10 Tips and Ideas for Creative Wedding Photojournalism

Under the umbrella of wedding photography stands an approach to documenting weddings known as wedding photojournalism. While part of the wedding genre, wedding photojournalism leans more into its photojournalism roots, offering a more "hands-off" approach to capturing the moments of the wedding day.

Dismissed by some as little more than a marketing buzzword, this increasingly popular approach to photographing weddings offers a unique opportunity for photographers to dig deeper into their storytelling well and push their creativity while capturing one of the most important days of their clients’ lives. In this article, we’ll share tips and ideas for approaching weddings photojournalistically while also incorporating various creative techniques to make your "documentary" photos stand out.

Images provided by the photographers at Wedding Maps and used with their permission.

Wedding Photography Versus Wedding Photojournalism

First, let’s quickly distinguish between traditional wedding photography and wedding photojournalism. The two variations of the wedding photography genre differ primarily in style and approach. For example, traditional wedding photographers typically focus on posed, curated shots, often giving direction to their subjects to capture various moments. The idea behind this approach is to ensure a more polished, formal outcome. In contrast, wedding photojournalism favors a more candid, storytelling approach in which the photographer documents events as they unfold with little to no direction in order to capture genuine emotions and spontaneous interactions. This doesn’t mean wedding photojournalists just show up, point their cameras, and shoot, however. On the contrary, great wedding photojournalism requires focus and anticipation.

The "truth," if we might be so bold to say (as there have been plenty of debates hashed out around this topic), is that one approach is not necessarily better than the other. In fact, they often overlap. Even traditional wedding photographers spend a good part of the wedding day practicing photojournalistic techniques. Weddings, after all, are events, and the photographer’s job is to document the event as it happens. You won’t catch too many wedding photographers halting the ceremony in order to set up the perfect shot.

The "best" approach, whether you lean more heavily into a traditional style or a photojournalistic one, has a lot to do with the client’s preferences. In all actuality, combining traditional wedding photography strategies with a photojournalistic approach will likely render stellar results. So long as photographers clearly communicate with the couple and understand what they want, they should be able to capture well-composed portraits and classic moments with authenticity that the clients will love.

Wedding Photojournalism Tips and Ideas

The timeline for a wedding photojournalist is going to look a lot like the timeline that any other wedding photographer would follow. That’s just how weddings typically happen. To that end, we’ll break these tips and ideas for creative wedding photojournalism down into different parts of an average wedding day.

1. Bride and Groom Prep

Generally, covering bride or groom prep involves working through a pretty standard "must-have" list in terms of getting shots. Included on this list, you’ll find any number of the following:

• Wedding dress, shoes, rings, invitations, flowers, personalized gifts & letters, and other details
• Makeup shots
• Bridal party or family putting the final touches on the bride getting ready
• Best man helping the groom get into his coat
• Solo portraits of the bride or groom after they finish getting ready

If you look closely at this list, you can see that opportunities to capture candid, natural photos actually outweigh those to choreograph posed shots. There are a couple of different ways a wedding photojournalist might approach the list above.

Rather than just photograph the details by themselves, a photojournalist would opt to capture them "in action." For example, rather than take a photo of a letter from the groom to his bride, there’s a more compelling story to be told in capturing her reaction to reading the letter. Some clients opt to skip bridal prep or "getting ready" photos, and it’s kind of a shame because there are plenty of opportunities to document timeless moments.

Above, in the simple shot of the bride holding the bouquet, we get another example of taking an inanimate object and photographing it the way it’s intended to be used. Photos like this can be set up or posed, but you can also capture this type of imagery during the in-between moments, during the walk over to a location that might then be used for posed pictures.

One of the most popular bridal prep moments is snapping a photo of the bride and her bridal party (or sometimes parents) putting the final touches on the dress before heading out to a first look or perhaps even the ceremony. As a photojournalist, you can still suggest that this moment happen closer to a well-lit area, such as next to a large window with a sheer curtain for a softer, diffused light, and then let the moment happen while you capture it from different angles. Again, this is one of those moments that overlap between traditional wedding photographers and wedding photojournalists.

Also, be on the lookout for those who are just taking the moment in without actually participating in the action.

2. First Look

First looks represent another great opportunity to capture natural reactions, and they’re typically orchestrated by the photographer, regardless of whether they identify as a wedding photojournalist or not. The reason for this is it takes careful planning to coordinate the first look so that the couple doesn’t actually see each other before the big reveal. It’s also important, in the interest of creating flattering, extraordinary photos, to scout the location in advance and find the best backdrop for this important moment.

While many photographers will set the groom in position and then have the bride walk up and tap him on the shoulder, you can really take any number of different approaches. For instance, in the photo above, the photographer has an over-the-shoulder view of the bride as the groom rides up the escalator. This is an in-the-moment, real-life reaction. This photo represents exactly what the groom sees and is likely just how he’ll always remember the first time seeing his bride in her wedding dress. The location works perfectly for this unique shot as well because the bride, who is clearly the focal point in this image, is standing in the brightest part of the frame. Viewers can’t help but be drawn directly to her.

It’s important to remember that first looks aren’t just for the bride and groom. Parents and grandparents also make for great participants in first looks, especially if they have a close relationship with the bride. Moments like these will almost always yield a lot of emotion, and they make for powerfully raw, natural photos. If you are shooting as part of a team, it’s ideal to capture over-the-shoulder shots for both participants, like the one featured above. A wide shot from the side also helps to establish the scene.

If you’re shooting solo, start with the parent or grandparent’s reaction, and wait until you have some solid shots before moving around to capture other angles. This is the one the bride is going to want to look back on and remember.

Lastly, great interactions between the bride and her family don’t have to be choreographed at all. If the bride walks into an area with family and they’re seeing her for the first time in her full getup, chances are there will be hugs and tears to capture. Position yourself beside or behind the bride to ensure you’re able to document the family’s reactions. Because the goal is to capture the emotion, it’s also a good idea to shoot tighter angles to get more detail in the expressions. 

3: Wedding Ceremony - Anticipate Activities and Traditions

Depending on the predominant culture(s) represented in the wedding, traditions can vary. For this reason, it’s important to communicate in advance with the couple so that you can plan to not only capture important moments but also do so creatively.

For example, during a Greek wedding, you might photograph the swapping of crowns, symbolizing the union of the couple, while at other ceremonies, unique activities such as releasing doves might take place. By understanding these cultural or personal traditions beforehand, you can anticipate moments and position yourself strategically to capture them effectively.

4. Wedding Ceremony: The Couple, Bridal Party, and VIPs

The ceremony is where the most emotionally charged moments happen. This includes the bride’s walk down the aisle, the groom’s reaction, the exchange of vows, and even the reactions of family and friends.

For example, capturing a groom’s expression when he first sees his bride can be one of the most powerful images of the day. A close-up shot or even an over-the-shoulder angle works beautifully for these moments. Similarly, focusing on the parents or grandparents during emotionally significant parts of the ceremony can yield timeless photographs.

At certain points during the ceremony, you can expect the bridal party to show emotion as well, especially during personalized speeches between the bride and groom.

It’s also fairly common to see the bride, groom, and bridal party get animated just after the official announcement of the bride and groom being married, or directly following the first kiss.

Lastly, at all points throughout the ceremony, keep an eye on the VIPs. Anticipate the heartfelt moments and get into position to capture the natural reactions of family and friends. 

5. Couples Session

After the ceremony, it’s common to take the couple aside for portraits. While these sessions often include posed shots, don’t stop shooting when the formal poses are completed. Candid moments between poses can capture the couple’s personality and chemistry beautifully.

If the couple shares a quiet laugh, a stolen glance, or even a casual embrace, these natural interactions can be just as meaningful as the posed portraits. To make the most of this session, ensure you’re capturing a mix of traditional and candid moments.

6. Cocktail Hour

At the same time as the couples session, the timeline will usually feature cocktail hour. If you’re working solo and are photographing the bride and groom for a couples session, try to work in enough time to get back and grab some candid photos of the other guests interacting with one another, or even with the bride and groom if they happen to be present (although they usually are not). Skip the shots of guests biting into the hors d'oeuvres and instead look (and wait) for big smiles and laughs.

Speaking of the hors d'oeuvres, a fair amount of planning usually goes into choosing these dishes, so make an effort to photograph a fresh tray as it passes.

7. Reception: Personal Touches in the Decor

Again, on the topic of capturing photos of personal touches that the couple has put into the wedding, the receptions often hold numerous unique elements that reflect the couple’s choices and interests. These elements help tell the couple’s story, and as ephemeral as they may seem, they are each important in the role they play.

Look for custom table settings, seating charts, themed decor, or other similar items. Highlighting these elements can help make the reception decor and detail photos you capture more memorable for the couple.

8. Reception: Speeches

Few parts of the wedding day yield as much raw emotion as the wedding toasts during the reception. Whether the speaker is the best man, maid of honor, or a parent of the bride or groom, wedding toasts tend to get some of the biggest laughs and wettest eyes. Exactly where the couple or speakers place themselves is often out of the photographer’s hand, so capturing speeches photojournalistically is a must. It’s a challenge that can produce great rewards if you work to capture the speeches creatively.

Like so many of the other parts of the day, take a minute to scout the scene and find the best angles for capturing different moments, whether they be funny or emotional. For example, the best man and maid of honor speeches often elicit lots of laughs, so shoot wide enough to capture the laughter from several guests in the room.

On the other hand, you should also be ready to move in close during and after the speech to capture the speaker’s interaction with the bride and groom.  

Parent speeches, for instance, often produce a good amount of tear-jerking moments, so get up close to capture the tears and highlight the emotional reactions.

Shoot-through angles, whether over the speaker’s shoulders to capture the bride and groom’s reaction, or the other way around, make for exceptional photos. Look for creative positions to shoot from to frame the subjects and add depth to the image.

9. Reception: Dancing

In addition to the wedding toasts, dancing ranks high on the list of great opportunities for photographers to document the event and tell a story in a number of creative ways. During the reception, you’ll often find parent dances with the bride and groom, and these stand out as a very memorable highlight.

Anticipate where the action will be and scout the location for creative angles. You can even set up lighting if necessary. It’s still photojournalistic, or in this case, wedding photojournalistic, if you’re capturing the event without directing the action. You’re just prepared.

It’s also important to scout the entire reception area to find the best angles to tell a full story. In stories we watch on television and in movies, we often see a certain series of shots to set up a scene. We start wide with a shot of the location. Then, we move in to reveal the subjects in the scene. Finally, we move in close to reveal expressions on our subject’s faces. We can do the same when documenting dance scenes during a wedding reception.

There should be no shortage of emotions on display, from deeply heartfelt teary moments to wild and crazy happy moments. 

For another look entirely, especially when the dance floor is full, get into the crowd and put the "camera twist" or "whip-pan" technique to use. This technique is just about as candid as it gets and it helps pull the viewer right into the action.

For those who’ve never tried this technique, you’ll need to drop your shutter speed to somewhere around 1/15th of a second. As a result of the slow shutter speed, you’ll need a flash to help freeze your subjects while they’re in motion. It’s important to point the flash directly at your subject, and be careful not to overpower the scene with too bright a flash. Start at 1/16th–1/32nd flash power and adjust as needed.

Then, to pull off the effect, point your camera at your subjects and add a twist or pan from left to right, zoom the lens in, or shake the camera. Whatever works. Just be sure to fire the flash halfway through the twist to get the shot. When executed correctly, you should see a blurred effect around your subject, as illustrated above.

10. In-Between Moments

This is a simple tip, really, that gets to the heart of photojournalism. We tend to look for the biggest moments to tell a story, and that is important. But a lot of what people value for events like weddings is how they feel about the day. That is what colors their memories. Many of those feelings come from a collection of the "small" or in-between moments. As a wedding photojournalist, you must be on the lookout for such moments from the start of bridal prep through to the end of the reception.

Bonus Tip: Be Prepared to Include Posed and Formal Portraits

It’s highly likely that you’ll still need to capture a fair number of posed and/or formal portraits of the couple as well as their family and friends. The formal portraits, if nothing else, provide a great opportunity to take clean, flattering pictures of the guests who might’ve otherwise eluded your camera thus far, depending on the number of guests present at the wedding and reception.

Of course, as demonstrated above, there are plenty of candid moments to be found during formal portraits as well.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’ll be able to put the above tips on wedding photojournalism to good use for upcoming weddings. Wedding photojournalism offers a powerful way to capture a couple’s special day with authenticity and creativity, preserving the raw emotions and fleeting moments that make weddings so memorable. By blending storytelling techniques with a deep understanding of timing and anticipation, photographers can create a truly unique and meaningful visual narrative. Whether you fully embrace this style or combine it with traditional approaches, the ultimate goal is to deliver images that the couple will cherish for a lifetime.

Feature Image by SMJ Photography. All of the images presented in this article are used with the permission of the photographers who captured them. See links in the captions for more details.