All Things Cinematic Wedding Photography and Who It’s Right For

When it comes to wedding photography, there are a ton of different styles that you will find out there that each capture your wedding in its own unique way. One of these styles is cinematic wedding photography. 

As a photographer myself, I love to use this style to capture my couples and show off their love. And, while each cinematic wedding photographer’s style is going to be slightly different, it is an amazing way to capture such an important day like your wedding. 

So, let’s dive into what cinematic wedding photography actually is and talk about if it may be the perfect style for you and your partner on your wedding day! 

What is Cinematic Wedding Photography?

First and foremost, let’s talk about what cinematic wedding photography actually is. This style of wedding photography really focuses on telling a story but also leans very heavily into different artistic approaches to telling it. 

With cinematic photos, you almost feel as if you are watching a movie. You can look back on the photos 30 years from now and feel connected to them, feel the emotions of that day, and feel like you are right back there saying your vows or doing your first look. 

Now, I say that it is a mix of telling a story and art which is totally true. Just like any other cinematography, these photos focus on telling the story of the day, the emotions that were felt, all of the small details that took place, but it goes beyond just capturing them as they are. 

Cinematic photography also has a sense of art to it. You’ll find that things like composition, lighting, and angles play a big role in not just capturing a photo, but creating a scene. 

If you think back to some of your favorite movies that you have watched, most likely the thing that draws you in is how the story and the emotions were captured by the filmmakers. 

The Notebook wouldn’t be The Notebook if it was directed and told by someone else. It is the way that the emotions were captured, the scenes that were laid out, and of course, the love that the actors portrayed. 

Well, you and your partner already have the love part covered so cinematic wedding photography is a way to capture all of the rest in a way that makes your love story feel grand and dramatic and unique. 

How is it Different From Other Styles? 

Now, this is great, but how does cinematic wedding photography actually differ from other styles? I mean, you may be thinking that at the end of the day isn’t every style supposed to show off the story of your wedding? 

And to an extent, you’re right. Most wedding photography styles do put a big emphasis on capturing the day as a whole and giving you photos that allow you to look back and remember each and every part of the day. 

However, what makes a cinematic style different from other styles is how your story is actually told. 

Take documentary style. This style puts a big emphasis on almost being a fly on the wall. It is about capturing your day exactly how it happens with very little posing throughout the day. 

While documentary style and cinematic style wedding photography share their goal to document your wedding day, how it is actually done and portrayed in your photos can feel very different. 

With cinematic photography, you will definitely take some time to set up posed photos and capture specific images that are going to set the scene and highlight specific portions of your wedding. 

You may find that you have a few more photos that are more artistically composed and utilize things like angles, reflections, different lighting, blurs, etc to give you a more unique photo. Documentary style, on the other hand, focuses much more on capturing candid moments than posed moments (although you can definitely still get amazing portraits with this style). 

One of the biggest differences that you may notice between cinematic style and other styles of wedding photography, however, is how dramatic the photos can feel. In general, things like the lighting and the scene composition will make your photos feel deep and bold and like they could almost be the cover of a book or a movie poster about a love story. 

Who is This Style of Wedding Photography Right For?  

Now that you know a bit about cinematic wedding photography, let’s talk about who this style is right for. Just like with everything in life, people are going to have their own unique taste and style and just because one style works well for someone, doesn’t mean it will be the right choice for everyone. 

When it comes to picking your style, you really want to take a look at two main things. First, is how the end product actually looks and second is what that style means for the timeline for your wedding day. 

So, when we are thinking about the end product, your final wedding gallery, take some time to look at other cinematic wedding photos and envision yourself in those images. Is this how you want to look back at your wedding? Do you like the more artistic images that are captured or would you rather have something more straightforward? 

It’s also important to think about your wedding day timeline and how this style fits into it. For example, you may spend a bit more time taking portraits with cinematic wedding photography than with documentary or candid style photography. 

So, how can you plan for this in your timeline? What does your day look like and how can you make sure that you have enough time to get everything that you want out of the day? 

In general, cinematic wedding photography is great for couples who are looking for emotionally driven photos that also have a more evocative and dramatic feel to them. It is also a great style for couples who are creative and want something a bit more unique for their wedding and aren’t afraid to try new things in order to capture stunning moments. 

Will I Only Get Posed Photos? 

One question that may have come to mind as you are reading all of this is will you only get posed photos and the answer is no. There is absolutely room for more candid and in-the-moment photos throughout the day with cinematic wedding photography. 

For the most part, you can expect for more of the portrait style, individual photos to be the ones that are more posed and composed. In reality, it is not that different from other styles in that sense. 

However, it is always a good idea to talk to your photographer beforehand and communicate what you are looking for and what your ideal day would look like for your wedding. 

If there are things that you definitely want to do or capture, be sure to let them know that so they can make sure to plan that out for you. And, if there are things you don’t want to do, it is just as important to communicate that as well! 

Final Thoughts on Cinematic Style Wedding Photography 

There you have it, all things cinematic wedding photography and how to know if it is the right style for you. At the end of the day, how your wedding is told through your photos is really important because this is a day that you can’t go back and re-do. 

This means it is really important that you take time together to think about what you want for this day, what is most important to you, and how you want to look back on it 10, 20, 30 years down the line. 

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what style you want. The most important thing is that you and your partner are comfortable and happy when it comes to your wedding photography. 

If you do think that a cinematic style is perfect for your wedding, I would love to chat with you. Not only do I have a cinematic, authentic, and romantic style to my wedding photography, but I also love preservering memories and creating art that you and your partner are obsessed with. 

You can learn more about my wedding photography services here or you can head over here to get in touch and chat about how we can bring your vision to life!

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