The changing styles of working as a Swansea wedding photographer

As a wedding photographer in Swansea, I've had the pleasure of capturing the special moments of many couples over the years. One thing that's become apparent to me is how wedding photography techniques have changed and evolved over time. One popular technique that was widely used in Swansea around 2008 was spot colour !

My first weddings in Swansea were quite often edited with the technique of spot colour !! Spot colour involves leaving a portion of the photo in colour while converting the rest of the photo to black and white or grayscale. This technique can be used to draw attention to a particular detail in the photo, such as the bride's bouquet or a piece of jewellery. Spot colour is achieved using Photoshop layers, where the colour portion of the photo is selected and then isolated from the rest of the image. Today this style looks tacky and awful and also dated!! but it was extremely popular back then.

Another technique that has become popular in recent years is HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography. This technique involves capturing multiple images of the same scene at different exposure levels and then blending them together in post-processing to create a single image with greater dynamic range. This technique can be particularly useful for wedding photography, where the lighting conditions can be challenging such as in bright sunshine. HDR can help to bring out the details in both bright and dark areas of the photo, resulting in a more balanced and visually appealing image. Most wedding photographers in Swansea use this technique today and its looks great on a few images in the wedding set.

HDR is especially helpful for capturing sunsets, which are often a favourite time for couples to take their wedding photos. Panoramic wedding photos have also become increasingly popular, particularly for couples getting married in Swansea and the surrounding areas, where the natural beauty of the Gower Peninsula can provide a stunning backdrop for wedding photos.

Panoramic photos involve taking multiple photos of the same scene and then stitching them together in post-processing to create a single image with a wider field of view. This technique can be used to capture the beauty of the beach and landscape, allowing couples to remember their special day for years to come.Forced perspective is another technique that was popular in the early 2010s. This technique involves manipulating the perception of depth in the photo to create a sense of optical illusion. For example, the bride and groom might be positioned so that they appear to be standing on the palm of the bride's hand or leaning against a miniature version of the wedding venue. This technique can be a fun way to create unique and memorable photos that stand out from traditional wedding photography.