Hot Takes in the Wedding Industry

I share my thoughts on various "hot takes" in the wedding industry. I discuss how Pinterest shot lists can stifle creativity and why having more gear doesn't necessarily mean better photography. I also touch on the inefficiency of overshooting and how trendy edits can age quickly. I express my appreciation for AI culling as an efficient tool and emphasize the importance of sneak peeks. Lastly, I talk about how styled shoots can set unrealistic expectations for couples. Each topic is explored through my personal experiences and insights, offering a comprehensive view of current wedding photography trends.

Key takeaways:

• Rigid Pinterest shot lists and overplanning can stifle creativity. Trusting your photographer’s intuition while sharing overall inspiration leads to more natural and meaningful images.
• Great wedding photography comes from experience, timing, and knowing your tools, not from having the newest gear or shooting thousands of frames.
• Trends in editing, decor, and styling will always date a wedding in some way, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. A balance between timeless and trendy can still feel meaningful years later.
• Smart timelines and good lighting matter just as much as decor. When planners and photographers collaborate, the day runs smoother and the final gallery benefits.
• Modern tools like AI culling and timely sneak peeks are not shortcuts. They are efficient ways photographers can deliver better experiences while maintaining a healthy work life balance.

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Transcript

Hey guys, welcome back to The Wedding Frame. I’m excited to be doing another episode, and this one is gonna be juicy. It is about hot takes in the wedding industry, and I’ve kind of compiled a list from just talking to people, reading threads on social media, and taking some mental notes of things that I’ve heard.

Let’s go through the list, and I’ll give you my opinions on each of these hot takes.

Alright, number one: the Pinterest shot list is killing creativity.
I definitely agree with that one. I actually prefer not to have a shot list because on the day of the wedding, I am not wanting to take time out of a tight schedule to look down at a list of specific shots that the couple wants. And I’m not talking about family portraits. I’m talking about wanting a specific pose in a specific location.

If it’s not too much and if it’s not too many requests, fine. But if the whole day is planned out with a shot list, it just kind of kills a photographer’s creativity. I do ask if they have photos they would like to send me, like a Pinterest board of their wedding inspo, so I know kind of what they like. If they like a more editorial look or they’re leaning more toward candid, I tend to do both anyway, but it’s good to have an idea of what the couple prefers and what speaks to them.

Alright, number two: more gear does not equal better photography.
I definitely think that having the latest and the most gear isn’t necessary to be an amazing wedding photographer. We talked about gear in one of the last episodes, and I really think that knowing your equipment inside and out and how it works for you is the most important thing.

Great images come from intuition, timing, and understanding light. Some of the best wedding photography is created with just simple, reliable tools, not every new gadget on the market.

Number three: overshooting is not a badge of honor.
Ooh, this one speaks to me. I think we all were overshooters when we first started. And those of you who are new in wedding photography, it’s okay. You’re gonna do a little bit of shooting and praying, or what is it, spraying and praying, because you want to make sure you got the shot.

But I’ve had the experience of having second shooters who overshoot, and it definitely makes the work harder with culling and editing. It’s not necessary to get ten shots of the same pose. I usually do maybe two or three shots of one pose, then I’ll tell them, okay, now look at each other, and I’ll take two or three more.

Now when it comes to group photos, I definitely take three to five of each pose because sometimes people blink or aren’t looking at the camera. In that case, group shots, yes, you can do a little bit of overshooting.

Number four: trendy edits age faster than people think.
I definitely think trends are going to come and go, and you want to make sure that your couple’s photos don’t look outdated in ten years. That said, I’m kind of half and half on this one.

I was thinking about this for my own wedding. I chose avocado green for my tablecloths, and I wondered if I was being too trendy. Then I thought, it’s okay. It’s kind of fun to look back at your parents’ wedding photos and know they got married in the 80s because of the fashion. So I think that can actually be fun.

Number five: AI culling isn’t cheating, it’s efficient.
You all know how I feel about this if you’ve been listening to the podcast. AI culling has saved me so much time. I’m a mom, I have two kids, and I want to have a life outside of shooting weddings, and this has really given me my time back.

So AI culling definitely is not cheating. It just means you’re up to date with technology.

Number six: sneak peeks matter a lot.
I do believe that this is true. In this day and age, people want everything instantly, and we already know that content creators are giving footage the next day.

Sneak peeks keep the couple excited for what’s to come when you deliver the final gallery. It also helps keep the excitement of the wedding going on social media because vendors can share the sneak peeks, which gives more impact and exposure.

Number seven: florals dramatically impact the overall aesthetic.
Yes, yes, and yes. To me, florals make or break a wedding. They don’t have to be over the top, but when there’s a good amount and they incorporate the wedding colors, it really elevates the wedding.

You can skip something like favors instead of skimping on florals. Maybe that’s just me because I love flowers, but they really do add that extra oomph.

Number eight: ceremony lighting affects the gallery more than the decor.
Lighting is everything when it comes to wedding photos. I understand what people mean by this, but I also think decor matters too, especially when you include florals. I think lighting and decor are equally important.

Number nine: timelines should be built with photography in mind.
This doesn’t mean photography runs the day, but a poorly structured timeline leads to rushed portraits, missed moments, and unnecessary stress. I appreciate when planners reach out to me and ask me to look over the timeline to make sure it works for photography.

I’ve had timelines where fifteen minutes were allocated for family photos with ten groupings. In those cases, I reach out right away. Sometimes couples choose to miss cocktail hour, which is very common, or we move photos to the reception.

Number ten: iPhones aren’t the problem, aisle blocking is.
This is one I don’t agree with. I think iPhones are definitely a problem because guests block aisles trying to take photos. I strongly believe unplugged weddings are the best solution.

At my own wedding, our officiant announced an unplugged ceremony but also gave everyone a moment to take photos beforehand. After that, no one took their phones out again, and it worked perfectly.

Number eleven: Instagram popularity isn’t a measure of professionalism.
I think this can be true, but social media still matters. Couples do look at follower counts and engagement, and Instagram has been a great marketing tool. At the same time, authenticity is important, especially since Gen Z really values it.

Number twelve: most weddings don’t need twelve hours of coverage.
Twelve hours is probably on the high end. For most weddings, ten hours is the sweet spot, and sometimes eight is enough if everything is in one location. There are exceptions, like cultural or multi day weddings, but for a typical wedding day, twelve hours isn’t always necessary.

Number thirteen: receptions don’t require nonstop coverage.
I kind of disagree with this one. There are always moments happening throughout the reception. The only real downtime is during dinner, and even then, speeches usually happen.

Final hot take: styled shoots have influenced couples’ expectations unrealistically.
I love styled shoots, but they definitely set unrealistic expectations. They’re controlled environments with perfect lighting and no time pressure, which is very different from a real wedding day.

I think couples sometimes need to be educated on what’s realistic and what to expect.

Alright guys, that’s it for this episode. Thank you so much for sticking it out with me while I went through all these hot takes. I had a lot of fun with this, and I’m definitely going to do another one. I’ll see you next time.