The Purple Book: A Guide to Colorado Springs Weddings and Receptions

Photography Style

By Conrad Smith, editor of The Purple Book

Even though every photographer has a style of his own, there are some general categories
of style that photographers fit into. You will need to decide what style will be best for you.

How can you make sure this happens?

Some will provide a studio background and lighting at the wedding site so you can have
posed formal portraits. Others will use the ambiance of the site itself to pose their portraits,
while still others will shoot candids in a photo-journalistic style.

Almost all photographers provide at least some posed shots of the two of you and your
wedding party at the altar or with the ceremony site as the background.

Some photographers will have a blend of these styles but it is best not to assume what
their style is. Ask them for examples of their style and see if your expectations of that
style fit with their examples.

All photographers should be able to flex their style a bit to please you but it is best not
to expect a photographer with a formal-posed style to take photo-journalistic (candid)
style of pictures with the same expertise that a photo-journalist would and vice-versa.

We would like to suggest, however, a basic list of pictures you will probably want the
photographer to take regardless of which style he or she uses.

Of course there is an unlimited choice of other pictures that can be photographed at your
wedding and reception, but we have heard horror stories about brides who were very
disappointed with their pictures because the photographer failed to get a picture the bride
really wanted. She had wrongly assumed the photographer would automatically get that shot.

Our best advice is to communicate with the photographer for every important picture
you want. Don’t make assumptions just because he or she fits your style expectations.