5 Photo Trends Every Wedding Photographer Should Avoid

When it comes to wedding photography, incorporating new trends and ideas can be a tricky process. Most couples ask for classic, candid, elegant photos that aren’t dated or overly done but also want their memories to feel modern and contemporary. While it’s important to stay informed about recent photography techniques and integrate some into your wedding photography style, it’s also vital to recognize which trends aren’t the best fit for professional wedding events. We’ve gathered our top 5 photography trends that you should avoid this wedding season. 

1. Zine Culture

The hottest trend right now in visual arts actually gets its inspiration from a touchstone of 90’s culture. Zine is short for magazine, and refers to independently created and published text and media, usually proliferated by niche groups. In regards to photography, zine culture imagery tends toward grainy, textured photos. The trend mimics paper cut-outs and magazine collages, giving its subject a gritty, rebellious look.

While the intentionally undesigned look of zine culture has its place in the print and digital world of art, this is our number one trend to avoid in wedding photography. Most couples prefer more subtle, realistic memories of their wedding day as opposed to the brash look zine culture often affords. 

2. Augmented Reality

The rise of social-media photo editing apps has ushered in a prevalence of augmenting reality in photography. Some photographers spend most of their editing time smoothing skin, slimming hips, and plumping lips, not to mention the hours they spend cropping, blurring, focusing, and adjusting. On their wedding day, brides and grooms generally work hard to look and be the best versions of themselves and want to be captured for who they are. Giving a false perception of body or facial structure can be both harmful and disappointing to the couple. Although all professional photographers are expected to know the basics of editing and retouching, be careful not to change your client’s photos so much that their natural beauty and personality aren’t the main focus.

3. Overly Saturated or Flat Edits

Another popular photography trend that does not translate well for wedding photographers is overly saturated or flatly edited photos. Over-processing your photos is an easy and common mistake to make, but one that will separate the professionals from the amateurs. When your editing hand is too heavy on the sharpening, color balance, or contrast tool, your photos will lose realism and begin to look like caricatures of your clients and their event. To avoid becoming a photography cliché, keep a careful eye on your saturation levels and color balance as you edit. 

4. Same-Day Edits

Some wedding photographers offer same-day edited photographs and videos. Most often, photographers present the couple with a slide-show production of ceremony photos to play during their reception. While this may seem like a good way to charge extra for a small amount of work, same-day edits are a photography trend that may cost you. Same-day edits require an assistant who will not be taking photos, but will be spending an hour or two after the ceremony downloading, editing, and uploading the couple’s pictures. Unless your assistant is highly qualified (and usually highly paid), you are at risk for putting less-than perfectly edited photos in front of hundreds of people. As a business person, you always want to put your best products in front of potential clients, and same-day editing is more costly and risky than many photographers realize. 

5. Wedding Albums

As the price of the average wedding rises to over $33,000, many brides are looking to cut costs where they can. The dawn of digital cameras, phone cameras, and social-media posts have given couples the flexibility to opt out of buying expensive wedding albums from their photographers. Instead, encourage your client to purchase your professional, high-resolution images and videos and help them find a digital organizational process that works for them. 

While techniques like black and white photo editing and flat lay shots will keep your photography fresh and interesting, avoiding the five trends we’ve listed will help you make sure your photos are always professional and timeless.