Wedding Photos: Edit your way

Can post-editing really make that much of difference?

Thanks to Instagram, we’re all familiar with photo filters; but, did you know that the editing done by photographers is simply a way more sophisticated version?

I often speak to wedding couples who say they want a more vintage feel to their photographs, or want something light and airy, or at the other end of the spectrum, dark and moody. Typically, I edit my photographs to be as natural as possible - keeping the colours as close as I can to how things were on the day - but with a few touches I can alter my photographs to give you the look you want! I can even provide you with multiple looks, if you like.

Dark and moody

It's becoming more common to see wedding (and engagement) photographs which are dark and moody, especially those taken in Scotland. With the influence of shows like Outlander, images edited in this way evoke romance and mystery. In locations like this one, they really enhance Scotland's dramatic mountains and skies.

If you like dark and moody images but can't picture yourself in photographs quite as dark, the colours can be made more vibrant and the whites enhanced a little.

Neutral and clean

Another popular trend is for the colours to be neutral and 'cleaner', where shadows have less depth. In these ones, the shadows and blacks are reduced making the images a little flatter but revealing details which would otherwise be lost.

In these ones, the greens have been altered, giving the photographs a more autumnal feel.

Matte Finish

You may have come across the term matte when looking at photographs and this is when the images appear flatter. Usually, these are dark and moody, to add drama, and in some cases the colour tone is shifted to add or remove red, blue or green to suit the look you're after.

Black and white

I adore black and white images but there are so many different types of black and white that I think it merits a completely different blog post! Below is just one way.

"Normal" images

In some ways it's frustrating that there is no "normal". However, if there was, it would be even more difficult to choose from the hundreds of photographers available. The galleries below show a selection of more subtle tweaks which can also transform the images.

My "typical" images

All of the images on this page are identical; the only thing I've changed is the colour balance. I'm sure you'll agree, that every image looks and feels different and there will be some you're drawn to and others you don't think work so well.

This is one of the reasons wedding photographer's work can look so different - two professionals can start with the same image and produce something very different.

I like a challenge and I try to be flexible, so if you like how I take photographs but want an edit which is different to my typical style, ask me! If I know I can do it, I'll take existing images and show you well in advance of your day - even before you book! - photographs in a style similar to what you want. And if I can't, I'll be upfront and even help you to find a photographer who can.

I want to leave you with the edits I gave this gorgeous couple. They loved these ones; but which set is your favourite?

Leave your comments below!