If you’re planning your wedding in 2024, you’re likely looking for ways to make every detail reflect your unique style — and that includes your wedding photos! Every year, new photography trends emerge, inspired by fresh takes on lighting, editing, and even posing. To help you stay up to date, I’ve put together the top wedding photography trends of 2024. Whether you’re aiming for timeless elegance or modern flair, these trends offer something for everyone. Let’s dive into what’s shaping wedding photography this year!
1. Editorial and Fashion-Inspired Portraits
Think high-fashion magazine meets wedding photography. In 2024, many couples are leaning toward editorial-style shots that highlight both the romance and style of their day. These photos often feature dramatic poses, unique angles, and a sense of artistic flair, giving couples a series of shots that look like they belong in a glossy magazine.
Why Couples Love It: This style allows you to celebrate your wedding in a glamorous, fashion-forward way that makes you look and feel like celebrities for the day.
Pro Tip: Talk with your photographer about incorporating a few fashion-inspired shots into your portrait session. Simple backgrounds, elegant attire, and dramatic lighting can bring this trend to life beautifully.
2. Candid and Documentary-Style Shots
Gone are the days of stiff, posed wedding photos! In 2024, couples are embracing a documentary approach, where the photographer captures the day as it unfolds naturally. These photos focus on raw, authentic moments — from laughter and happy tears to spontaneous dances and intimate glances. The goal is to tell a story that feels as real as the memories you’ll hold onto.
Why Couples Love It: Candid shots capture the true emotion and energy of the day, allowing you to relive the real moments rather than just the posed ones.
Pro Tip: Let go of the urge to pose and focus on enjoying your day. When you’re genuinely in the moment, the best photos come naturally.
3. Moody and Cinematic Editing Styles
In 2024, cinematic and moody edits are making a big splash. This editing style uses rich contrasts, deeper tones, and a slightly desaturated palette to create images with depth and drama. These photos feel cinematic, as if pulled from a love story on the big screen.
Why Couples Love It: The moody style adds a sense of timeless elegance and intimacy, perfect for couples who want their photos to feel like they’re part of an epic romance.
Pro Tip: If you love this look, discuss it with your photographer in advance. This style is created primarily in post-production, so it’s important to work with someone who has experience with this type of editing.
4. Drone Photography for Epic Aerial Shots
Drone photography continues to be popular in 2024, and for good reason! Drones allow photographers to capture sweeping aerial views of the wedding venue, scenic surroundings, and even the ceremony itself. These shots add a unique perspective, showcasing the setting in a way traditional photos can’t.
Why Couples Love It: Aerial photos provide a grand, cinematic view of the day. It’s perfect for weddings in scenic locations, whether you’re on a beach, in a forest, or at a sprawling estate.
Pro Tip: If you want drone shots, check with your venue to ensure drones are allowed, and ask your photographer if they’re licensed for drone use. Timing these shots during golden hour or sunset can make them even more magical.
5. Intimate Couple Moments (First Look & Private Vows)
More couples are opting for intimate pre-ceremony moments, like a private first look or reading vows alone together. These moments give you a break from the hustle and bustle of the day and offer an opportunity for deeply personal photos. Photographers capture these moments with a delicate, unobtrusive approach to preserve the emotion and sincerity.
Why Couples Love It: Having a private moment lets you connect with each other away from the crowd, making for heartfelt, beautiful photos that focus on your bond.
Pro Tip: Plan a quiet location at your venue for these moments. Communicate with your photographer about the kind of emotion you want captured, whether it’s joyful, romantic, or tearful.
6. Double Exposure and Creative Overlays
Double exposure and creative overlay techniques are trending this year, allowing photographers to merge two images into one for a dreamy, artistic effect. This could be an overlay of the couple with a beautiful landscape, or a close-up combined with a floral background. The result is a unique, almost surreal photo that has a strong artistic feel.
Why Couples Love It: This style creates one-of-a-kind images that are as much art as they are memories, adding an ethereal quality to the photos.
Pro Tip: Ask your photographer if they offer double exposure techniques. You can also share any favourite images you’ve seen for inspiration.
7. Black and White Elegance
Black and white photography is timeless, and in 2024, it’s making a comeback with an elegant twist. Black and white photos strip away colour distractions and bring the focus to emotion, light, and shadow. Many couples choose a mix of colour and black-and-white photos for a beautifully balanced album.
Why Couples Love It: Black and white photos feel classic and nostalgic, capturing emotion with an elegance that colour sometimes can’t.
Pro Tip: Choose a few specific moments to capture in black and white, like the first dance or a quiet moment together. These make stunning additions to any wedding album.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 wedding photography trends are all about creating a unique, personal, and memorable experience. From editorial portraits to candid moments and cinematic edits, these trends allow you to capture your wedding in a way that truly reflects your style. If you’re planning a wedding and are interested in any of these trends, I’d love to chat and help you bring your vision to life.
Ready to capture unforgettable memories? Contact me today to discuss how we can make your wedding photos a work of art!
