Wedding Photography and visual storytelling, So what’s the deal with this visual rebellion, and why should you care?
Well first of all you don’t have to care. Secondly you only have to care if you want this style for your wedding Photos. Ok so with out wanting to sound like a teacher, I thought I could talk about why I fell in love with story telling at weddings.
Old-school wedding photography often leaned heavily on formality, creating images that, while beautiful, lacked the authenticity and raw emotion of the actual moments. Think about formal line up where everyone stands exactly the same, posed to within an inch of their lives. Only photographing the main events. What photos were expected to looked like, maybe 30 years ago. There was no behind the scenes, no in between moments and no raw emotions. Beautiful in their own right of course, but just lacking the real moments. Enter the era of visual storytelling.
Documenting your wedding day
A significant leap in the evolution of visual storytelling came with the popularity of the documentary style. This approach prioritises capturing the day as it unfolds naturally, telling a story through a series of unposed, candid shots. My absolute favourite for wedding days. Don’t get me wrong, I still prompt my coupes at times, and during group shots people are grouped together and in a way are posed, but it’s nothing like it used to be. The bulk of my work is unscripted and in the moment. The couple portraits are still included but these are way more relaxed and most of the moments that make the final cut, are the moments in-between the big moments. I think this is the importance of the visual Storytelling. Making sure the little moments are included.
Getting to know you so I can tell your story
Perhaps the most significant evolution lies in the shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to highly personalized storytelling. Modern wedding photographers collaborate closely with couples, understanding their unique narratives and weaving them into the visual tapestry of the day. The relationships built with couples goes deeper than just one day. I personally meet my couples before every wedding, and most of my couples book in for a pre wedding shoot. All designed to make sure I know as much as I can about them and their love story.
In a nut shell visual storytelling …
1. Forget the cookie-cutter poses and staged smiles. Visual storytelling, my friends, is about capturing the authenticity of the rebellion within. It’s the grit, the rawness, and the unapologetic essence of your real selves on the big day.
2. Modern weddings deserve a visual narrative that breaks free from tradition’s suffocating grip. It’s about ditching the expected and diving into the unexpected – the wow moments, the quiet moments and maybe the unconventional moments, that set your wedding apart from everyone else’s.
3. Trends may come and go, but the strategic elegance of modern visual storytelling endures. It’s a commitment to creating images that stand the test of time, offering a timeless portrayal of your wedding day. When you look bak in 10 years it won’t have dated, which is more than can be said for my prom photo!
For wedding musings and to keep up with where I am check out my Journal here https://www.sarahcarterphotography.co.uk/blog/