Wedding photography has always been an important aspect of wedding planning. After all, who doesn’t want this unforgettable event to be forever captured on film? But never before has wedding photography enjoyed so much attention, with modern couples spending more time and money on the art form than ever before.

With this upswing in popularity has come myriad choices in terms of wedding photo effects, and now one of the biggest challenges facing the bride and groom is to decide which route to take photographically.

To make this easier, we’ve outlined 7 of the most popular wedding photo effects available today. As always, the key is to have a good relationship with your photographer. Make sure that he knows what you’re looking for, and that he’s planned the photo shoots according to your wishes.

You may prefer a quirky and relaxed contemporary photo for your lounge wall, but Gran will probably want a more traditional shot for her bedside table. So it’s probably best to adopt various effects, capturing the special moments in different styles and approaches – that way, you can pick and choose your favourite pics according to what you’re going to do with them down the line.

#1: Vintage
The charm in vintage photographs lies in their vignetted, fuzzy, almost dirty look, their muted colours and slightly off-balance exposure. These originally unintentional (and sometimes unavoidable) effects, once cursed by photographers and clients alike, are now highly-prized as vintage wedding photography surges in popularity. Timeless and captivating, this popular wedding photo effect looks set to stand the test of time.

Source: Relive Photography

#2: Black and white with spot colours
Black and white photography has so much going for it: classic, elegant and romantic, it’s an evergreen favourite with brides and grooms. This technique is given even more punch when spot colours are added to the mix, so chat to your photographer about various options. Usually just one or two items of significance will be infused with colour, such as the pink posie in this photo. Black and white with spot colours has been popular for a while, and the trend shows no signs of losing its fan base anytime soon.

Source: Manons House

#3: Pop Art
If you’re looking to commemorate your big day with an attention-grabbing portrait for a focus wall in your home, you can’t get any more vibrant than an Andy Warhol-inspired work of art. Ask your photographer if he’s had any experience with pop art wedding photography. If not, there are plenty of design studios and freelance graphic designers who’ll be able to create one of these show-stoppers for you.

Source: Canvas Zoo

#4: High Key
A stylistic choice for brides and grooms who are after bright, striking photographs, high key wedding photography is a popular technique that uses exceptionally bright lighting to eradicate the majority of harsh shadows in an image. This method almost always features a bright background, and puts specific elements of the photo in high focus, resulting in purity, tangibility and luminescence, as this picture shows.

Source: Louis Pang Studio

#5: Low Key
In contrast with the lightness and humour of the high key method, low key photography emphasises the dark aspects and shadowy recesses of the photograph, the high contrast resulting in richness and high drama. Low key wedding photography is becoming increasingly popular with brides and grooms who are looking for deeply intense portraits with a darkly seductive feel.

Source: ProPhotonut

#6: Glamour
Traditional, stuffy wedding portraits are a dime a dozen and are, we’re happy to report, a dying breed. Ditch the boring and predictable and put yourself slap bang on centre stage with a glamour wedding photo shoot. All the rage right now, these wedding photographs turn the bridal couple into professional models for a day and look like they come straight from the pages of a glossy magazine. Say “I do” to glamour. We insist!

Source: Claire Delgarno

#7: Photojournalism
One of the hottest trends right now, wedding photojournalism is the choice of thousands of modern engaged couples. With this technique, the wedding is photographed and chronicled as it unfolds, with the focus more on rolling, candid photos than on posed shots. What is great about this approach is that the photographs have a very authentic feel that evoke feeling and capture the sentiments of the day. The drawback is that you may miss the opportunity to be photographed with specific people, so make sure your photographer follows sets aside time for some pre-scheduled shots that your album just can’t do without.

Source: The Discerning Bride