2025 Wedding Photography Trends: 5 New Ways to Capture Your Big Day
As couples continue to seek unique ways to personalize their weddings, new photography trends are cropping up on the horizon with a renewed attention on spontaneous, natural moments and unscripted interactions. Modern-day traditions like first looks are becoming more mainstream, and nostalgic editing styles are coming back into focus. Although posed formals are an irreplaceable addition to any wedding photo album, those who are looking to do something different have more options than ever.
Wondering what’s in this year? There’s no one better suited to answer that question than photographer Emily Chappell, one of Walters Collective’s premier wedding experts at the helm of Emily Chappell Productions. With her years-long expertise and background in capturing couples’ most precious moments, she shares some of the rising trends in wedding photography — from candid, documentary-style genres to private vow exchanges and everything in between.
Champagne, Skittles, and wedding rings—a whimsical and romantic late-night flat lay by Emily Chappell Productions.
1. Natural, True-to-Life Photography
One of the biggest trends to emerge over the past year or so is an emphasis on authenticity and realness across the board — so it’s no surprise that photography genres are moving away from highly processed and heavily edited styles and toward a more natural and understated aesthetic. This photography type, offered by Emily Chappell Productions as the “Signature Edit,” is tailor-made for to-be-weds who lean toward classic edits — ones that will never feel dated, no matter when you revisit your wedding album.
With this approach, Emily prioritizes natural lighting, soft colors, and true-to-life skin tones to create a look that faithfully captures the day’s palette. The photos are well-balanced and properly exposed, which lends them a luminous, but realistic feel. If you’re looking for bright, evenly lit photographs that will look just as fresh years from now as they do today, this photography edit might be for you.
2. Cinematic Photography
Want to turn your nuptials into something straight out of a cinematic love story? This editing style brings on the romance. While natural-looking photography is meant to represent true-to-life colors, the cinematic genre infuses your wedding-day imagery with some dramatic flair. The style is distinctive: impressively moody, with deep tones, ethereal light, and a dreamy amber-tinted palette.
To achieve that look (dubbed the “Cinematic Edit”), The Emily Chappell Productions Team of editors apply warm-toned color grading that gives your photos a layer of depth and richness. High contrasts and desaturated colors also add to the overall effect — casting you and your loved ones in a beautiful golden glow.
3. Candid Poses
While traditional posed portraits will never go out of style, to-be-weds are experimenting with more unscripted and spontaneous-looking poses for their wedding photography. Want to appear as natural as possible in front of the camera? The key is finding the right photographer. You’ll need a professional who not only makes you feel comfortable, but also builds up your confidence on camera.
When working with couples, Emily Chappell Productions’ photographers ensure that you’re at ease every step of the way. Depending on your wishlist and creative vision, Emily and her team will work with you to bring your wedding-day photography moodboard to life — whether this means taking a hands-on approach in directing your photo sessions, offering up more natural alternatives to traditional poses, or curating the perfect shot list for your unique celebration.
4. Late-Night Flat Lays
You’ve exchanged your vows, tossed your bouquet, cut the wedding cake, clink-clinked your champagne flutes, and started partying the night away. Now’s the perfect time to capture your late-night flat lay! A new trend that’s been cropping up on every wedding photographer’s must-have shot list, this photo composition is a riff on the ever-popular Instagram flat lay, which took social media by storm nearly a decade ago.
Taken directly from above, these photos tell the story of your wedding day through an arrangement of objects — florals placed purposefully astray on the table, a half-eaten slice of wedding cake, dinner menus, and crumpled-up napkins. Sometimes, items are artfully styled to appear neat and perfect. Other times, so-called “messy” flat lays are meant to show the passage of time and hint at the fun-filled evening that just unfolded.
5. First-Look Alternatives
Once deemed an “unlucky” pre-nuptial exchange, first looks are becoming a beloved modern-day wedding tradition — and for good reason. During this special moment, soon-to-weds see each other for the first time, fully decked out in their wedding-day attire, as a photographer captures their first reactions and emotional embraces. Not only does this give them some private time to really savor the occasion, it also allows them to share an intimate moment together before the whirlwind of the day begins.
Today, couples are coming up with new twists on this newfound tradition and customizing it to their needs and wants. Looking to do the same? Consider adding a personal touch by exchanging a heartfelt letter or a special gift. Take it a step further by hosting a private, pre-ceremony vow exchange with just the two of you. Another fun idea: Capture your first looks by revealing your big-day look to your closest friends and family. Most importantly, work with a photographer who understands the nuances of these moments and knows how to make everyone feel at ease throughout the process.