contemporary wedding photography style

8 Trending Wedding Photo Editing Styles To Explore

infographic blog banner

As a wedding photographer, it’s important to find ways to stand out from the rest. One way to do this is by perfecting your editing style. There are many different editing styles to choose from, and each one can help you create unique and beautiful images. No matter what wedding photo editing styles you choose, be sure to experiment and have fun with it! Most importantly, find a way to make it your own. Whether you’re looking to create a timeless look or want to go for a more modern feel, in this blog, discover trending photo editing styles that can add that wow to your photos and set you apart from the competition. 

How To Find Your Photography Editing Style

infographic stating pick a wedding photography editing style that suits your aesthetic

When it comes to wedding photography, editing can be the make-or-break factor in terms of creating stunning final images. In a highly competitive market, finding your own individual photography editing style can help you stand out from the rest.

There are a few things to consider when finding your wedding photography editing style. First, think about the overall look and feel you want to achieve with your images. Do you prefer a bright and airy style or something dark and moody? Once you have a general idea of the aesthetic you’re going for, start experimenting with different types of photo editing styles until you find the best workflow that works for you.

Top 10 Wedding Photography Editing Styles And Techniques

1. Vintage

a wedding couple dancing on their wedding reception
Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @robbmccormickphotography

Vintage wedding photos will never not be loved by couples! And even though it’s technically vintage, this popular wedding photography editing style is here to stay. Vintage wedding photography is all about adding an old-fashioned, retro feel to your photos. It’s perfect for outdoor as well as indoor photos! Increasing the warmth of the photo can give it an antique feel, while adding a vignette around the edges can help to further create the illusion of an old photo. Without sacrificing the convenience and versatility of a modern camera, photo editing software like Photoshop can enable you to achieve this throwback look in your wedding images.

Related Read: Create A Vintage Photo Effect In Lightroom

2. Black And White

a black and white image of a groom embracing the bride while the sun shine behinds them
Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @erinm_photography

Black and white wedding photos are classic and timeless. This wedding photo editing style can be used to create a range of different looks, from soft and romantic to stark and dramatic. Many couples prefer black and white photos because they feel that it captures the emotions of the day more effectively than color photos. To convert a wedding photo to black and white, you can use desaturate or grayscale adjustments or shoot monochrome in camera. By using these wedding photo editing styles and techniques, you can bring out the emotions in a picture. 

3. Soft Focus

a groom embracing the bride from behind
Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @olsondesignphotography

Soft focus is a popular photography editing style for wedding photos as it can add a dreamy, romantic effect to the image. Soft focus wedding photography editing techniques are often used for close-up shots of a couple. It can help to soften any imperfections and create a beautiful, ethereal look. To achieve this effect, you can use blur tools or filters in your photo editing software. 

4. High Contrast

a couple posing holding hands
Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @apollofields

High-contrast wedding photos are dramatic and eye-catching. These kinds of wedding photo editing styles are achieved by increasing the contrast between the light and dark areas of an image. These wedding photos often have deep, rich blacks and bright whites, which can create a stunning effect. To edit a wedding photo in high contrast, you can use levels or tone curve adjustments. This photo editing style should be used sparingly so as not to overwhelm your viewer/client.

Suggested Read: How To Use The Tone Curve In Lightroom 

5. Dark And Moody

a couple standing in front of a very dark background
Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @sarafrance

Dark and moody wedding photography has become quite popular among couples who want a more dramatic look for their wedding photos. If there’s no way to get it in camera, you can achieve or refine these wedding photo editing styles by decreasing the overall brightness of your image, and increasing the contrast. This can give your photos a dark, brooding look that can be quite striking.

6. Light And Airy Wedding Photos

a bride and her bridesmaids posing with the wedding bouquet
Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @brandiallysephoto

When it comes to wedding photography, one of the most popular wedding photography editing styles that you can choose is the light and airy look. This style is characterized by using light colors, soft tones, and airy compositions. These wedding photo editing styles give photos a soft, dreamy feel – perfect for capturing romantic moments on a couple’s wedding day! Achieving this photo editing style is relatively simple with most photo editing software. Simply adjust the white balance to create a warm tone. Increase the exposure and add some highlights. And add a bit of contrast to make the colors pop.

7. HDR

a bride in her wedding attire posing in a very old looking room with large windows
Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @photography_by_orlando

HDR, or high dynamic range, is a contemporary wedding photography style and technique that is becoming increasingly popular. This photo editing style is achieved by combining multiple exposures of the same scene into one image. This helps to even out the light and dark areas, resulting in a photo that has more detail and depth. To edit a wedding photo in HDR, you can use special HDR software or plugins. 

Read More: HDR Photography Handbook For Wedding Photographers

8. Film

a wedding couple enjoying an intimate campfire
Image Credit: ShootDotEdit Customer @kellyiswilde

Film wedding photo styles are famous for their soft, romantic look and can be achieved by adding a film grain effect to an image. By increasing the contrast and saturation, you can create a dreamy quality picture as if it was shot on actual film. You can also add a vignette around the edges of the photo to further enhance the overall cinematic feel. 

Wedding Photo Editing Styles With ShootDotEdit

infographic stating be consistent with your edits with ShootDotEdit

Now that you know all about wedding photo editing styles, it’s time to choose the right one for your own wedding photography business! At ShootDotEdit, we offer professional wedding photo editing services that can help you achieve any look you desire. We understand that every wedding photographer has their unique style, and we will work with you to make sure your wedding photos are edited to perfection. We can also help you with photo color correction, photo cropping, photo skin retouching, photo sharpening, and more! No matter what you need, our team of experts is here to help you achieve the wedding photo editing style of your dreams. 

Further Read: Professional Photo Editing: Why Outsource As A Beginner 

At ShootDotEdit, we are passionate about helping you grow your wedding photography business. A part of how we do that is by lessening your post-production workload with our professional photo editing services. To learn more about how we can help your wedding photography business, check out our pricing plans.

Read More