In the timeless (traditional) style of wedding photography, the photographer plays a very active role. He or she orchestrates virtually the entire event according to a preplanned shot list. Every photo is carefully posed. Depending on the length of time for which he or she is hired, some of your most personal marriage moments, such as cutting the cake or throwing the bouquet, may have to be re-enacted or faked for the camera.

Tradition isn't such a timeless style when you're a guest waiting around for the bride and groom to arrive at the reception hall. The time between the ceremony and the transition to the reception hall generally belongs to the photographer, as he works with the bridal party to have the best shots for a photo album. A session of posed photos could take up to two hours while guests are left waiting.

There are a few major advantages to timeless marriage photography. Since the shot list is preplanned, couples can be sure that no event or family member is left out. The posed photos also look beautiful in a marriage album, creating a classic memento of the big day.

Photojournalistic wedding photography takes the opposite approach to the timeless style. Rather than posed photographs, the emphasis is on candid photography. The photographer takes a much more passive role, capturing the day as it unfolds naturally rather than directing the show.

Many engaged couples feel that wedding photojournalism captures the big day in a more realistic way. They also prefer the low-key approach of the photojournalistic style, feeling that the photographer should document what actually happens rather than faking events for the photographic effect.

Wedding photojournalism does have its own downside, however. Since there is no shot list, it is possible that key relatives or friends will inadvertently be left out of the photos. The photographer's instincts must be top notch as he or she decides what to cover during the busy reception.

Ambient rather than photographic lighting will generally be used, which can lead to some less than perfect photographs. Finally, your album will contain no traditional posed photos. Some parents feel that their child's marriage album is incomplete without some traditional photos. You, too, may regret the lack of posed photos one day.

A few photography studios will offer both wedding photojournalism and traditional timeless photography to their clients. The bride, groom, and wedding party might be required to show up at the studio before the day of the wedding to have the formal wedding photography portrait done. The bride and groom might also submit a list of specific posed pictures they would like to have and thus cut the downtime between ceremony and reception. This approach pleases many people, since no one is left out of the wedding album, and the bride and groom get to enjoy more time with their guests.

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