Wow! We're already a month into the new year and gearing up for an amazing wedding season. I've been keeping my eyes on some of the latest trends, and let me tell you, I am beyond excited! These trends are absolutely incredible, and most of them are right up my alley.
Without further ado, let's dive into what's hot for the upcoming wedding season!
Monochromatic Contrast
Quiet Luxury
Candid Moments/ Documentary - Journalistic Style
Direct Flash
Day After Photos
Under the Veil Portriats - but not the way your thinking
It's giving Hollywood Reporter Paparazzi feels if you ask me - and I love this journey. Let's take a closer look at these things and get a feel for it all.
MONOCHROMATIC CONTRAST | If you have been following me for a while, you may already know that I tend to prefer monochromatic or black-and-white images. I like to use this particular technique when the story needs to focus on the emotion or connection in the image, and the colors take away from that narrative. This year, we are pushing that a little further by using light/ shadow play, textures, and flattened backgrounds to pull your attention to where the story is.
Here are a few examples that I have in the archive that scream Monochromatic Contrast in Photography.
QUIET LUXURY | I am not going to lie to you; I have to look a bit more in-depth with one because I really couldn't define it at first. Essentially, Quiet Luxury is something that we have been hearing with clothing as of late that took luxury and added into our lives in an authentically minimalistic way. Using that thought process in weddings is not that different. Take those muted color palettes with slightly minimal aesthetics and translate that to build an environment that screams classic romance. With the right textures, materials, and authenticity in your movements, this will come to life.
CANDID MOMENTS/ DOCUMENTARY - PHOTO JOURNALISTIC STYLES | OK, let's be real here - wedding photography is mostly documentary photography. So, for it to be a trend feels weird to me. However, I somewhat know the gist of making this a trend - it's more relaxed than the idea of curating every moment. From the photographer's side, each image tells more of a story, gives unique points of view, and is more focused on the emotions or connections of the day.
DIRECT FLASH | You're reading this thinking - I see you flash all the time; what is the difference? Yes! You do see flash used in wedding photography, and there are many versions of how to accomplish flash photography for weddings. To get a good feel for what direct flash is - think of paparazzi photos of people getting out of their cars to go to a red carpet event. It is a little more harsh with the light but makes you the focus and makes the background fall away.
DAY AFTER PHOTOS | This is another one that I can't completely explain. However, as a documentary photographer, I think this could be documented photos of your first day together as a married couple and left up to interpretation. I imagine this could also be a morning after brunch or portraits if your wedding day didn't leave enough time to make those happen. I am intrigued to see where this trend goes.
UNDER THE VEIL PHOTOS | Veil photos have gained in popularity over the last 10-ish years. We have seen the kisses under and through it and dramatic swooping versions of it, but this has evolved to couples under the veil and the photographer taking a step back to make an intimate moment that is being voyeured upon.
Overall, I think the trends that 2024 is bringing to us will make for moments that will force us to have authentic moments and move away from fully curated events.
What is the trend that you looking forward to this wedding season??