Making Wedding Photos Better than Real

When it comes to wedding photos, the overwhelming trend is for real and natural – or, put another way, classic. That means a mix of formal, tight-lipped photos and ‘zany’ poses, a smattering of black and white, and a sense of decorum that emphasizes the love and purity of the occasion and the solemnity of the emotion on display. Retouching these photos is a sensitive subject: Yes, people want the occasional blemish removed, but they also insist that the photos have to be an accurate, journalistic record of the day. In other words, effusive effects are out.

But, why? First of all, all photos taken at weddings are reality distortions to some degree. They’re posed, they’re pre-planned, and everyone in them looks better than they do on a regular basis. Why not embrace that lack of realism and go for it, turning at least some of your photos into awesome creative efforts. In fact, that’s a trend in wedding photos that’s gaining steam. Here are some ideas how you can use effects to make your wedding pictorials even more awesome.

The Fanboy Tie-In

One of the more popular trends in wedding photos with effects is to add in some pop culture piece that represents one or both of the spouses’ interests. A couple in California saw a photo from their wedding go viral on the Internet because they added in a lightsaber complete with glowing effect to partially recreate the classic movie posted from Star Wars. Another couple went viral recently when they Photoshopped a dinosaur into the background while the wedding party ran screaming.

Using effects, you can add a touch of your own personality to these photos and elevate them from simple photographic record to awesome combination of the people you love and the pop culture you enjoy.

Heightened Reality

A less gonzo approach to using effects is to simply and subtly heighten the elements already in your photo. If your photo is being taken at a beautiful outdoor area, adjust the lighting filters and add layers of effects to create a dreamlike atmosphere in the photo. If it’s at night, play with the color and contrast to reduce party-goers in the background to blurs, emphasizing how lost the couple is with each other.

Another great idea that’s pretty easy to do is to keep the couple clear and sharp in the photo, but use easy filters on the background to make it look like a sketch or drawing or oil painting, offering a take on the wedding that is simultaneously accurate and reality-based, but also fun and dreamy.

The final note to keep in mind is that there are plenty of opportunities at weddings to take lots and lots of photos. Just as most people include a few ‘fun’ poses, you can have a mix of formal, natural, and effects-laden photos, then pick and choose which ones you like best. There’s no need to be locked into one kind of photo or another.

And if you get a few photos that are extra-special – with or without dinosaurs and lightsabers – click here and we’ll turn them into big, bold, beautiful wall art for your friends and families to enjoy for years to come.