How to Choose a Wedding Photographer: Fine Art, Documentary, and Cinematic Styles Explained
When you picture looking back at your wedding album in twenty years’ time, what do you want to feel?
That’s the real question when it comes to choosing your photographer.
It’s not just about images that look beautiful on Instagram; it’s about whether they capture the atmosphere and emotion of your day, in a way that feels authentic to you.
Photograph captured by Lee Allison.
To help you explore your options, I’ve interviewed three experts: Jen, a Fine Art Wedding Photographer, Lee, a Documentary Wedding Photographer, and Dan, a Cinematic Wedding Videographer and Photographer. Their insights reveal not only how their approaches differ, but also what you should think about when choosing the right style for your big day.
Alongside their advice, you’ll also see planner tips from me, practical guidance to help you make a confident, informed decision.
Photography captured by Jennifer Jane
Step One: Start With the Feeling You Want From Your Wedding Photos
Before you think about technical photography styles, start by asking yourself what you want to feel when you look back at your photos.
For Lee, it comes down to storytelling: his couples often say his work “tells the story of the day” and “captures emotion and character” in a way that feels true to them.
Jen frames it perfectly: “Imagine yourself flicking through your wedding album in 20 years’ time. What do you want to feel? If you want to laugh, cry, and remember the day exactly as it was (but prettier), go for a style that feels natural and timeless.”
And Dan echoes this, encouraging couples to look beyond the visuals: “Ask yourself how the films make you feel. Do you feel moved, connected, or like you know the couple personally? That’s usually the sign of the right style for you.”
Planner Tip: When scrolling galleries or Instagram, pause to notice your gut reaction.
Do you just like the composition, or does it make you feel something? Emotion is the compass that points you toward your style.
Photograph captured by Lee Allison.
Fine Art Wedding Photography: Is It the Right Style for You?
If you’re drawn to timeless elegance, painterly light, and a touch of editorial polish, Fine Art Wedding Photography might be your match.
Jen describes her work as “light, painterly, and romantic with a little editorial flair”, where soft pastels and timeless tones meet unscripted real-life moments.
She explains: “It’s romantic but not sugary, elegant but not stuffy. Basically, it’s real life, just prettier.”
See more of Jennifer’s work on her Instagram.
Documentary Wedding Photography: Why Couples Love the Storytelling Approach
Lee leans into a documentary style, capturing the wedding day as it unfolds naturally. But he also blends in refined editorial moments when it comes to portraits and details.
“Being a wedding photographer is about combining different approaches throughout the day depending on the circumstances,” he explains.
Documentary wedding photography is for couples who want natural, real, authentic coverage of their day, without heavy posing or filters.
See more of Lee’s work on his Instagram.
Cinematic Wedding Photography and Videography: Reliving the Day Through Film
For couples who want to immerse themselves back in their wedding day, cinematic wedding photography and videography offers something unique.
Dan explains: “I focus on genuine moments, emotions, and atmosphere rather than staging everything. I want couples to look back and feel like they’re reliving their day, not watching something that was overly posed.”
Editing is a huge part of Dan’s process. By carefully choosing music and sound design, he creates wedding films that are emotional, immersive, and true to the couple’s personality. “It’s not just about showing what happened, it’s about making couples feel what happened,” he says.
See an example of Dan’s work from his Instagram below:
How Wedding Photographers Approach the Day: Blending Natural Moments with Gentle Direction
While every photographer has their own creative style, one thing all three agree on is that the best photos happen when couples feel relaxed and genuine.
None of them are about stiff posing or forcing moments, instead, they each strike that balance between letting the day unfold naturally and offering a little guidance when it’s needed.
Jen describes herself as the “friendly sat-nav of your wedding day”, there to gently steer you in the right direction, but mostly letting you be yourselves. For her, the magic happens in those in-between moments: the laughter, the glances, the chaos that can’t be staged.
Lee takes a similar approach, allowing moments to happen organically but stepping in with light direction if it helps capture the best version of the moment. He also highlights something many couples overlook: “Having a planner is also key as it means everything will run smoothly and we can then allocate enough time for photos. Sometimes if there’s no planner, things overrun and then time is tight for photos.”
For Dan, comfort is everything. He lets the day flow naturally, giving only subtle cues when couples need a bit of confidence in front of the camera. As he says, it’s never about forcing something that doesn’t feel real, it’s about helping couples feel completely at ease so their connection shines through.
Whether Fine Art, Documentary, or Cinematic, their shared goal is the same: to tell your story truthfully and beautifully, without ever taking you out of the moment.
Planner Tip: And as Lee highlights, this is exactly where having a planner can transform the experience. A smooth timeline means your photographer has breathing room to capture both portraits and those unscripted moments without stress.
Photograph captured by Jennifer Jane
Wedding Photography Editing Styles: Why They Matter
Many couples focus on how a photographer captures the wedding day, the poses, the direction, the moments. But the editing process plays just as powerful a role in shaping your final gallery or film. It’s in the edit that your story comes together, colours are refined, and the emotion is enhanced.
For Dan, editing is where the emotion comes alive. His cinematic process goes far beyond colour correction, it’s about storytelling. He carefully chooses music, builds rhythm through pacing, and weaves together candid and cinematic shots to create films that are immersive, heartfelt, and deeply personal. “It’s not just about showing what happened,” he says. “It’s about making couples feel what happened.”
Lee’s approach is rooted in realism. With over a decade of experience in graphic design, he’s meticulous about keeping his images true to life. He avoids trends or heavy filters in favour of vibrant, accurate colours, exactly how the day looked and felt. “No muted tones here,” he insists, and that authenticity is what makes his galleries timeless.
For Jen, editing is a form of artistry. She describes her work as “painterly and polished”, balancing soft, romantic tones with natural colours and true-to-life skin tones. It’s that care for detail that gives her galleries their signature cohesive, fine art feel.
Planner Tip: Don’t just rely on Instagram highlights. Always ask to see full galleries or films, that’s where you’ll truly understand a photographer’s editing style.
Photograph captured by Lee Allison
What Couples Love Most About Their Wedding Photography
Each of these photographers has their own creative fingerprint, but what unites them is the emotion they draw out of their work, and how that makes their couples feel.
Lee’s couples talk about how comfortable he makes them feel, how he captures not just faces but character and emotion. They love that their photos “tell the story of the day” and that he somehow manages to “be everywhere at once” while still blending in.
Jen’s clients often fall in love with the tiny, in-between glances they didn’t even notice on the day; the natural smiles, fleeting looks, and unguarded moments that tell the truest story.
For Dan’s couples, it’s the emotional resonance that stands out most. They often say his films feel like “being there again”, the laughter, the tears, the energy of it all. He captures not only how the day looked, but exactly how it felt.
Final Advice for Choosing a Wedding Photographer
Photograph captured by Jennifer Jane
Still not sure which photography style is right for you? Each photographer shared their advice for couples starting the search.
Dan encourages couples to look deeper: “Look beyond just the visuals, emotion should be the deciding factor.”
Jen suggests beginning with emotion: “Stalk some galleries, see what makes your heart skip a beat, and trust your gut.”
Lee recommends a more practical starting point: “Start by looking at different styles and save images you like. You’ll likely see a pattern of what you really love and then hone in on that style.”
Planner Tip: Personality matters as much as portfolio. You’ll spend hours with your photographer on one of the most important days of your life, so make sure their energy feels like the right fit for you.
Photograph captured by Lee Allison
Conclusion: How to Pick the Best Wedding Photographer for You
There’s no single “best” style of wedding photography, only the one that feels most like you. Whether that’s Jen’s romantic Fine Art, Lee’s authentic Documentary approach, or Dan’s Cinematic storytelling, the most important thing is that the images (and films) move you.
Because the real legacy of your wedding photos isn’t just how they look, it’s how they make you feel, every time you look back.
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Supplier Spotlight
The photos and videos featured in this post were captured by: Lee Allison - who specialises in documentary photography, with an editorial edge; Jennifer Jane - who specialises in fine art photography; and Dan Pitman - who specialises in cinematic videography.
