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Five unique wedding photography styles for something different

A vintage Polaroid camera - The LIFE Picture Collection
A vintage Polaroid camera - The LIFE Picture Collection

Wedding photography used to be about posing awkwardly in a line with your brand new in-laws, hoping your hairstyle wouldn't look too ridiculous on the mantelpiece in 20 years' time.

That's all changed in the last few years with the boom of the wedding industry.

Now it's one more way for brides and grooms to express their personalities, with an endless variety of options available. Couples of a cultural persuasion and those with an artistic side, in particular, are increasingly making sure their wedding-day mementoes are works of art in their own right.

Here are five unique styles of wedding photography to help you make sure that the photos that you'll be looking at for a lifetime are as beautiful as can be.

Bride and bridegroom walking through rain - Credit: Corbis RF Stills
Bride and bridegroom walking through rain Credit: Corbis RF Stills

1. Fine art wedding photography

What's often called "fine art style" wedding photography is usually quite traditional and classic, but with added filmic touches and influences from fashion editorial shoots in magazines. Wedding photographers who shoot in this style often have a background in fashion or portrait photography, and specialise in making your wedding snaps look romantic, dreamlike and, above all, beautiful.

These fine art images are from Belle and Beau Fine Art Photography. Holly at Belle and Beau is based in Yorkshire, and on her website describes her style as "relaxed, natural and organic". "I strongly believe there is a craft behind creating beautiful wedding photography that truthfully tells the story of your day whilst making you and your wedding look its absolute most beautiful," she says. "We cater to a very discerning client who appreciates photography and wants the best wedding photography experience possible."

What to expect: The bride and groom to look like the romatic leads in their own film. Plenty of tasteful shots of all the important accessories of the day, too, from the bridal gown to the table decorations.

What to google: Fine art photography, fashion photography, editorial photography

2. Reportage wedding photography

An example of reportage wedding photography - Credit: Jack Davolio 
An example of reportage wedding photography Credit: Jack Davolio

If the thought of posing for hundreds of stiff, formal wedding shots gives you the fear, a reportage-style wedding photographer might be the perfect fit. This sort of photographer often has a background in photojournalism and news, so they excel at capturing blink-and-you'll-miss-them moments that tell the story of the day without your guests even noticing. Even if you don't see your best childhood friends sharing a silly giggle during the ceremony, or your granddad tearing up during the groom's speech, your eagle-eyed reportage wedding photographer will capture it all.

These reportage images are from wedding photographer Jack Davolio, who describes his work as "simple, creative reportage-style wedding photography". Jack is based in London and promises his style will "never 'command and control' but just capture the day as it unfolds - it is a day for you to enjoy first of all".

What to expect: The unexpected. Moments from your day that you had no idea were being caught on camera.

What to google: Reportage, photojournalism, candid photography

3. Quirky wedding photography

Bright and quirky photography is a fantastic way to capture your special day - Credit: Hannah Millard
Bright and quirky photography is a fantastic way to capture your special day Credit: Hannah Millard

Traditional flowers, romance and pastel-pink colour palettes might leave you cold. If you're more of a fun-loving, totally individual type, there are plenty of laid-back and quirky photographers who specialise in capturing free-spirited, out-of-the-ordinary wedding parties that don't take themselves too seriously. This type of photographer can be a great way of busting wedding nerves and helping everyone to relax, especially if lots of your wedding guests don't already know each other. Some quirky photographers can photoshop you flying through the air, bring along props to hold, think up games to play (the groomsmen carrying the bridesmaids in a piggyback race is a favourite) or devise whole photo stories like this epic zombie-themed wedding shoot.

International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers reveal competition winners, in pictures
International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers reveal competition winners, in pictures

These quirky wedding photos are courtesy of Hannah Millard at Camera Hannah. Hannah is based in Derbyshire, and her photography service promises "something a bit different. You're probably a bit camera shy, or a lot camera shy but photography is important to you. You want someone that you can trust who will keep things relaxed and help the day to move smoothly. You want some creative, relaxed portraits of the two of you together, a tiny handful of laid back family group shots but mostly you want a record of your day." Her own wedding was video game-themed and she clutched a bouquet of cameras.

What to expect: Zany props, minor stunts, photos that reflect your own personal tastes and hobbies, and plenty of fun and laughter.

What to google: Quirky wedding photography, creative wedding photography, lighthearted wedding photography, unique wedding photography

4. Vintage wedding photography

There's something about vintage-style photos that makes everything look extra romantic. Vintage and rustic themed weddings - with decorations made from old twine and pots of homemade jam as wedding favours - are always popular, and require the right photographer to show them at their best. Vintage specialist photographers can make your wedding look as if it happened in another age, either by the clever use of photoshop filters or by using film and/or retro 35mm or medium format cameras. Not just for Instagram addicts.

Another way to get the vintage photo look is to give your guests Polaroid or disposable cameras, so they can capture the day themselves in a lo-fi way.

Vintage photographs will make your wedding memories feel even more romantic  - Credit: Harriet/weddingsvintage.com
Vintage photographs will make your wedding memories feel even more romantic Credit: Harriet/weddingsvintage.com

These vintage photos are by Harriet at weddingsvintage.com. She's based in south Manchester (but wishes she'd been born in California in the Sixties) and likes vintage cameras and classic cars. Harriet has spent most of her adult life behind a camera - for eight years she worked as a TV documentary-maker - and her inspiration comes from Fifties Hollywood and the glamorous stars of its day: "I wanted to create a post-production style that would give the impression that the photos could have been taken on film, feeling timeless and classic." And it's fair to say that her work does exactly that.

What to expect: Timeless photos that look instantly nostalgic and romantic.

What to google: Vintage wedding, retro wedding photography, lomography wedding

5. Trash the dress

The craziest wedding photos possible?  - Credit: Emily Johnston/Photographic Blonde
The craziest wedding photos possible? Credit: Emily Johnston/Photographic Blonde

What to do with your dress after you've said "I do"? Some people keep it packed away in the wardrobe for ever more, but there are photographers who offer a more fun alternative: trashing it, and taking photos of the results. This can involve covering it with paint in your favourite colours (above), having your bridesmaids rip it off you, doing a muddy assault course in it or wearing it somewhere a little inappropriate. A bowling alley or the beach, for example. But be warned: some trash the dress shoots involving fire or the sea can be very dangerous, so don't get carried away.

These trash the dress photos are by Emily Johnston at Photographic Blonde. Emily trained at the London College of Fashion and has a creative and spontaneous, fashion-influenced photography style.

What to expect: Your dress to get totally ruined. Photos that are fun, silly, and help you to let off steam after the big day.

What to google: Trash the dress, rock the frock, crazy wedding photography, fearless bridal

This article was originally published in 2014.

Wedding essentials | Read more
Wedding essentials | Read more