Spring Trends: Wedding Photography

Spring trends in fashion, beauty, color and lifestyle are arriving with April Showers and milder temperatures across the USA.  Nowhere is this more evident than in the spring weddings.

We thought it would be great fun to blog about these spring trends. However, keep in mind that Sterling believes every wedding event is unique and we should not impose an image, setting, or style detail on our wedding guests just because it’s trendy. It is a better choice for you to choose details that celebrate you as a couple. That being said, let’s list a few of the festive photographic trends we see across our nation at this time. 

First of our Spring Trends:   They’re Saying Yes to “Proposal Photographs”

Whereas engagement photographs are a long time tradition of wedding photography, we are seeing a new custom grow from it.  Couples are asking photographers to help document their true moment of proposal. These delicate, fast-moving moments can later be shared joyously with family and friends “Photographer Danny Weiss says this trend is growing quickly, and he loves being a part of it. I’ll never forget one proposal I shot in Central Park in New York City, in the dead of winter. It felt like it was just me and the couple in the park, and I got really great images.”

Second of our Fav Spring Trends:  A Wedding Image Video Collage:  Fast Fun for Facebook Images

To create this trend, your photographer chooses 20-20 images from your wedding and sets them to motion in video slide show with music.  Couples are enjoying this new trend by putting the video on Facebook. It’s just like a trailer for a movie.

Third of our New Spring Trends:  Time for Timeless Bridal Portraits

The Dress a girl has dreamt of all her life is certainly worth more than the whirl wind photos on the wedding day.  The dress is worthy of special a special photo session all its own, and so is the bride.  We are delighted to see a resurgence of excitement about this Spring Trend:  the formal bridal session. Sterling’s sessions feature natural moments but also images created with timeless poses for the bride. We’re proud to say this spring trend is becoming more and more popular.

• Time and effort goes into a bride’s ensemble and it should all be documented with time, care and good lighting.  Likewise, after her formal shoot, brides learn to move in their unfamiliar gowns with more confidence, grace and style.
• Plus, the occasion is like a “dress rehearsal.”  Shoes, lingerie and make-up can all be adjusted for the big day.  See our former blog, Bridal tips for posing and confidence.  LINK

(A Secret Side note:  More than one bride has realized they need better undergarments or foundations for their gowns after her formal session. In lieu of the formal shoot weeks before the wedding, some brides are scheduling time on the wedding day to meet the specifically photographer for their formal portraits.

Third of our Spring Trends:  The First Look

Sometimes couples eschew the superstition and share a moment before the wedding. Its a little time for the bride and groom to share their first moments together as they see each other in their formal clothes.  Controversial?  This is still a very controversial photography choice, but some couples love it.

a.     We have helped create the moment by having the groom coming down the aisle to give the bride her bouquet. It takes a little time, but when help a couple take a first look, we have a rule.   We clear the room.  No one is present in the church or ballroom except couple and photographer.

b.    If you and your groom want this type of “first look,” be sure to allot plenty of time.  Why?  There are often tears to contend with.  Thus, oftentimes, make-up has to be reapplied.

c.     A few elegantly posed shots usually help restore emotional control. And, remarkably, grooms tell us that they are still overwhelmed with emotion at the ceremony. There is something enchanted about that moment when they see their bride enter during the ceremonial walk down the aisle.

The Fourth of our Spring Trends:  Another First Look—With a 2019 Twist

Wait, there is a brand new Spring Trend for the wedding day schedule 2019.  Be sure, if you are a bride, to note this as you plan time for wedding day preparation and photos before the ceremony.  Now, hear this:  A “first look” of you in your wedding dress on your big day might belong to another man, not the groom.  As you might have guessed, we are referring to your father.

This spring especially, more and more brides are scheduling a little time with their father before their ceremony. It’s not just to see the dress, of course, but just to share some special moments, and perhaps some Butterfly kisses.  This is a spring trend we hope to see become a custom long after spring, 2019 is over.

Our Fifth Fab Spring Trend-And another Twist on the First Look: Formal Couple Portraits.

Sterling has noted a new spring trend toward formal couple portraits. This means including the groom in a special formal session before the exciting and stressful day of the wedding.

These sessions show artfully posed, traditionally styled shots of the couple. Of course this means you will see each other as bride and groom some days or at least hours before the ceremony.

Long before the 2019 Spring Trend, Asian couples have appreciated the formality and fun of making creative or romantic couples shots in a relaxed time period weeks before the ceremony.

It is not as unusual as you might think.

Likewise, we’ve especially noticed the trend with older couples or couples who have been together a long time.

Our Sixth Spring Trend:  Super-Photojournalistic, Fast Action Photos

Our sixth Spring Trend is actually at least 3 decades old and growing more popular than ever.  It is to blend traditional shots of the day with candid, genuine moments that just happen as the story unfolds.

Sterling has said, “Wedding Art is In the Moment. When the big day comes, it’s all about being alert and sensitive to what is happening in order to tell the story of the wedding day.”

Terrific Take-Aways from Spring Trends of 2019

Here at Sterling Photography International, ultimately the art of capturing moments is being in the moment enough to actually see and appreciate it—And out of the moment enough to actually capture it creatively and technically.  .

• Emotion gives us more of the story of the day than anything else.
• Emotion carries the story of the day. That emotion goes beyond Spring Trends of this or any other year.  Clothing styles, even floral and cake styles change with spring trends every year.  And yet—the emotions of the day never change. The smiles, the tears, the tenderness, the passion—these never change.
• Expressions show those emotions. And when captured by a fine camera, they carry can become part of a piece of Wedding Art for your wall or for your album.
• The fine art background of a photographer will be obvious in the tone, the lighting, the contrast and the symmetry of the image.   Such a background enhances an image but does not overtake it.  A creative photographer does not miss a moment by waiting for only perfect moments.

Authenticity Never Goes Out of Style:  The Best Spring Trend of 2019

Waiting for only the scripted moments of the day defies the spontaneous nature of the art. And yet the industry sees a lot of that type of work. We call it cookie cutter photography, and it is against all the new trends of spring.  Yet, it seems like many of today’s wedding photographers miss the true moment of authentic excitement because they are just waiting for the scripted moment.

In our next blog, we’ll be bringing you a few more of the inspiring spring trends of 2019 wedding photography. You won’t want to miss them.  Until then, thank you for reading the blog at Sterling Photography International, and we hope you are on trend for having a Happy Spring.