Wedding Photography Trends: To filter or not to filter?

After your venue and caterer, your next important vendor at the top of your wedding planning checklist is your photographer. Think about it. You’ll relive your wedding day on your social media and those photos will grace the walls of your first home. You may even share an album of memories with your children and grandchildren. No doubt about it – you’ll want to remember this day for the rest of your life. So it’s important to choose the right photographer.

There are always trends in wedding photography, from photojournalism to aerial coverage. If you’re curious about trends, or just want to know what to keep in mind when looking for a wedding photographer, we’ve asked our dear friend Aaron Feldman, CEO of True Photography, to give us his view.

Photography: True Photography

Technology has opened up so many options and trends, like filters. What are your thoughts on using them in wedding photography?

The short answer is that I don’t suggest using filters. Of course, when it comes to visuals, there’s no right or wrong to what someone is drawn to. What’s important is to remember what you like now may quickly change in a couple of years.

There are many trends when it comes to adjusting photographs. The definition of a trend is “A group of people enthusiastically following an impulse for a short period.” Using filters and manipulating colors are trends. But I believe if the pictures are to stand the test of time, they should be truer to color.

A full range of colors keeps the images interesting and unique. It will also emotionally bring you back to the day you married. When you can see the blue sky you had that day, the green grass, or whatever it may be, it will bring you back much further down memory lane than any filter.

What are your thoughts on wedding photography trends in general?

There are always trends out there. And while there are many styles of wedding photography, my suggestion is to give your photos a look that will stand the test of time. The best advice I can give is to keep your ceremony location and venue in mind as they’ll serve as important photo backdrops. Find those areas with natural beauty or architectural influence.

What are some key considerations a couple should keep in mind when choosing their wedding photographer?

A professional photographer isn’t someone who just shoots pretty pictures. Anyone shooting enough photographs will run into a few nice pics.

What makes a true professional is knowing how to capture great photographs in any condition, like rain, nighttime, wind, tough light, and limited backdrops – and how to get all the important images when the wedding is running 30 minutes late.

The big question is: Can my photographer get the best possible pictures in any given scenario? And the best way to find the answer is to NOT just view 50 pretty wedding photos. It’s to see weddings captured in a variety of environments and to look for a diversity of poses and expressions.