Don’t really know what style of wedding photography is right for you? Read on!

Wedding photography has become very popular these past two decades, and newcomers on the market really shook the industry. While you didn’t have many options in terms of styles back in the early 2000’s, you now have a plethora of them to chose from and the choice might become overwhelming.

To help you set the ground for your decision-making process, here’s a comprehensive list of the most common wedding photography styles, with a few venue ideas most commonly associated with them.

Traditional

This is the oldest, most classic style of wedding photography, and lots of couples are still very into it. Traditional wedding photography includes more posing than other styles with a strong focus on portraiture. Photos are more staged and take more time to set up. Pictures are crisp, bright, and colors are true to tone. If you like to be in full control of your look on your wedding day and if you like to have lots of quality family group shots and portraits of yourself and your loved ones, traditional wedding photography might be the best option for you. This style tends to stand the test of time better than other styles that follow trends and hypes, but it might be a little too simple for you if you are looking to let loose and explore things creatively on your wedding day.

Candid

Candid wedding photography, or photo-journalistic wedding photography, is more fitted for couples who are interested in having the story of their wedding day told through authentic, organic images. The focus will be less on the details of your dress and more on your grandpa and your little cousin having a fun dance off. There will also be less images of people looking straight into the camera but there will be more real emotions on the pictures, and that includes those big laughs with all your smile lines showing. But if your heart tightens and your eyes water when you see photos jam-packed with emotion, then documentary wedding photography is for you. It tells your story like it is, with its pretty things and, sometimes, its funny things too.

Moody

This one is trending. You will probably see it everywhere you look, even without searching for it. Moody wedding photography consists of darker, dramatic, intimate imagery. There might be some epic cliffs involved, or a small cabin in the woods. There will be more passionate kisses, more “serious” emotions, and maybe less smiles. This style of photography merges with documentary photography, since your photographer will want to pull real emotions out of you. If you want a good idea of what moody wedding photography actually looks like, you can search for “Dirty Boots and Messy Hair” on Google Image.

Although moody wedding photography is very in right now, it doesn’t mean it will fade away. Some photographers will always tend to look for pockets of light and interesting shadows and edit their photos in a darker manner than others. It’s up to you to decide whether you are into this style because it is really what you like, not just because your favorite wedding website is into it.

Bright and Airy

We take a huge leap on the spectrum here, because bright and airy photography is the polar opposite of moody photography. No more drama, no more shadows. Pictures are bright, soft, ethereal. They are light-hearted (do pictures have a heart??) and sweet, but not cheesy. Bright and airy photography works better outdoors, but it can be successfully used anywhere with the right photographer. Just like traditional wedding photography, the bright and airy style has a classic feel to it with colors that stay true to tone, although they will be brighter. It is perfect for couples who are having a sweet, romantic weddings but make sure you are really into this style, because the photos might feel overexposed to experienced eyes.

Alternative/Artistic

If you are into making your wedding photos an experiment, artistic/alternative wedding photography will be a really fun option for you, and film (analog) photography will take things even further. With this style of photography, some technical rules might be broken in order to give cool and weird effect to your pictures. This could mean a lot of things: motion blur, light leaks, or grainy images. In fact, these images are gaining in popularity and lots of companies and apps such as Looks Like Film and Huji Cam are now offering image filters or presets to mimick alternative styles often associated with film photography. These photos might not fit on your family home’s mantle, but they will be one of a kind. This style is perfect for people who gravitate towards photo-journalistic photography with a twist.

There are more types of wedding photography styles out there, but this should help you figure out what you are into in a general sense. And of course, these styles are not mutually exclusive; you might find photographers who love still portraits (traditional) and edit with darker vibes (moody), or photographers who shoot film (artistic) with a photo documentary feel (candid).

Your venue can be a factor in your choice of wedding photography style

I am really not a fan of putting things in boxes (although that’s all I’ve been doing so far in this article), and I am a fervent supporter of CHOICE. Your wedding is your choice, and you can pick any photo style you want for any venue. There are a million ways to do things and I really want you to understand that point. It’s your day, nobody else’s. That being said, some venues might influence your photography choice. And if you want to make sure your venue matches your photography choice, here is a non-exhaustive and subjective list of venues types for each photography style.

Traditional wedding photography might work better in a chateau, a country club, a private estate, or any venue that has a grand feel to it.

Candid wedding photography can really work anywhere but might be a good fit for slightly less formal affairs such as backyards, outdoor weddings, or City Hall elopements. But this style is very adaptable and has more to do with its subjects than its surroundings.

Moody wedding photography works well for elopements in nature, or in industrial settings such as old factories. The city can also be a great background for some moody shots full of cool shadows, so City Hall elopements are a good venue for this style.

Bright and Airy wedding photography is a good fit for any outdoor venue in nature, such as barns or lakeside estates but can also work well in country clubs or chateaux.

Artistic/alternative wedding photography will work for industrial or quirky venues such as art galleries, old factories, or any sort of elopement.

And hat’s it for today! I hope this article helped you figure out a general route you want to take before picking your wedding photographer. All you have to do now is research each style on Pinterest, Instagram or Google Image, and save a few images for reference. Once you know what you want, you will be able to make an informed decision on which photographer to pick. I am currently working on an article about that, so stay tuned, and I’ll post the link here when I am done.

Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to email me if you have any questions or input about wedding photography styles, I am always happy to guide you in any way that I can!

Maison-May: a gorgeous wedding venue, in the heart of Fort Greene, in a beautiful brownstone

When you get married in New-York, there are many routes you can take as far as the atmosphere and general style of your celebration go. If you want to embrace NYC’s history, you can opt for one of the many industrials buildings around the city, such as  26 Bridge (a former metal factory). You can also pick the bucolic route for a breath of fresh air with a farm-to-table venue minutes from Manhattan, such as Blue Hill at Stone Barns. You can even go a little crazy and book a movie theater or a music venue to say “I do”; the Music Hall of Williamsburg would be perfect for that.

All these options are great options. Whichever one you pick will give your guests a unique glimpse at what makes New-York so special. But today, I want to highlight another great option available for people who want to fully embrace New-York’s vibrant restaurant scene as well as its charming architecture: Maison-May.

Before I keep going, I want to say that this is not a sponsored post in any way. Although I have shot at Maison-May a lot and got to meet and love all the people that work there, I did not receive any kind of incentive to write this. They are not even aware I am doing it! Now that this is out of the way, let’s dig in.

Maison-May: general information

Maison-May (or Maison-May Dekalb) is a French restaurant in the heart of Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It was created by Catherine May, a French transplant who has been in New-York for decades now.

Address: 246 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Phone number: +1 718-789-2778

Closest subways: the G at Clinton-Washington, or the A/C at Lafayette Avenue.

Why choose Maison-May?

1: It’s a one-stop shop option

Maison-May is a gorgeous brownstone wedding venue with lots of original details: hardwood floors, a fire place, and crown molding in every room. Not only does this appeal to architecture lovers, it is also a great advantage if you are having a budget wedding or don’t know how to decorate the place. Maison-May doesn’t need much work to make it look great, since it is already charming as it is. Most of the couples whose wedding I shot there decided to go for small centerpieces and very few extra floral arrangements. This can really help you keep your budget in check all the while letting the place stand out on its own.

2: The cute backyard

Tucked away in the back of the main room, you will find an adorable backyard, with its string lights and wooden fence. You can’t get more Brooklyn than that. The backyard is on the small side, so 60-80 guests would be your max unless you want your friends to fight for a glimpse of your ceremony. But it is one of the main assets of the venue, as it gives you the chance to tie the knot in a peaceful outdoor spot in the heart of Brooklyn before heading back inside for your reception. You can also install a tent out there in the winter, so you can have your dream Brooklyn backyard wedding at any time of the year.

3: The food!

Maison-May has solid food ethics. All the food is locally sourced and prepared with love in the kitchen. There are many gluten-free and vegetarian options, as well as pastries and other French traditional dishes. And who doesn’t love pastries?! As of a few years ago, Maison-May started offering wedding cakes as well and since it is a restaurant open all week long, you can go and try the food for yourself before making your decision on the venue.

4: Its prime location

Located in the heart of Fort Greene, the restaurant is easily accessible and not far from Manhattan or most neighborhoods in Brooklyn. It is also steps away from Fort Greene Park, which is super practical for your family photos.  The tree-lined brownstone streets adjacent to Maison-May are also great backdrops for some typical Brooklyn wedding photos so you don’t have to stress yourself by hurrying to Dumbo or Prospect Park for your pictures; you can spend the whole day within blocks from your venue, and do everything by foot.

All in all, Maison-May is the ultimate venue for couples who love good food and want to celebrate New-York’s classic architecture while focusing on quality time with their guests. I personally love shooting there and have been lucky enough to do it quite often. Here are some of my favorite weddings shot at Maison-May:

Sukie and Mike’s Fall DIY wedding

Alison and Kathryn’s winter love party

Juwita and Mike’s boho celebration

“Which flowers for a November wedding? Which flowers for March?”

Besides making masks and hand sanitizers at home (and not enjoying it), I have spent the past 2 months witnessing all of you, husbands and wives to be, navigate all the obstacles that eventually led to the postponement of your wedding. Some of you have reached out to get my input – which I am always happy to give –, and some of you have dealt with it in private.

Whether you needed my help or not, I have been thinking a lot about these changes myself, on my own (in between non-enjoyable mask making sessions).

Some of you are postponing your celebration to the same week-end next year, but some of you have opted for a whole different season. And it got me to wonder: what are the biggest challenges you will have to deal with if your wedding is now scheduled during a whole new season? You might have to think about an extra layer on top of your spaghetti-strap dress, or ditch the long sleeves. And ALL of you will have to rethink your flower options.

So that’s what I’m here to talk about today: how to pick the right flowers for your new wedding date? If your love party was originally planned for May, what kind of flowers can you now pick for your November wedding? Can you even find good flower alternatives out there for colder months?

The answer is a big, heartfelt YES. And to illustrate my point, I have asked the wonderful and badass ladies over at Stems Brooklyn to share their favorite flowers for each season with you with pictures taken by yours truly as well as Stems Brooklyn. So here we go!

Winter wedding flowers (December to March)

Winters are HARSH is the Northeast, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t some beautiful flower choices to pick from. Zara, over at Stems, tells us:

“We are big fans of hellebores. They range in color from frosty white to moody eggplant, and when cut properly can be extremely hardy and long lasting. Other early bloomers include fritillaria, iris, bleeding hearts, and anemones. We’re also obsessed with mimosa, a super bright and funky yellow bloom that occurs on acacia foliage during January and February. Acacia also happens to be our favorite winter foliage, with its purple tinged soft evergreen leaves.”

What’s amazing with winter flowers is that you can go for a cosy, warm feel with velvety hellebores and acacia foliage or an exotic, colorful feel with funky flowers like fritillaria and iris. And of course you can all out with an explosion of color with mimosa, like this gorgeous wedding arch by Stems Brooklyn (pictured below and impossible to miss).

a wedding bouquet with hellebores on the left (by Verde Fleurs), a wedding arch with mimosas on the right (by Stems Brooklyn)

Spring wedding flowers (March to June)

Spring is synonym of blooms and we all wait for the first flowers to point out of the snow to officially declare winter over. There are a myriad of flowers to pick from for a Spring wedding, so let’s see what Zara has to say about this bountiful season:

“Favorites include the well known ranunculus, which has a huge variety of unique colors and varieties in the spring, sweet pea with its unmatched scent and delicate petal, and the mother of all flowers, the peony, our favorite variety being the Coral Charm. This is also the time of year for your favorite blooming branches, like lilac, cherry, dogwood, and spirea, and unique garden locals like Icelandic poppies. We like woodsy garden foliages for spring like soft ferns, whimsical curly willow, and sweet smelling eriostemon.”

Like I said above: bountiful. Those flowers will fit all kinds of weddings, from romantic and classic with beautiful peonies to lush and extravagant with lots of colorful ranunculus (see below). A lot of those flowers come in a wide range of colors as well, making is very easy to match your wedding vision.

Funky ranunculus on the left (by Rosewood), romantic peonies on the right (by Liv Florally)

 Summer wedding flowers (June to September)

Summer is a fun times for weddings; everybody is thinking about their upcoming vacation, drinking on rooftops and BBQing with friends every week-end (that’ genuinely what I think New-Yorkers do all over town). Zara has lots to say about Summer flowers:

“We love to source most of our summer flowers direct from local farms and make use of their abundance of blooming field flowers like cosmos, phlox, rudbeckia, celosia, and larkspur. Bouquets and arrangements from the summer season really feel freshly picked and straight from the ground, and can incorporate seasonal herbs like flowering dill, basil, and borage. Bright green foliages like bupleurum, raspberry leaves, and blueberry branches pair well with the colorful palette.”

Check this gorgeous bouquet below. Bright colors and fun color combinations go so well with the carelessness of Summer. I am in love.

Summer bouquet by Stems Brooklyn, including some their favorites: rudbeckias and larkspurs

Fall wedding flowers (September to November)

Fall is prime wedding season. The weather is less extreme and leaves start turning into their gorgeous shades of yellow and orange. Zara points out that couples love to honor nature’s natural colors and textures during this special season.

“The flower of the season has to be the dahlia, with our favorites being the ideally colored burgundy varieties, and the big blush cafe au lait. These pair wonderfully with queen red lime zinnias, lisianthus, scabiosa, amaranthus, and tardiva hydrangea. For foliage we like to honor the season with grassy cuttings like explosion grass and pampas, and seasonal branches like russian olive, forsythia, and maple.”

Fall is all about deep colors and textures, which go so well with the changing greenery outdoors. Check the photos below to see how comforting dahlias and pampa grass feel in a flower arrangement.

Pampa grass and mimosas. Bouquets by Snowdrop Flowers.

That’s all for this one, folks. If you have any questions about which flowers to use for your wedding, don’t hesitate to reach out to me or to Stems Brooklyn. These ladies are the BEST, and as you can tell from all the Googling you’ll have to do after reading about their personal input on seasonal flowers, they know their stuff.