Let’s cut to the chase. Almost anything can go wrong on your wedding day, and in the end it won’t matter at all to you. Anything, that is, except your wedding photos. These photos are your permanent reminder of the day you exchanged your vows of commitment, the love that your guests brought to your union, and the joy that you shared together. Over time, even our most important memories fade and the reality is that the only thing you will have to remind you of your special day is your photographs. There is nothing more disappointing than discovering that these moments were not captured on film.

It is of utmost importance that you select a photographer that not only knows his or her craft well, but is absolutely reliable, knows how to allow for contingencies and understands exactly what you want to accomplish with your wedding pictures. It is also important to choose a person that you are comfortable with and whose presence you enjoy. You will be spending a great deal of time with this person, and you will want to to select them not only based upon their price and competence, but on their style and personality as well.

There are four approaches that photographers use and each will impact your photos in different ways.

Traditional

Traditional photography covers posed and structured photos of the ceremony, bridal party and the reception. It includes formal and informal portraits, arranged settings and the candid shots of the actual ceremony. Most couples like to include at least some of this style in their photographs. The photographer will need to know what shots are most important to you (examples: shot of exchanging rings, shot of the kiss, shot of brides or grooms with particular family members, shots of brides or grooms with wedding party). You will need to provide the photographer with a list of the shots you want along with the names of the people who should be in them. This will help the photographer to ensure that no important people are left out.
Photojournalistic

Photojournalistic pictures are not posed and require no direction from the photographer to the subjects. It is a style that focuses on capturing candid photos of people as they naturally are. This should not be confused with random candid photography. A good photojournalist tells a story with their pictures and is expert at capturing their subjects in a flattering manner while maintaining a spontaneous feel to the pictures.
Illustrative

Illustrative photography is strongly conceptual and looks like the type of photos you would see in a fashion magazine or commercial ad. These photos are planned by the photographer down to the tiniest detail and are usually done before or after the wedding rather than on the day of.
Creative
Creative photography uses unique angles, lighting and composition to interpret your event throught the photographer’s artistic eye. These photos can be posed or candid,and will have non-traditional elements to them.

The majority of wedding photographers use a combination of these styles, focusing heavily on traditional, since that is the style that most couples and their families seem to want. However, the most interesting and evocative wedding photos I have seen lean much more heavily on the photojournalistic style which creates a stronger sense of the emotions and movement of the day.