Traditional Wedding Photography - History and Study

Traditional wedding photography remains one of the most popular styles of wedding photography. This is precisely because through this tested technique the photographer can achieve not only the immaculate quality of each and every image, but the best positioning and lighting effects available in the industry.

A controlled environment allows for creating the ideal set up, where the subjects are positioned, photographed and coached in such a way as to achieve the best results possible. Further, there is a multitude of classic traditional poses that can only be achieved in a controlled environment. From the group photo with the bridesmaids to the classic image of the bride and the groom on their wedding day, Tradition wedding photography amazes with precision, beauty and feel of timelessness.

The art of Photography has been around since the mid 19th century. Interestingly enough some of the oldest surviving pictures are actually pictures of weddings. A famous 1840 photo of the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert comes to mind. Thus wedding photography was gaining popularity even in those early times, as photography was only taking baby steps on its way to becoming the multi million dollar industry it is today.

The earliest wedding photographs were always shot in a controlled environment. The newly weds would attend a session at the photographers studio. Often, they did not even wear their wedding gowns, but instead were their best clothes. The photographer would coach and position the couple to achieve the most complementary and favorable poses and create the best images where lighting, dress, shadow and mood was accentually all created by the work of the studio.

As technology advanced, the game changed. With better equipment it was possible to achieve the above results during the wedding. The photographer could now set up their equipment in the field and take part in the wedding. Although the images are shot on location, traditional wedding photography dictates a large degree of the involvement of the photographer in the wedding. He/she still positions the subjects, be it the newly weds or the guests. The photographer picks the spots where the pictures will be taken, thus being able to control the environment and manipulate the lighting, poses and mood of the photographs.

Traditional Wedding Photography's Strength

The results are often astonishing. The pictures look flawless, and the subjects are shown in the best possible light. The quality of the photographs is top notch, and while the time it takes to set up often interferes with the wedding the results are worth it for some. After all, even the best photojournalist can not boast being able to position every part of their photo in a favorable light. From hand gestures, to facial expressions, being able to tell your subjects what you are looking for yields results.

Traditional Wedding Photography's Weakness

Unfortunately the traditional photography approach often becomes a hassle and halts the flow of the wedding; further the mood of the event is often lost in the pictures that do not really tell the story of the day. Many Traditional photographers counter this problem by mixing in some photojournalistic techniques to achiever a symphony of both styles.

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