I recently met with some potential clients and they asked me “what is fine art wedding photography?” It's a term that many photographers use to describe their style and/or their work, but what does it actually mean?
To be honest, I always thought fine art wedding photography was just a pretentious term that some photographers used to make themselves seem more high-end than other photographers. It sounds chic and high-end, doesn't it?? According to Google, fine art is a fairly broad term without a real industry standard or definition. From what I understand, fine art wedding photography is a term that refers to photography in which the images are created to be enjoyed as visual art. So… I think a large proportion of wedding photographers today fall under the umbrella of fine art wedding photographers! Yes, there are pure photojournalists who stay true to that art form – but more often than not, wedding photography tends to lean towards fine art.
Fine art wedding photography is only for film photographers
A common misconception is that fine art wedding photography is exclusively for film photographers. This is not true. But MANY film photographers use the term to describe their style and/or work. As I said earlier, I'd venture to say that many wedding photographers today are fine art wedding photographers – whether they shoot film or digital – because they create a visual story for their clients instead of sticking to strict photojournalism. Many wedding photographers – including myself – spend the whole day working on styling details, directing clients… all in an effort to create a cohesive and visually appealing story that clients will cherish forever.
Fine art photography is a term that, I think, could be used interchangeably with editorial wedding photography. It's a style of wedding photography in which the photographer creates a story through their lens with artistic images. Instead of being a fly on the wall, like a true photojournalist, fine art wedding photographers inject themselves into the day by carefully choosing locations, lighting, composition, styling and poses in an effort to create an artistic story of the wedding day. So by that definition, I am a fine art wedding photographer! And so are many other photographers… whether or not they use that term to define their style.
How does fine art fit with wedding photography?
Fine art fits beautifully with wedding photography. Think of it this way: a wedding is a grand story about romance.
From the beautiful setting to the fairytale dance, capturing a more artistic side of this already visually captivating occasion simply works together.
When the details of a wedding are of the utmost importance, fine art photography is the missing piece.
Fine art wedding photographers capture images that are meant to be appreciated as art, not just as documentation of the event.
Many artistic wedding photos are well planned, with a lot of attention paid to the details of the scene. It's the emotion that lingers long after the day is over.
So my conclusion? Fine art wedding photography is just a term that some photographers use to make themselves look chic. Photographers who use the term to describe themselves or their work are not necessarily 'better' than someone who doesn't use that word to describe their work or style. In the end, it's really just a marketing term. I hope this is useful for demystifying what fine art wedding photography actually is!