind, when you hire a photographer; you are not buying a bunch of photos. It’s the skill, experience, and the art that you are paying for.