237. Wedding Photography Trends & Predictions in 2026

In this episode, host Alora delves into the enduring trends and predictions for the wedding photography industry in 2026. Alora also discusses the importance of versatility and creativity in capturing memorable wedding moments.

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Transcript

Alora: 0:06

Welcome back to the podcast. In this episode, we're gonna be diving into the trends and major predictions of 2026 for the wedding industry, which is hilarious because these trends were. Even timeless back in the pandemic. I remember cinema really taking over in the pandemic. I don't know if 2020 was a time where we were very nostalgic for what was, and we found ourself really just falling in love with the art of photography, nostalgia back when, and just memories and feelings and emotion, and it's not going anywhere. Here we are six years later and the number one wedding photography trend right now. Is cinematic documentary images and films. I think it's hilarious because as I'm looking at all of the articles and pulling everything together they're all saying that photography and videography, they're entering a new era, a new mood. I'm like, no, this has been the same and we're four years short of a decade of the same style. And that's how I know that even if you look back at the really old vintage pictures where they had the flash, and you remember your parents taking a photo, cutting a cake, and it's on film and it's imperfect, but it's beautiful and it just has this old soul feeling. We strayed away from that for some reason, and then came back to it harder than ever. But now that whole nostalgic, emotional, vintage feeling is fashion. It's a fashion statement. And so that's how you know a wedding is being led from this elevated fashion forward documentary editorial style, because now it's quote unquote trending. So what I'm noticing when it comes to trends, they're saying that Blue Hour is in and it's so funny'cause Blue Hour has and always will. For years been my favorite time of the day. Yes, we love Golden Hour. She's beautiful. We love a sun flare, we love the orange and pink bubblegum sky, but there is something so magic about a blue hour night with the stars in the sky and some on camera, off camera, or OCF, gorgeous, and it just feels so dreamy. It feels like la land. It's actually what it makes me think of my favorite movie, La Land. If you need an inspirational movie to just gush over the cinematography and the color, the mood, the lighting, just watch that movie. You're welcome. and while we're on the high fashion train here. Really fun, quirky compositions. Very vogue editorial, artsy photographer is in. I'm talking about pictures that are upside down, pictures that are sideways, but also really good shadows, really good lighting, really good framing if you know how to frame a photo, up, close and personal. The narrative is changing. It's almost like images aren't just documentary, but the editorial ones are telling a story, but they're so beautifully and artfully crafted in a way where it stops you in your tracks and you're like, oh wait. this is a very elevated, intentional image, and then the word cinematic is not going anywhere because. The word timeless cinematic still keeps coming up. And I didn't know Timeless Cinematic was a style, but it still reminds me of cinematic editorial, something that feels like magazine but also feels like a movie. And it could feel like any style of a movie. It could be a old black and white movie, it could be Super eight film. But we are definitely longing for the older. Original photographic tools and there's no need to modernize anymore. It's almost like we're taking a step back and really appreciating. What has stood the test of time and also just appreciating art as imperfect as it is, which is why I think Super Eight had such a big hit because I don't care what I get when I have a Super eight film. I'm just thankful that I have it. I don't know if that makes any sense, but I just love it as it is. There's no need to change it. I love the specs of dust and the cracking, the in and out, the overpowering grain. It just, I don't know, there's something about the emotion of nostalgia that it just makes you appreciate the imperfect. And I think as artists we struggle with perfectionism, and so I feel like when you lean into the artful side and you start being okay with the imperfect whatever it is that you struggle with in terms of perfectionism, it almost helps you loosen up and explore more and create more without boundaries, without giving yourself. Strict guidelines and rules and just playing. And I like to think about play for everything. Like why don't we just play with this? This is something that could be really fun. Let me play, lemme see what happens. And the worst thing that you do is discard the image. Don't only play and not get the important original images, but there's nothing wrong with playing. Now, really interesting is flash outside is really making a comeback. Bold, bright colors, outdoor flash. It's really leaning heavy on the vogue. And then of course, as always, and forever. The documentary meets editorial, which is and always will be my favorite style because it's everything. It's the bad, it's the bougie, it's the icon, it's the moment, and then it's the raw and the real, the emotional, the storytelling. It's everything you want. When you see an old film on the VHS tape. Versus the photo of how it happened. The photo, I feel like, to me would be the editorial, but the documentary is those in-between moments that really bring a story to life. Also there is going to be a shift in hybrid packages. People want digital and film, and they also want digital and video highlights, but video highlights, shot cinematically like film. And so there is a podcast episode with Shayna Lloyd and she talked about hybrid packages and adding video, what it looks like, how she got into it. Definitely listen to that episode. It'll be super helpful. Helping you decide if you wanna be able to offer video add-ons and just playing around with that and seeing if that's something you can do or partnering with a videographer and offering some kind of like package deal. The details are getting more intentional. Handcrafted elements. Hand painted backdrops themed photo booths. it's as I've said a million times, all of these, quote unquote, trend predictions are leaning into authentic, personal, intentional styles. Everyone is weaving in their own personal style into their wedding day, but they want it captured like a cinematic film sprinkling different kinds of media devices. I see the wedding content creators are still blowing up because they can do behind the scenes reels coverage And also getting professional video clips, while also in Super 8 film, 35 millimeter film, Holga film, whatever kind of film that you wanna play with. Every kind of media is basically supported in 2026 is what they think. This is why you wanna have a myriad of tools to choose from and decide how you're going to capture it in the moment. Having the knowledge to know how you're gonna shoot something, what you're gonna use, and how you're gonna use it. Not only makes you the creative director and the artist, but it also differentiates your style from everyone else. I still think it's funny that these are considered trend predictions when these trends have never left because they're timeless. How you use all these different artistic tools, will always be timeless. as long as you're not taking a bunch of photos where the heads are all cut off, have a mix of everything. Have a well curated. Tight intentional portfolio and the right couples that appreciate the way that you photograph, the way you tell a story. It's going to, get you more bookings and the right couples are gonna find you and work with you. I think gone are the days where we would just follow a trend. Yeah, exactly as it is, and then the next year do the same thing. it's almost like you just need to know how to use every tool and creatively decide how you're going to do it, and just have the knowledge of light, have the knowledge of direction of your couples and composing images, and deciding to be the director of the day. That's it. Yes, all these trend predictions hold true, and like I said, they've never left. They've been here for years. Now this style may not go anywhere. I don't know because this reminds me a lot of the nineties, just in an elevated fashion forward magazine way. But honestly, as long as you have the editorial documentary storytelling in your backpack, and then knowing how to use all these tools, knowing how to compose images, knowing how to set the scene, knowing how to. Capture those in between moments. You're gonna be able to do anything at any time, and you won't even be phased by any of these trend predictions. I know it's counterintuitive, but I really got on here. Just to let you know, the trend predictions of 2026 have been the same trend predictions since 2020. If you haven't made the conscious decision. To elevate your tools, your style, your composition of images, and just knowing how to use a little bit of everything to get the image the way that you wanna see it. Now is the time, and I really think it's incredible that all these trend predictions is everything that we teach you inside of Lab 35, from light composition. Directing editorial images on camera, off camera, flash, ambient lighting, blue hour. I have a whole training on blue Hour, and I made this course in 2022. Okay, so that lets you know that you just need all of the tools. Use, take what you want, leave what you don't, but try to sprinkle in a little bit of everything and see what you come up with, and you can create your own style by knowing exactly how you're going to use. Every single tool. If you're tired of the rinse and repeat, or you feel like you want to elevate your style, you wanna be able to charge higher prices, but you're still capturing your images one way with only a few lenses, or you don't even know how to use flash, or you don't even know how to find the right light. Or you can't shoot good light at any time of the day. I am talking about full sun, cloudy days, basements. You need to know how to be able to photograph a gorgeous image no matter where you are, what time it is, what the weather looks like. That is your job as the creative director and wedding photographer of the day. That's what makes you professional, that's what five figure couples are looking for. They're looking for range, They're looking for a high-end portfolio. They're looking for style. They're looking for detail, intentionality. They're looking for everything because everyone wants it all. Even if you're just strictly a documentary photographer, you still need to know, even if you choose not to use flash, You need to know how to use it. You can't just say, oh, I can only shoot until six o'clock because the sun goes down, or I don't know how to shoot past golden hour. That is not their problem. You are the professional. You need to know how to pull out your artificial light sources and light the moment, the way that it needs to be lit so that they have good images. That is your job now style choice, it's completely up to you. Especially if they know that you don't use artificial lighting, that's fine. But you just need to have the know-how. You need to know how to do it. That is your job, and you'll have less imposter syndrome as you raise your prices and book these high-end weddings and you elevate your craft, you elevate your tools. It'll seem like a piece of cake. you get to a point where you walk in a room and you're like, all right, let me see how much space do I have? can I set up OCF? No, but I can move this back here. Or I could do on-camera flash. I put on a diffuser, I can have one stand or I can have two stands and oh, I know that I can actually play with my whole go around the reception time. I'll give it to my assistant like, you should be able to run through the day mentally when you walk into any space and know exactly how you're gonna photograph it, how you're gonna compose it, and how you're going to create it. Okay, so we are launching Lab 35 January 20th with three exclusive bonuses. We are going to be having a 90 day sprint and a pop-up community where you guys can cheer each other on, and you also get three portfolio reviews from me as you are curating your portfolio, elevating your craft, playing around with flash, playing around with film. I will personally look through and give you the most honest feedback about what you can add to your portfolio, what's missing, depending on your style, and of course, your positioning. My guarantee is that your portfolio. Will be elevated by your next session, and if you're not shooting weddings until the spring, then this golden promise is even more attainable to you. But if you do have sessions, that's all the more reason to go through only three modules, 12 videos of content, and implement a little bit every step of the way. And then of course, brag about it. Tell me your wins. Post your images that you come up with in the group, and we'll just be hyping you up the whole time. I want you. To be able to come into a space and confidently know exactly how you're going to photograph it, how you're gonna compose it, how you're going to light it, and how you're gonna direct your clients if needed. Okay? I will see you in the next episode, and I can't wait to see you inside Lab 35. Join the wait list. It's not too late. Get$500 off and access to these exclusive bonuses, and I will see you in the next episode. Bye.