To many couples, photography is one of the most important elements of their wedding day. After all, once the flowers have died and the food eaten, your memories and pictures are all that is left from the great day…aside from your new marriage, of course.

Because of the evolution in wedding photography over the past 10 to 15 years, there are many buzz words like “photojournalism” and “fashion photography” out there that can confuse a new couple searching for a wedding photographer. Look through magazines and photographer’s websites to see what you like and don’t like, but most importantly, read on for a brief description of some of the styles you’ll come across while searching for your perfect photographer:

PHOTOJOURNALISM OR CANDID PHOTOGRAPHY
Photojournalism is technically what news photographers and reporters are doing when they are capturing a moment as it happens rather than creating a moment. Many couples love this idea when it comes to their wedding day. Because there are many tender moments that occur throughout the entire wedding day, the end result is a wedding album and prints that truly tell the story of your wedding day from you buttoning your dress to the last dance of the reception. Images that were shot by a candid or photojournalistic style photographer usually incorporate more black and white images and capturing of the details such as pictures of each place setting at dinner. Think JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bassett kissing in front of the little white chapel on their wedding day.

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY
This is the newest trend in wedding photography with photographers using super rich color in their images and shooting posed scenes that look like they might be found in a fashion magazine. Fashion photographers incorporate a different level of creativity creating moments such as you and your bridesmaids shopping in a grocery store all decked out in your wedding attire, or you and your fiancée literally stopping traffic in the middle of a busy intersection. The poses are creative and detailed. Expect to be treated like a super model, receiving very specific guidance from your photographer on how to hold your head and shoulders right down to how to curve your pinky. The end result is super hip images of you looking like a model with her groom in toe.

TRADITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
While passé for a bit, many couples are loving the idea of pictures of them in the exact same pose that their parents were in on their wedding day. It is very retro yet classic all at the same time. Traditional wedding photography includes posed pictures of you and your fiancée throughout the wedding day. Posing in front of the church, wedding cake, at the dinner table, etc. To determine if this is the style of photography you like for your day, pull out your parents wedding album and flip through.

No matter what type of wedding photography you prefer, consider finding an artist who may specialize in one area, but has the talent to produce images in a variety of style. While you may love the idea of your groom and his groomsmen posing on top of a tall building, mom is still going to like the simplicity of a nice portrait of the two of you and on top of it all, you will of course want the photographer to capture the look in your eyes when you see each other for the first time on your wedding day.

Good luck and check out the following links to help you find the best wedding photographer for you…