Choosing the Perfect Photography Style for Your Wedding: A Comprehensive Guide

When planning your wedding, one of the most crucial decisions you'll make is choosing your photography style. Your wedding photos are a visual narrative of your love story, and the style you select will define how those moments are captured and preserved for years to come.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore various photography styles, providing examples and visuals to showcase the diversity of our work. We believe that your love story deserves to be told in a way that reflects your unique personalities and journey. So, let's dive into the world of wedding photography styles:

Traditional Photography

Traditional photography embraces timeless elegance and classic poses. Think of beautifully composed group shots and a focus on capturing key moments. It's perfect for couples who appreciate the formalities of wedding photography.

Photojournalistic (Documentary) Photography

This style is akin to having a fly on the wall. It captures candid and unscripted moments throughout the day, allowing you to relive the genuine emotions and surprises of your wedding day.

Fine Art Photography

Imagine your wedding day as an artistic masterpiece. Fine art photography adds creativity and imagination to your images, elevating them from pictures to art.

Contemporary Photography

Contemporary photography pushes boundaries, capturing unique and creative shots that are visually striking and edgy. It's for couples who want their wedding photos to be anything but ordinary.

Editorial Photography

If you've ever dreamt of gracing the pages of a magazine, editorial-style photography brings a fashion-forward and editorial touch to your wedding photos, creating stunning and stylish images that tell a visual story.

Destination Photography

For couples whose love story unfolds in exotic locations, destination wedding photography is a must. It captures not only the essence of your destination but also the romance of your love.

Vintage/Retro Photography

Travel back in time with vintage or retro-style photography. Perfect for those who appreciate the charm of bygone eras and want their wedding photos to have a timeless quality.

Cinematic Photography

Drawing inspiration from the world of movies, cinematic photography adds drama and storytelling quality to your wedding images.

Natural and Ethereal Photography

Embrace the beauty of nature and ethereal lighting in your photos, creating a dreamy and romantic atmosphere.

Black & White Photography

Classic and timeless, black and white photography focuses on emotions and expressions, adding a sense of nostalgia and elegance to your wedding album.

Choosing the right photography style is a deeply personal decision. It's about finding a style that resonates with your vision and complements your love story. To get a closer look at these photography styles and how they can tell your unique love story, we invite you to explore our portfolio.

Destination Weddings: How to Choose a Photographer

When it comes to planning a destination wedding, there are a lot of things to consider. From finding the perfect location to coordinating travel arrangements for your guests, there's a lot to keep track of. One of the most important decisions you'll make, however, is choosing the right photographer to capture your special day.

First and foremost, it's important to find a photographer who has experience shooting destination weddings. Not all photographers are comfortable or equipped to shoot in different locations and climates, and you want to make sure you choose someone who is familiar with the unique challenges that come with shooting in a new place. It's also important to consider the style of photography you're looking for. Do you want a photographer who specializes in a specific type of photography, like photojournalism or fine art? Are you looking for someone who can capture the beauty of the location in a more traditional way, or do you want someone who will push the boundaries and come up with more creative and unique shots?

When it comes to destination weddings, it's also important to think about logistics. Will the photographer be able to travel with you and your guests, or will they need to fly in separately? Will they be familiar with the area and able to navigate it easily, or will they need a local guide? Will they be able to shoot in different lighting conditions and at different times of day? All of these questions should be taken into consideration when choosing a photographer. Another important factor to consider is the photographer's communication skills. A good photographer will be able to understand your vision and communicate with you throughout the planning process to make sure they capture the shots you want. You should also consider the photographer's willingness to work with you to create a customized shot list that fits your specific needs.

Finally, consider the photographer's pricing and package options. Do they offer a variety of options to fit different budgets? Are there any additional costs associated with shooting in a different location? Are they willing to work with you to create a package that fits your needs and budget?

By considering all of these factors and doing your research, you can find a destination wedding photographer who will be able to capture the beauty of your special day in a way that is unique, creative, and completely you.

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Wedding Cinematographer

When it comes to capturing your special day, it's important to have a team of professionals who know how to create beautiful, high-quality videos that you'll treasure for years to come. Here are a few of the key benefits of hiring a professional wedding cinematographer:

• Experience and expertise: Professional cinematographers have the experience and expertise needed to capture your wedding day in a way that looks and sounds amazing. They know how to use lighting and sound equipment to create a polished final product, and they understand the technical aspects of shooting video in a variety of environments.

• Attention to detail: Professional cinematographers pay attention to the little details that make your wedding day unique. They'll capture the look on your face as you walk down the aisle, the laughter and tears during your speeches, and the special moments between you and your loved ones.

• Creativity: Professional cinematographers bring a creative eye to your wedding day, capturing moments in unique and artistic ways that you might not have thought of yourself. They'll use different cameras, lenses, and techniques to create a visually stunning final product that tells the story of your special day.

• Flexibility: Professional cinematographers are able to adapt to different lighting and weather conditions, ensuring that your video looks great no matter what. They also have the ability to shoot video in a variety of styles, from traditional to documentary, to ensure that your video is a perfect reflection of you.

• Quality: Professional cinematographers use the highest quality equipment and post-production techniques to produce videos that are of the highest quality. This ensures that your video will be a beautiful, high-resolution product that you'll be able to watch and share for many years to come.

Overall, hiring a professional wedding cinematographer is a great way to ensure that your wedding day is captured in a beautiful, high-quality way. With their experience, expertise, and creativity, they'll create a video that you'll treasure for years to come.

5 Unique Locations Ideas for your Engagement Photos

When it comes to getting the most dynamic and breathtaking images that capture the overall feel and aesthetic of your engagement photos, location is key. Selecting a unique and memorable location really help to make your engagement photos pop.

These are a few ideas to help you think outsize the box:

1. A Private Estate

   Imagine a grand mansion or historic property as the backdrop for your engagement photos. Not only will the architecture and landscaping make for beautiful images, but the privacy of the location will allow for more intimate and candid shots.

2. A Chic Rooftop

   A rooftop location offers a modern and urban feel, with cityscapes and skylines as the backdrop. This can make for some very dramatic and iconic photos.

3. A Secluded Beach

   A secluded beach offers a natural and romantic setting, with the ocean and sand as the perfect backdrop. This location is perfect for couples who want a more relaxed and natural feel to their photos.

4. A Forest or Park

   This location is perfect for couples who are looking for a natural and rustic feel to their photos. The lush greenery and natural light will create a beautiful and peaceful setting.

5. A Unique Venue

   A unique venue such as a museum, gallery, or historic building can make for an interesting and unexpected setting for your engagement photos. This location will add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your images.

Wherever you decide to go, don’t forget you and your fiancé should work together and find what makes this location special to you all. With a little creativity and a great photographer, your engagement photos will be a treasure for years to come.

5 Tips For Choosing the Best Engagement Shoot Outfits

If you feel overwhelmed about what to wear to your engagement shoot, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Everyone wants to look amazing on their save the dates, wedding day programs and/or table décor. One of the most important keys to achieving this is in your engagement shoot is to wear an outfit that helps you look your best. So, we want give you 5 tips to help you achieve that!

1. Wear Something that Fits Your Style

The worst thing you can do is wear something that doesn’t fit your style. If you’re a fun and outgoing couple, choose something timeless that helps accentuate that. You want to feel comfortable in what you wear, because if you feel awkward and uncomfortable in your outfits it will most likely show in the photos.

2. Fit the Season

If you’re being photographed in the snow, wearing shorts with a sun hat may not look visually appealing. Don’t be afraid to dress warm and wear fitting accessories like scarfs and knitted hats in the winter time. If it’s warm out, maybe you can share and ice cream cone walking barefoot on the beach to really bring out the relaxation summertime vibes. Walk together on a pier wearing a nice sundress and denim jacket for a nice spring look.

3. Wear Neutral Tones

The absolute most important thing to show off in an engagement shoot is your love. That’s best expressed through your interaction with each other (smiles, laughs and intimate posing). Wearing colors that are too bright or draw too much attention can really take away from those beautiful expressions of love.

4. Avoid Matching Outfits

It’s critical for you and your fiancé’s outfits to complement each other. This is a time where you can show off your everyday style with the love of your life. This doesn’t mean you all have to wear the same color or have the same patterns, but that you all maybe stay in the same tonal range. Wearing matching outfits can be an unnecessary distraction in your images.

5. Bring One to Two Outfits

Bringing two outfits can add a level of variety to your engagement shoot. For one of your outfits you all could dress up and for the other wear something comfortable. Anything more than two outfits may be too much, as you don’t want to be in a rush throughout the shoot changing multiple times.

There you have it! Hopefully, this helps you all get a little closer to choosing your outfits for your engagement shoot. Relax and try not to overthink it. You want to feel comfortable in your photos and look your best all while having fun. Finally, Focus on each other and be yourselves and we're sure your photos will come out amazing!

PKP Studios

6 Health and Wellness Ideas Leading Up To Your Wedding Day

In 2012, I received by Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology (Exercise Science) from Liberty University. Over the years, I’ve studied under master strength coaches and trained at various gyms, most notably Gold’s Gym and Lifetime Athletic. During that time I worked with various clients to help them get into the best shape of their lives. One of the most recurring clients was the Bride and Groom. In this blog I want to hit on a few tips to help you feel the best in your wedding dresses and tuxedos.

1. Start

Every New Year people join the gym with resolutions of getting in shape. Some people would see the newcomers and say, “They won’t be here long.” When I saw new people joining I saw the next winners. Everyone says they're going to start on Monday or next month or next year and they never do it because life gets in the way. Starting the journey is the first key to getting success in your health and fitness. Make a commitment to each other to go through the journey together and see it through. Come wedding day you'll feel the best you've ever felt! Start!

2. Make Small Changes In Your Diet

80% of your health benefits come from what you eat. You don’t have to go cold turkey from all your favorite foods in order to get results, but you may have to skip out on some of the treats they lay out at the office. You want to gradually introduce foods into your daily diet to help you get to your end goal. I don’t want to turn you into calorie counting machines in this blog (maybe later), but for now with each of your meals just add a healthy option to your plate. Every week add something else and take off something unhealthy. Eventually, you’ll have a plate full of healthy choices and this is sure to help you feel great from the inside out!

3. Get Your Body Moving

Cardio exercise can come in many different forms. From a walk outdoors enjoying the scenery to an exhilarating dance class in the comfort of your own home. There’s so many ways to get you heart rate going and blood flowing. This will help you shed a little weight if needed but also help you both feel good during that first dance and all the other dancing you all will be doing throughout the night!

4. Lift Weights

Though cardio is great, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t help you tone up. In comes the weight lifting! Ladies don’t be afraid of lifting a little weights. Trust me, you won’t “bulk up” and end up looking too muscular. You don’t have to go crazy with this one but its best to get some resistance training into your routine to help you trim and tone if that’s what your goal is. I recommend starting out with light weights whether at home or in the gym and change up the routine every month. Not only will you feel good but you’ll both look amazing!

5. Stress Management and Rest

Out of everything I’ve went over so far this may be the most difficult but most important. I still have a hard time myself putting my work down and getting proper rest. There is so much involved in this, I could write a whole blog on this section alone. As you may know resting allows your body to recover in more ways that just feeling or looking tired. Since we’re adding all this exercise to your daily routine, for your muscles to grow properly, resting is key to getting the full benefits. I want to hit on Cortisol as it can single-handedly hold you back from getting the results you want in so many ways.

This is a stress hormone responsible for fight or flight response. It’s released when your body feels there’s an immediate threat it needs to take care of. It will break down tissue, shut down your immune system and spike blood sugar to provide energy to fight. If this is happening for too long you can imagine this can have huge repercussions. When not regulated properly cortisol can affect your sleep and keep you up or wake you up in the middle of the night. Exercise and diet have a direct impact on cortisol, so investigate what works best for your body.

Outside of getting proper sleep a few things you all could do is couples meditation classes or take a mini vacation or try going out on some dates. These things can for sure help you to take your mind off of the wedding planning and lower stress. All in all, we want you to look your absolute best and not feel tired before you say “I do!”

6. Create a Plan for Success

If you feel like you’re not getting any results you want from the exercise routine, change it up a little sooner than one month. Everyone is different and can require different nutrition and fitness plans than the next person. That’s okay! You can most definitely get to where you want to be with a little bit of discipline and planning. Maybe you need to plan out your meals for the week or do a food sensitivity test. Maybe you need to find a workout plan or class that works best with your schedule. Proper planning will help you get into that routine to help you look and feel great!

I hope these tips help you feel empowered and knowledgeable. We want you to have the energy to dance the night away with each other and enjoy the company of your family and friends. Ultimately, we want you to look amazing in your photos and videos on your wedding day!