Choosing the Right Wedding Photographer: Understanding Editing Styles

From a wedding I photographed here in Jasper National Park with my personal editing style.

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable and significant moments of your life, and capturing those precious memories through photography is essential. As you embark on the journey of selecting a wedding photographer, it's important to understand the various editing styles and approaches that photographers employ. In this blog post, I'll delve into the nuances of editing styles and offer insights to help you choose the perfect photographer for your special day.

Examples of different editing styles with one image.

Understanding Different Editing Styles

There are countless editing styles in wedding photography, ranging from light and airy to dark and moody, and from natural and timeless to bold and dramatic. Some photographers prefer a clean and classic look, while others experiment with trendy presets or filters.

When choosing a photographer for your wedding day it is essential to choose someone who's work aligns with the photo vision you have in mind. Think about photographers as artists and how they edit their photos is their own personal artistic style. If you vibe with a photographer, but ask them to edit their photos to fit a totally different editing style, you run the risk of photos you may not love. Why? It would be like asking a painter to paint in a different style. It may be do-able but it ties their hands creatively and is something they are not used to. It puts them outside their comfort zone and at that can translate into awkward edits on some of the most special photos you'll ever have taken.

Retouching acne and wrinkles, removing

under eye bags and

correcting skin tone.

In Depth Edits

Another consideration to keep in mind when choosing a potential wedding photographer is how in depth they edit their photos. Here are some things that certain photographers will do, and others do not:

-softening or removing acne

-softening skin

-teeth whitening

-skin tone corrections (for instance, if a person's hands/ears are red from the cold, that can be fixed)

-removing unsightly objects from photos

-dress whitening/stain removal

The list does go on. Some photographers will edit heavier than others (if needed) so it's a good idea to bring this up in your consultation before hiring anyone. It is also a good idea to take a look at the galleries available on the websites or social media feeds of the photographers that you are considering.

The first image is straight out of the camera (no edits), the second is my AI edit and the third photo is one that I polished by hand afterwards (mostly focused on refining the details on the subject).

Explaining the Difference Between AI Editing Software and Manual Editing

These days AI is advancing at an unprecedented rate and it has certainly reached the photography community. Some people do not realize that AI can be utilized in editing, and with that there are some things to consider. Understanding the distinction between AI editing software and manual editing can help couples make informed decisions when choosing a photographer. Here's an overview of the two approaches and my personal preference:

AI Editing Software: AI editing software has become more impressive in recent years, offering amazing capabilities for automatic photo corrections. However, in my opinion, AI editing should be used as a supplementary tool rather than the sole method for editing photos. While AI can handle basic corrections such as lighting and saturation, it may lack the nuanced touch and artistic vision that manual editing provides. AI cannot recognize a drunken guest in the background that is distracting from a special moment between the bride and groom, where as a human eye would immediately crop them out.

Manual Editing: Manual editing involves hands-on adjustments made by the photographer, allowing for greater control and customization. I prefer manual editing because it enables me to apply a polished and in-depth editing process that enhances the unique beauty of each photo. From removing acne and whitening teeth to eliminating unsightly objects or distractions, manual editing allows me to tailor each image to perfection.

Personal Approach: While I utilize AI technology for basic corrections, such as adjusting lighting and saturation, I always follow up with manual editing to ensure the highest quality results. My AI is trained to understand my personal editing style, providing a helpful starting point for the editing process. However, I believe that the human touch is essential for achieving the level of refinement and attention to detail that couples deserve in their wedding photos.

This is a great example of my editing style: bold, romantic and adventurous.

What Does My Personal Editing Style Look Like?

As mentioned above, I do utilize AI as a base to start my edits but I still comb through every image I take and spend the time to re touch the photos as needed by hand. You are paying me a good amount of money for your photos, and I want to make sure every image is up to my standards.

I would describe my editing style is bold, romantic and adventurous. Now what the heck does that mean? Bold because I love to capture all of the special moments while enhancing the natural beauty of my clients and Jasper (without making things look unnatural). Romantic, because although it's easy to photograph the surrounding mountain landscapes, my focus is still primarily on the love story being told and the emotions that come with that. Lastly, there is a sense of adventure in my photos because my awesome clients fall in love with Jasper for a reason. Most are outdoorsy, not scared of what the mountains may throw at them on their wedding day, but rather embrace the wonderful memories that come with it all.

Choosing the right wedding photographer is a crucial decision, and understanding their editing style is an important factor to consider. By considering your own preferences and communicating them to potential photographers, you can find a photographer whose approach aligns with your vision and helps bring your wedding day to life in a way that is authentic, beautiful, and timeless.

If you've made it this far into this blog post and you're thinking about having me photograph your Jasper wedding, let's chat! I would love to hear what you're dreaming up for your special day.