Choosing your wedding photographer is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your wedding. If you’re drawn to images that feel like they belong in a magazine or on the cover of Vogue, you might be looking for an editorial wedding photographer.
But what exactly is editorial wedding photography? How is it different from traditional styles? And how do you know if it’s the right fit for your day?
In this post, we’ll break down what you need to know, and share practical tips on finding a photographer who matches your vision.
What Is Editorial Wedding Photography?
Editorial wedding photography is all about creating images that are styled, art-directed, and polished without losing authenticity. Think: natural yet staged poses, clean composition, and thoughtful use of light. The final result often feels like something out of Vogue Weddings or Harper’s Bazaar.
It’s not just about documenting your day it’s about telling a visual story with sophistication and a creative eye.
Key characteristics:
- Minimalist posing with fashion-inspired angles
- True-to-life yet refined editing styles
- Attention to details: florals, table settings, attire, and mood
- A mix of film and digital photography
- Collaboration with planners and designers to align on aesthetic
Why Couples Love the Editorial Style
Many modern couples are moving away from heavily filtered, overly posed images. They want a style that feels elevated yet real, and where elegance meets emotion. Editorial wedding photography delivers that balance.
If you love fashion, design, architecture, or simply appreciate timeless beauty, an editorial approach is likely a great match. I personally bring a thoughtful blend of editorial elegance and photojournalistic combination to every wedding I photograph. I feel it gives my couples a little bit of everything they want as I am able to step back and allow for actual moment to occur as well
How to Choose an Editorial Wedding Photographer
Now that you know what editorial wedding photography is, here’s a few tips how to find the right photographer for your day!
1. Look at Full Galleries
Don’t rely on Instagram highlights. Ask to see full wedding galleries or blog posts from real weddings. Look for consistency in lighting, composition, and editing, not just a few hero shots. A pro tip from me: If you are asking for full galleries, keep in mind that your wedding will not look like the gallery you are seeing. Your wedding will look like you, and the design you have chosen for it. What you really want to be evaluating is consistency in editing or lighting situations, as well as posing in the couples portraits.
2. Evaluate Their Editing Style
Editorial photographers often lean toward soft, true-to-life colors with creamy skin tones, but everyone has a slightly different edit. Make sure their editing feels like something you will cherish years down the line.
3. Ask How They Approach the Day
Editorial photography requires direction, but it shouldn’t feel stiff. Ask how they guide couples during portraits, and how they capture real moments while keeping the aesthetic clean and elevated. Something I am confident in doing after 8 years as an editorial wedding photographer, is allowing myself to be honest with my couple if the posing looks unnatural. I will switch it up to a pose that works, while often visually showing my couples how I want them to be.
4. Check for Experience with Planners & High-End Events
Editorial photographers often work with full-service planners and designer-led weddings. This experience helps them tell a more cohesive story. If you’re working with a planner, ask if they’ve worked together before, but don’t write someone off just because they haven’t worked with your exact planner yet! There is a ton of talent in the industry.
5. Read Their Philosophy
Good editorial photographers are storytellers at heart, but ultimately have the given experience you would expect them to have to capture your day. Read through their website and their socials to get a feel for the philosophy on how they work. This is also a great way to find out more about them, and if they feel personable in the right way!
Final Thoughts
If you care about aesthetics, love a clean and editorial look, and want your wedding images to feel timeless, an editorial wedding photographer might be exactly what you need.
Take your time researching, ask thoughtful questions, and trust your instincts. The right photographer won’t just document your day, they’ll turn it into art.
Want to see more editorial wedding photography? Check out my work here
Planning a wedding and looking for a photographer? I would love to hear from you, lets chat!
