The 14 ideas here run from a free backdrop like a weeping willow near your venue to a night pool shot that needs good lighting and a camera that can handle it.
Which one is yours depends on what your venue already gives you: a historic manor, a church door, a wood-paneled room or a forest path costs nothing extra, while a vineyard can add access fees and a photographer’s travel costs.
Check the venue first, then pick the shot.
1. Candid Wedding Photos with Unscripted Reactions
Candid frames depend on a photographer who stays out of the way. A kiss in the middle of a circle of bridesmaids and groomsmen, with the trees soft behind, is the kind of moment nobody can stage.
When you interview photographers, ask to see a full gallery, not a highlight reel, so you can check how many unposed frames sit between the portraits. I would pick the one whose gallery has plenty of faces caught mid-laugh.
Give the wedding party a clear place to stand during the kiss, and the reactions around you will take care of themselves.
2. Modern Wedding Photos
A long train needs room to run, and a stone arched corridor gives it a long, clear stretch of floor to trail across.
For a modern look, I would choose the location before anything else. Have the photographer scout the spot ahead of time, or at least send you a few frames shot there.
Hallways and arcades like this are often found at the venue itself, which saves you a travel fee.
3. Pool Wedding Photos
Splashing in a pool at night means the dress and suit are done for the evening, so plan this one for the end of the reception. Guests nearby and the outdoor decor in the background add to the party feel.
Talk to your photographer ahead of time, because night water shots need good lighting and a camera that can handle it. I would also hand a towel and a dry change of clothes to a friend before anyone steps in.
4. Dramatic Wedding Photos
A weeping willow does half the work: the hanging branches frame a couple like a curtain. Golden hour supplies the rest, with low warm light across the lawn.
Schedule the portraits around sunset, not around the clock. I would ask the photographer to check what time the sun goes down on your date and build the timeline backward from it.
A tree this size is a free backdrop, so look for one near your venue before paying for any decor.
5. Sparkler Wedding Photos
Two tall sparkler fountains with a gap between them make a frame for a kiss, and guests holding sparklers add a glowing crowd behind. Red doors give the whole scene a strong color anchor.
Spark fountains need a dark sky to read well, so plan this one after sunset. I would rehearse it once with your photographer, since the sparks last only briefly and you get few tries.
Tell guests where to stand before anything is lit.
6. Reflective Wedding Photos with Mirrors
Shoot from a low angle, because a reflection shows best near the ground. Place the arch at the end of the aisle so the doubled flowers sit right behind you.
Call the venue first to confirm they allow a mirrored surface on sand, since many beaches and sites have rules about it.
7. Billowing Veil Portraits
A veil with enough fabric to wrap around both of you turns an embrace into a private room made of tulle. Against a dark beach, the sheer layers catch light and glow around the pair.
I would ask the photographer how they plan to light it, since a veil this size needs a light source close by to show up in the dark.
Keep the pose simple: hold each other, kiss, and let the fabric do the rest.
8. Forest Pathway Walk Shots
Walking beats posing for anyone who feels stiff in front of a camera. A stone path through golden-green trees gives the two of you a built-in line to follow and something to look at besides the lens.
Have your photographer shoot from ahead and from behind as you walk, so you get both the faces and the long view down the path.
I would choose a path with trees on both sides, since the foliage frames the pair without any decor.
Wear shoes you can stroll in on stone.
9. Historic Manor Wedding Party Portraits
A deep porch gives a big group a roof, a backdrop and a clear place to line up. Ten people in formal clothes fit easily under one, so the wedding party can stand together without a crowded edge.
Check with the venue on whether the porch is open to you for portraits, and which time of day gives the best light.
I would have the photographer place people in 2 loose rows, taller friends at the back, so every face reads.
10. Vineyard Landscape Bridal Portraits
A dirt path between vineyard rows leads the eye straight to the bride, and a long veil gives that line a soft finish. Mountains behind add depth without any styling from you.
Look for a venue or vineyard that lets you walk the rows, and ask about access and fees early, since this is a location choice more than a pose.
I would stand still and let the veil hang, then take a second frame mid-step.
11. Groomsmen Sunglasses Portraits
Matching white dinner jackets with black bowties and dark sunglasses make a group look like a crew. The sunglasses are the cheap part: they add attitude to an outfit everyone is already wearing.
Buy or rent the same pair for each man so the shapes match. I would shoot this under shade, like a pergola, and have everyone stand shoulder to shoulder with the groom in the middle.
12. Black and White Architecture Portraits
Black and white strips a gown down to shape and texture, so a sparkling dress with a long cape reads through its drape and glitter. Classical stone stairs add lines and weight.
Tell the photographer early that you want monochrome, so they frame for contrast rather than color. I would let the cape fall down several steps and stand a few steps above the camera.
Ask whether the venue has stairs like these before booking a separate location.
13. Church Door Kiss Photos
Big wooden doors make a backdrop that needs no decor, and stone steps let you stand a little above the camera. A white gown against dark wood and a grey suit against pale stone keep both of you readable.
Ask the church early whether the steps and doors are open to you for portraits, and whether another service is booked around then.
I would kiss once straight on, then once with your faces turned toward each other, and keep the photographer a few steps back.
Wear shoes with grip, since stone steps get slick.
14. Wood-Paneled Indoor Group Portraits
A wood-paneled room works for a group portrait when the fireplace becomes the center line and the couple stands in the middle. Dark wood is warm and formal on its own, so the wedding party needs no extra styling.
Ask the venue which rooms are open for portraits, and book a slot before the reception fills them. I would put the couple at the center, with the others angled in on both sides so nobody hides behind a shoulder.
Indoor light is dim, so check whether the person shooting brings their own lighting.
The maker of this piece describes a stolen moment between the two of you at the reception, and a quiet room like this is a good place to slip away for one.
Choosing the Right Photographer
Start with the portfolio, and judge it for consistency.
A few stunning frames mean little if the rest of the gallery wavers in exposure, color or composition. Look for the same quality across a whole wedding.
Read client reviews next. Reviews from couples who had a similar day to yours, in size and setting, tell you the most.
Years in business, awards and industry recognition are worth a look, but I would weigh them below the work itself.
Match the style to your wedding. Classic, modern and cinematic storytelling are all real options, and a photographer who shoots one beautifully may not shoot another well.
Pricing should be spelled out. Ask what is included and get it in writing, so no line item surprises you later.
Finally, notice how fast and clearly they answer your emails. A responsive photographer before the wedding is usually a reliable one on the day.
Wedding Photography Trends
Trends are useful for one thing: knowing which styles exist so you can name what you like. Contemporary and classic are the 2 broad camps, and many photographers blend them.
I would put a photographer’s shooting style ahead of any trend. Look for one whose work tells the couple’s story, not one who repeats the same poses for everyone.
Natural lighting is worth asking about. A photographer who uses it well will give you soft, flattering images without heavy equipment.
Budget matters here too. Many photographers offer personalized packages at different price points, so ask what can be trimmed, such as hours or an album, before you cut quality.
Importance of Professional Wedding Photos
A wedding happens once, and the photos are what remain of it. They hold the emotions and small details that fade from memory within a few years.
Decide what kind of images you want before you book: cinematic storytelling, editorial-style portraits or documentary-style coverage. Each calls for a different photographer, and knowing your pick narrows the search fast.
Start with 2 numbers: what you can spend on photography, and how far the photographer has to travel to reach your venue, since mileage, lodging, and a flight can add hundreds of dollars to a quote.
A talented professional who fits your price is better than a famous one you stretch for.
Book early. The best photographers often get reserved quickly, so contact your top choices as soon as you have a date.
Fifty stunning wedding photos were just judged the best in the world in 2016 by renowned wedding photographers Mike and Shari Valley of Shari + Mike, Ben and Erin Chrisman of Chrisman Studios, and Benj Haisch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pictures should you get at a wedding?
Cover getting ready, the ceremony and the reception, then add a few portrait setups you pick in advance.
Good extras are a kiss framed by the wedding party, a walk down a tree-lined path, and a group shot with everyone angled toward the couple.
Pick your photo style before you start shopping, since cinematic storytelling, editorial portraits and documentary coverage each suit a different kind of shooter.
Is $4,500 a lot for a wedding photographer?
I can’t call that number high or low without knowing your venue and the photographer’s travel. Travel can add hundreds of dollars through mileage, lodging and a flight, so compare the full total rather than the base price.
What is a pre-wedding photo shoot?
It is a portrait session before the wedding day, and the only version I can speak to is scouting the location. Doing so tells you about the light, the backdrop and any access fees well ahead of the wedding.
