Every year we see new trends emerge for weddings. Some trends are better and more popular than others, and if you follow me, you know I'm pretty outspoken about the photography trends I'm not a fan of. This year, I'm excited to see the direction wedding photography trends head. Here are a few trends I expect to start seeing more of as wedding season picks up!

1. Drone Photos

Drone photography and videography have become staples of wedding days. It's a fun way to see your wedding from a unique perspective! But, I bet you didn't know that drone photography at weddings is illegal unless the pilot of the drone has what's called a Commercial UAV License. Flying a drone for commercial purposes requires the pilot to pass the FAA's Part 107 exam. If they don't have that - there are potential legal repercussions, fines and more that the FAA can impose.

I'm a licensed commercial drone pilot and will happily put my drone up in the air for any couple who wants a unique view on their wedding day!

2. Guest Photo Dash

You may have seen this trend begin recently on TikTok or Reels, but in my opinion it's a fun alternative to last years photo dash trend. Last year, the trend was for couples to run around the reception with their photographer and get photos at every single table. I couldn't stand this trend because it usually took place after dinner and the tables were always covered with used napkins, dirty plates, beer bottles and usually a bunch of glassware. Not exactly picturesque if you ask me.

This new trend is so much more fun and doesn't require you to run around your entire reception venue. Instead, the bride(s) and groom(s) sit or stand on the dance floor while the dj plays music and calls out table numbers. Then the guests can run up when their table is called and do a phone photo with the two of you without all the mess and clutter!

3. Motion

I have mixed feelings about the motion in photos trend we're seeing all over social media right now. To me, there's a delicate balance between motion with intention and a flat out bad blurry photo. The beauty of the art of photography is that cameras have different key elements that allow for creative expression. There's motion, depth of field, grain, distortion and compression. Motion is certainly a way to create unique and one of a kind photos if done with thought and purpose. However, swinging your camera around or moving around rapidly so that there are no subjects in the frame just isn't it. Too much motion blur makes a photographer look inexperienced and the photo quality unprofessional.

My hope is that in 2023 we see motion used creatively but with more intention and expertise.

4. Reception First Looks

So much time goes into planning your wedding day, and guess who gets to see all the effort you put into your reception first? That's right... your guests do! Usually by the time most couples get to see their reception space, it's full of people, table settings have come undone and it's impossible to take it all in. Towards the end of last wedding season, I started seeing couples do first looks of their reception. They would privately enter the reception space and have the opportunity to walk around and see all the incredible details before their guests could go inside. Couples reactions to their reception spaces were everything and it allowed us to take photos of them in the completed space before it was all taken apart by the events of the reception.

5. Outfit Changes

Outfit changes have become more and more trendy over the past couple years. Typically I see brides who have one dress for the ceremony and another dress for the reception, but I've even see grooms wear a more formal suit for their ceremony and then change into something more fun or unique for the reception. Personally, I'm a big fan of men switching it up with their jackets/suits and brides changing into something more fun and casual for their reception!

6. Night Portraits

Night photos have become increasingly popular over the later half of last year and I anticipate seeing more of this as more photographers begin to experiment with flash. There are times of the year when dinner or key events of the reception line up with sunset, which means no golden hour photos. However, I absolutely love stepping out at night and doing some awesome back lit photos of couples that really give the end of the night a magical touch.