The Wedding Photography Jargon Buster

Finding a good wedding photographer is hard enough without worrying about understanding all that technical photo-speak. The solution? This quick jargon buster will reveal what it all means so you know exactly what they’re talking about.

Photojournalism or Reportage
A popular style with today’s couples which documents the day in a series of candid, informal shots. Most wedding photographers will still set up the shot but make the end result look as though they have captured a casual moment between the two of you.

Traditional
The posed group shots your grandparents had are typical of the Traditional style. Traditional photographs are classic and timeless, the kind of images you’d be proud to display in your lounge, but they do not have the same ‘fly on the wall’ feel as the more modern reportage style.

Black and White
Many modern brides are now choosing classy black and white shots for their albums, punctuated by a few well-chosen full-colour favourites. The classic, romantic look of black and white photography will never go out of fashion.

Cross-processing
A photographic technique where slide film is processed in normal colour film chemistry which results in luminous, saturated colours and deep contrast. Cross-processing is effective when used for a few shots, but you wouldn’t want a whole album of it.

Toned images
These are tinted, often with sepia or bluish tones. Details of a black and white photograph like the bride’s bouquet can be hand-coloured so they are highlighted. Again, this is a great effect when used on selected photos.

Digital
Many professional photographers are now switching from film to digital, and digital cameras now produce results every bit as good as shooting on film. The advantage of going digital is that an unlimited number of photos can be taken, so there’s more shots to choose from. Also, any unsightly background details can easily be edited out later by your photographer with image editing software.

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