Your Best Guide to Wedding Photography Styles – THE QUIZ

Take our quick wedding photo style quiz and get access to 3 wedding galleries plus a mini timeline to keep you with your guests as a bonus.

We’re Marta May Photography – also known as The Mays (Marta + Artur), and we made this to help you choose a style that feels like you, not a trend.

Choosing between the different wedding photography styles can feel confusing. Here’s the plain-English guide for real couples. In short, there are three types of wedding photography you’ll see most:

• Most common wedding photography styles:
• Editorial wedding photography – guided, polished, magazine feel
• Documentary / reportage wedding photography – unposed, real moments
• DOCU-ART wedding photography – documentary story + cinematic portraits (our signature style)

Compare the styles side-by-side with real wedding examples, see how the vibe changes, and choose what feels most like you. Take the quiz above to get your match.

Last updated: February 2026

Wedding Photography Styles Explained

EDITORIAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY (polished, pose-led)

Think magazine vibes: clean lines, styled details, elegant posing. We’ll spend longer on couple portraits and crafted scenes, keeping everything refined and consistent. Best for: lovers of chic, fine-art looks and perfectly styled moments. Once you complete the quiz, and get your results, we’ll give you access to our take on editorial photography.

DOCUMENTARY/ REPORTAGE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY (unposed, story-first)

Zero staging, zero fuss – just real life unfolding. We compose in-camera as moments happen so you can stay with your guests. Portraits are optional; if golden hour hits, we’ll steal 5–10 mins for a few “us” frames. Best for: couples who value candid wedding photojournalism and guest-first flow.
Once you complete the quiz, and get your results, we’ll give you access to our reportage wedding photography gallery.

DOCU-ART WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY (our style: real + cinematic)

Our sweet spot: authentic, colourful storytelling with a handful of creative, cinematic wedding portraits in great light. Most of the day we’re documentary ninjas; then we slip away for 10–15 minutes to make frame-worthy heroes – fast, fun, flattering. Best for: modern couples who want the whole story and a few “wow” pieces, without losing party time.
Once you complete the quiz, and get your results, we’ll give you access to our DOCU-ART gallery.

Clearing Up the Confusion: “Natural” isn’t a Style – and “Reportage” isn’t Unflattering

A lot of couples mix up wedding photography styles, so here’s the simple truth.

• Editorial ≠ natural. Motion blur, grain and “happy imperfections” can look spontaneous, but editorial is usually pose-led and styled, and it often means longer blocks away from your guests. Amazing if you want a magazine feel; less ideal if you want to stay in the middle of the party.

• Documentary / reportage ≠ unflattering. It’s real, unposed and guest-first, but some pure documentary photographers won’t do portraits (because they see direction as “not natural”). After the day, some couples realise they would’ve loved a few strong, flattering portraits for frames and thank-yous.

• DOCU-ART (our way) = the best of both. We keep the story authentic and guest-first, then slip away for 10–15 minutes to create cinematic, flattering portraits in beautiful light. No time sink, no gimmicks, just real moments plus a handful of “wow” images you’ll always love.

A quick note: Style is how it’s shot. Editing is how it’s finished (true-to-colour, light & airy, dark & moody). You can get different “looks” within the same style.

Want styled perfection and don’t mind missing mingling? → Editorial
Want pure, unposed memories and zero direction? → Documentary / Reportage
Want authentic candids + a few iconic portraits, fast? → DOCU-ART (the sweet spot)

Editorial vs Documentary vs DOCU-ART (Real Weddings)

See the wedding photography styles side-by-side using three real wedding galleries, same MAYS colour, fun and art… just different “dial settings”.

How to use this: as you click through, pay attention to the ceremony, speeches and dance floor, that’s where style (and skill) really shows.

Gallery 1 – Editorial Twist (pose-led, detail-driven)

Polished portraits, styled details, confident direction. More time for couple photos and a few extra family groups – think clean lines and graphic light.

Gallery 2 – Pure Reportage (unposed, story-first)

Zero staging, all feeling. We compose in-camera as moments unfold; no formal groups, so the candid storytelling runs deep. If golden hour appears, we’ll still grab a few quick “us” frames.

Gallery 3 – DOCU-ART Signature (real + cinematic)

Guest-first documentary all day, then a 10–15 minute dash for cinematic, flattering portraits in beautiful light; plus a handful of efficient groups. Best-of-both without losing party time.

How to Choose Your Wedding Photo Style

Picking between wedding photography styles comes down to a few simple trade-offs. Use this quick chooser:

• Time away from guests
  Editorial wedding photography – longer portrait blocks and styled details
  Documentary / reportage wedding photography- minimal time away
  DOCU-ART wedding photography – one 10–15 minute portrait dash; the rest is guest-first

• Direction level
  Editorial – more posing and set-up scenes
  Documentary / reportage – little to no direction
  DOCU-ART – light micro-prompts; natural and flattering

• Portrait priority
  Editorial – lots of crafted portraits
  Documentary / reportage – portraits optional / a few quick frames
  DOCU-ART – a handful of cinematic “hero” portraits in beautiful light

• Candids and story depth
  Editorial – fewer “in-the-moment” candids
  Documentary / reportage – maximum real moments
  DOCU-ART – full candid story + a few wow portraits

• Editing look
  Important: this is usually an editing choice, not the style itself (light & airy, true-to-colour, dark & moody).
  Editorial – refined, polished finish
  Documentary / reportage – true-to-life feel
  DOCU-ART – vibrant, timeless, flattering (still real)

• Personality fit
  Love styled perfection → Editorial
  Want pure, unposed memories → Documentary / reportage
  Want real moments and a few iconic portraits → DOCU-ART

Still unsure? Take our 60-second Wedding Photo Style Quiz to see real examples and get a mini timeline that protects party time.

Wedding Photography Editing Styles (Light & Airy, True-to-Colour, Dark & Moody)

A quick note first: editing style isn’t the same as photography style.
Style is how it’s shot (editorial vs documentary vs DOCU-ART). Editing is the colour, contrast and overall “mood” of the finished images, and you can pair different edits with different shooting styles.

Light & airy wedding photography editing

Bright, soft, and often slightly pastel, with an “open” feel and gentle contrast.
It suits spring/summer weddings, outdoor ceremonies, and couples who love a romantic, clean look.
Just make sure skin tones still look natural (that’s the real quality test).

True-to-colour wedding photography editing

Natural colour and believable skin tones, like the day felt in real life.
It’s timeless, ages well, and works beautifully across mixed lighting (sun, shade, indoors, fairy lights).
If you want your photos to feel “you, but elevated”, this is usually the safest choice.

Dark & moody wedding photography editing

Deeper shadows, richer contrast, and a more cinematic, dramatic finish.
It can look stunning in candlelight, winter weddings, or venues with dark interiors and texture (stone, wood, moody skies).
The key is balance: moody doesn’t mean muddy – details and skin tones should still feel alive.

Portfolio Test: How to Spot Your Wedding Photography Style Fast

If you’re unsure what you love, do this quick portfolio test (it takes 2 minutes):

1) Ask for 2–3 full wedding galleries (not just Instagram highlights).
2) Check the hard stuff: dark ceremony rooms, rainy weather, winter light, busy dance floors.
3) Look at the story beats: ceremony reactions, speeches, hugs with parents, the “in-between” moments.
4) Notice the portrait time: do you see lots of posed setups, or quick natural portraits between real moments?
5) Ask one simple question: do the couples look like themselves – relaxed, connected, and not “performing”?

If the galleries make you feel something and you can picture you in them, you’ve found your style match.

Ready to Find Your Fit (and Keep Your Day Feeling Like You)?

You’ve seen the main wedding photography styles – editorial, documentary/reportage, and our DOCU-ART best-of-both. Now it’s just about choosing what matters most to you: time with guests, how much direction you want, and whether you’d love a few cinematic “hero” portraits alongside the real story.

Next step: take the 60-second Wedding Photo Style Quiz (above) and view the three real galleries – it’ll make your decision feel ridiculously easy.

Got a question or want to check your date? → CONNECT

We’re Marta May Photography – also known as The Mays (Marta + Artur). We photograph weddings across Herefordshire, the Cotswolds, the UK (and abroad) with a guest-first approach, vibrant timeless colour, and a quick 10–15 minute portrait dash when the light is beautiful. Feel your day. We’ll bottle it.