WEDDING HINTS & TIPS | THE FIVE THINGS WHICH CAN HAVE AN AFFECT ON YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS
INTRO BEFORE THE INTRO..
As with all my wedding hints and tips, everything I share comes from what I’ve personally seen and experienced over the years. These posts and videos aren’t about telling you what you must do — they’re simply observations, ideas, and talking points between friends. Think of them as real-world insights to help you plan your wedding in a way that works best for you.
INTRO
I’ve been meaning to write this blog post for a while now, but I could never quite get the wording right — so here goes.
As a wedding photographer, I’d love to say that the final results of your wedding photos are entirely down to me… but that’s just not true. In my experience, there are five main factors (or categories of factors) that have the biggest impact on how your wedding photos turn out.
They’re listed below in no particular order — I don’t believe any one is more important than the others, they’re simply in the order they came to mind.
THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Choosing your wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning your big day.
Some couples see it as just another item on the wedding to-do list — they’ll do a quick search, find someone available within their budget, and tick the box. Job done.
But the truth is, there’s a lot more to finding the right wedding photographer.
When I chat with couples, I often finish our Zoom call by saying: “There are three things that matter most when booking a wedding photographer — the style, the person, and the price.” For this blog post, I’m focusing on the first two.
Wedding photography comes in many styles, and each one will have a different impact on your day — not just in how the photos look, but in how your wedding feels while they’re being taken.
DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE AND IMPACT
Let’s start with my own approach — documentary wedding photography.
This style has, in my opinion, the least interference on your wedding day. It’s all about letting events unfold naturally, without constant posing, staging, or directing. Your guests won’t be told where to stand, what to do, or how to “smile” at the camera — they can simply enjoy the day.
The result? A relaxed, natural atmosphere where the photos reflect real moments — people talking, laughing, hugging, maybe even shedding a tear. They’re candid, authentic, and full of life.
That said, with documentary photography, you won’t get endless images of people looking straight at the camera. Instead, you’ll have a beautiful, informal record of your day as it truly happened.
TRADITIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE AND IMPACT
At the other end of the spectrum is the more traditional style of wedding photography. Here, much of the day is directed by the photographer — from where people stand to how they pose and when to smile.
This approach usually results in more formal, posed images where guests are looking straight at the camera. A significant chunk of the day (often a couple of hours) can be dedicated to these set-up shots, creating a gallery with a higher number of classic, camera-facing portraits.
PERSONALITY OF THE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Beyond style, the personality of your wedding photographer can have a huge impact on your final images.
A brash, loud, or arrogant photographer may cause guests to feel uneasy or even avoid being photographed altogether, resulting in a set of images that feel distant and impersonal.
In contrast, a photographer who is friendly, relaxed, and calm will put people at ease, making it easier to capture natural, intimate moments throughout the day.
In short, the style and the personality of your photographer are two of the biggest factors in shaping the look and feel of your wedding photos.
THE VENUE AND RESTRICTIONS
The venue you choose — and any rules it comes with — can have a huge impact on the images your photographer can capture.
For example, Church weddings often come with strict limitations on where a photographer can stand, especially compared to civil or humanist ceremonies. In some cases, I’ve even been told I couldn’t enter the Church at all during the ceremony, which meant the couple had no photos of that part of the day. Yes, it really does happen.
Lighting is another big factor. A dark or dimly lit venue will naturally create moodier, more atmospheric images, while an outdoor, sunlit setting will give you bright, airy photographs.
THE WEDDING PLANS
The way you plan your wedding day will have a huge impact on the variety of images you end up with.
If your day is packed with entertainment — lawn games, music, activities, or little surprises — there will naturally be more variety in the photos, with plenty of candid moments to capture.
If you’d prefer a relaxed vibe where guests simply sit back, chat, and enjoy the sunshine, that’s absolutely fine too — the images will reflect that calmer atmosphere.
On the flip side, I’ve photographed weddings where guests arrived, sat in the bar, moved to the ceremony, congratulated the couple, sat in the garden, sat down for food and speeches… and then sat for the rest of the evening. In situations like this, the photos tend to be quite similar, as there’s not much changing or happening visually.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to keep your guests busy during the quieter moments, check out my blog post: 10 Ideas to Keep Your Wedding Guests Entertained.
THE WEATHER - RAIN, WIND & SUN
This is an obvious one, but it has to be on this list.
If you’re planning an outdoor wedding with visions of warm sunshine and golden light, but the big day arrives cold, wet, and windy, it’s naturally going to change the look of your images. You might have been expecting a soft, summery feel, but if the weather turns, the photos will reflect those moodier skies and indoor moments instead.
The weather will also play a big role in your family formal photos—especially if you’ve already picked a location in mind. I always tell my couples it’s best to choose the spot on the day itself, because conditions can change everything. The sun might be too harsh, the wind too strong, or there might be something unexpected in the background. And if the weather really isn’t playing ball, we may need to move indoors—assuming the venue has enough space to make it work.
One of the most extreme examples I’ve experienced was back in early 2021. The couple were getting married at 1pm on what, at first glance, seemed like a dream winter’s day—bright sunshine and clear skies. Sounds perfect, right?
The problem came when it was time for the ceremony. The room was almost entirely glass, and the afternoon sun was streaming straight through it.
The moment I walked in and saw the groom standing in full sunlight, I knew it was going to be a tricky one to photograph. Once the ceremony began and the couple turned to face each other, the bride was looking directly into the sun—so much so that she had to shield her eyes with her hand. To make things worse, the wooden window frames behind her were now casting awkward shadows right across the groom’s face.
It’s a perfect example of why I always recommend having your final meeting with the venue at the same time of day as your ceremony. That way, you can see exactly how the light will fall and avoid any last-minute surprises.
THE PEOPLE
The people you invite to your wedding can have a big impact on your photos.
If your guest list is full of more reserved, non-emotional types, chances are there’ll be fewer tears, hugs, and visible reactions for me to capture. On the other hand, if you’ve got close friends and family who aren’t afraid to show their emotions, you’ll likely end up with plenty of heartfelt, expressive moments in your images.
The same applies to the evening party. If your guests love a good boogie, the dancefloor will be packed and the photos will be full of energy and movement. But if most people would rather avoid dancing altogether, the dancefloor might be looking a little… spacious, and your photos will reflect that.
There’s not much you can do to change “who” your guests are—after all, they’re your people—but it’s worth knowing how their personalities can influence the overall feel of your wedding photos.
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