What wedding photography style is right for you? Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough

A guide for couples who want to feel like themselves

When you're planning your wedding, photography quickly becomes one of the most important decisions you'll make. Not just because you want beautiful photos, but because you want a record of your wedding day.

But here’s the thing: how your photos look is directly tied to how your day feels while they’re being taken.

Do you want to be swept up in the moment, surrounded by the people you love? Or do you want to be guided through poses and directed into moments that don’t quite feel like your own?

Before you can decide which wedding photography style is right for you, it helps to understand the differences. Not just technically, but emotionally. Because your wedding isn’t a photoshoot. It’s your real life, full of connection, chaos, laughter, nerves, and joy.

In this article I explore the most common wedding photography styles, and what each one really means for you as a couple.

Editorial Wedding Photography

Editorial photography takes inspiration from high-fashion magazines. It's bold, artistic, and full of visual drama. The photographer usually has a strong creative vision and will guide you into carefully composed poses, often using stylised lighting and heavy editing. The result is visually striking, but often very structured.

What it feels like: You’ll likely spend a good portion of the day away from your guests. The experience feels like being part of a fashion shoot. You’ll be directed into poses and setups that prioritise aesthetics over spontaneity.

Who it's for: Couples who love fashion, and models themselves, want magazine-worthy images, and have experience being styled and posed.

Pros: Visually stunning and glamorous images with artistic flair.

Cons: Requires time, patience, and comfort in front of the camera. You may need to leave your guests to get “the shot.”

For this image I: asked Emma to stand by the hedge, put all her weight on her back leg and bend her front leg. Turn to her left slightly, dip her shoulder and look down. Stick her bum out (which got a laugh!) and I took this shot.

Lifestyle Wedding Photography

Lifestyle wedding photography aims to look natural and relaxed, but it is, in truth, highly directed. The photographer prompts you to do things that feel spontaneous from the outside—like “laugh while looking at each other” or “walk slowly and hold hands”—but these moments are staged for the camera.

What it feels like: You’ll be guided through your day with soft prompts that create the illusion of candidness. The moments look real but are often constructed.

Who it's for: Couples who like the idea of natural-looking images but still want some direction to feel confident in front of the camera.

Pros: A good balance of posed and natural-looking images. Easier if you're unsure what to do with your hands.

Cons: The images may look relaxed, but they can still feel staged in the moment. Photos are not authentic.

For this image I: asked Emma and Si to show me a favourite spot in her mum's garden. They took me here. I asked them to stand together with their arms around each other. This photo looks entirely natural but is in fact staged.

Documentary Wedding Photography (also known as reportage or photojournalistic)

This is where I come in. Documentary photography is not about creating moments. It’s about witnessing them. It’s about being present, not performing. It’s for couples who want to experience their wedding, not be pulled away from it.

A true documentary photographer won’t ask you to fake the cake cutting, redo walking down the aisle, or pose your parents' hugs. We work quietly, intuitively, and attentively, capturing the essence of the day as it unfolds.

Documentary photographer also focus on guests and you wedding party, not just the couple.

What it feels like: You forget there’s a photographer and camera at all. You’re free to laugh, cry, hug, eat, dance, and breathe. You’re not being posed. You’re simply being, and we’re capturing it.

Who it's for: Couples who hate awkward poses and want to feel present with their guests. People who care more about meaning and emotion than magazine spreads.

Pros: Real, emotional, story-rich imagery that reflects how your wedding felt. You receive a true record on your guests as well as yourselves at your wedding.

Cons: Fewer posed portraits or highly stylised shots. (Though we can absolutely make time for a handful of relaxed portraits if you'd like.)

For this image I: anticipated the couple would start walking down the driveway towards their reception soon. I found the exact spot I could stand and waited for them to walk down. I wanted them to be framed by the dark background and to see their full shadows. And this was the result.

So, how do you want to feel?

Planning a wedding brings up all kinds of questions. But maybe the most important one to ask is: how do you want to feel on your wedding day?

Do you want to feel like you’re performing for the camera? Do you want to be pulled into carefully crafted scenes that look beautiful but feel disconnected from the real experience?

Or do you want to be in it? Laughing with your friends, hugging your gran, spilling champagne on your dress, squeezing your partner’s hand before the ceremony starts, dancing until your legs hurt, and knowing that every part of that story is being quietly and honestly captured?

I believe photography should support your experience, not interrupt it. If you're the kind of couple who values connection, meaning, and truth over posed perfection, we’re probably a great match.

Bonus Glossary: Wedding photography terms explained

Candid: The dictionary definition is "informal; unposed, a candid photo". Candids as they are often referred to, are where the subjects are photographed without their knowledge. True candids are not where the person being photographed stops and smiles at the camera.

Documentary/Reportage: A storytelling style of photography that captures real moments as they happen. No posing, no staging, just honest storytelling. Found photographic elements such as composition, contrast and texture; are utilised by the photographer through anticipation, patience and observation. They seek out genuine moments are they are happening, with emotion and story at their heart.

Editorial: Highly stylised photography that mimics fashion magazine spreads. Emphasis is placed on aesthetics, symmetry, and drama.

Fine Art: Photography focused on beauty, light, and composition, often with soft colours and romantic tones. It may be digital or film-based.

Formal or Family Photos: Groups of close family and friends, photographed together in a very posed way. These are important records of who was at your wedding and can take as little or lot of time as you wish.

Lifestyle: A style that looks candid but is usually directed or prompted. Photographers may ask you to do specific actions to create a natural-looking result.

Natural: A vague term that can mean different things. Some use it to describe photos that look unposed, even if they were staged. Others mean natural light or natural expressions. For me, I love photographing details naturally. This means as I found them or observed them. I don't arrange rings, shoes or dresses but capture them authentically, untouched in situ.

Posing: The act of arranging people in a specific position for the camera. Some photographers offer heavy direction, while others may keep it very light.

Prompting: A middle ground between posing and candid photography. Prompts like “tell them a secret” or “walk and laugh” are used to encourage a natural-looking reaction.

At Lucalia Photography, I work with couples who want to feel seen, not styled. Couples who want to feel calm, connected, and present, not rushed, posed, or pushed into moments that don’t reflect who they are.

If that sounds like you, let’s talk. I’d be honoured to help you remember how your wedding day truly felt.

Feel free to check out more of my documentary wedding photography in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough, Aotearoa New Zealand.

PS: All the photos in this blog are taken by me. My natural style is documentary. I have curated and edited images differently to illustrate the styles in this article.