When planning your wedding photography, you may come across two seemingly opposite styles:
traditional wedding photography and contemporary wedding photography.
At first glance, it can feel like a big decision — as though choosing one means giving up the other.
In reality, most couples don’t need to choose at all.
This guide explains what each style really means, how they differ, and how most modern weddings naturally include elements of both.
What Is Traditional Wedding Photography?
Traditional wedding photography focuses on structure and familiarity.
It typically includes:
Classic couple portraits
Family and group photographs
Clear direction and posing
Timeless, straightforward compositions
This style is often important for:
Parents and grandparents
Formal family records
Key group photographs that stand the test of time
Traditional photography isn’t outdated — it’s simply intentional and organised, ensuring important people and moments are captured clearly.
What Is Contemporary Wedding Photography?
Contemporary wedding photography is a modern, stylised approach that often draws inspiration from fashion and editorial imagery.
At its most distinctive, it can involve:
Carefully planned shots
Direction and posing
Creative composition
Sometimes artificial lighting or special effects
This approach often aims to create a small number of visually striking images, rather than documenting the full flow of the day.
It can produce dramatic results, but it may also:
Take more time
Interrupt the natural pace of the wedding
Feel more structured or staged
Why the Confusion Exists
Many couples use the word contemporary to mean:
Modern
Natural
Not old-fashioned
In practice, that’s often closer to natural or documentary photography than true editorial-style contemporary work.
This is where misunderstandings happen — and why couples sometimes worry they’re choosing the “wrong” style.
Do You Have to Choose Between Them?
For most couples, the answer is no.
A typical wedding day might include:
Traditional family photographs for loved ones
Relaxed couple portraits with gentle guidance
Natural, documentary-style moments throughout the day
Trying to force your wedding into one strict category often creates unnecessary pressure.
How Most Modern Weddings Are Photographed
In reality, most modern wedding photography is a blend.
Couples usually want:
The reassurance of classic family photos
The authenticity of real moments
Portraits that feel relaxed, not stiff
A day that flows naturally without constant interruption
This is why many photographers work in a hybrid way, adapting their approach as the day unfolds rather than following a rigid formula.
Traditional, Contemporary… or Something More Flexible?
Instead of asking:
“Which style should we choose?”
It’s often more helpful to ask:
Do we want our day to feel relaxed?
Do we want real moments captured naturally?
Do we still want important family photos?
Do we want guidance without being over-directed?
If the answer is “yes” to a mixture of these, a flexible, hybrid approach is usually the best fit.
If you’d like a clearer explanation of how this works in practice, you can read more about hybrid wedding photography and how it adapts to real wedding days.
What Really Matters When Choosing a Photographer
Photography styles are useful — but they’re not the most important factor.
What matters more is:
How comfortable you feel with your photographer
Whether their couples look relaxed and natural
How well they adapt to different moments
Whether their approach feels reassuring rather than rigid
A great photographer understands when to guide — and when to step back.
In Simple Terms
Traditional photography provides structure and timeless family images
Contemporary photography focuses on stylised, modern imagery
Most couples don’t need to choose one or the other
A balanced approach allows you to have both, without your wedding day feeling staged or stressful
Get In Touch
If you’d like more information, please get in touch – here or browse through my website to learn more about my wedding photography style – here.