Airy vs Moody: Which Wedding Photography Style Suits You?

As you start organising your wedding, one big-ticket item to cross off your checklist is a photographer. As you start your search for wedding photographers here in Singapore you’ll notice a variety of styles, the main two distinct styles being ‘airy & bright’, or ‘dark and moody’. It’s up to you to decide which resonates with you most and which will suit the theme of your big day. Scroll down to learn more about these contrasting aesthetics and find out which style suits you best.

Airy & Bright

When you think of your ideal wedding portraiture you think of timeless images that will stand the test of time and have you cherishing moments as you did the day you said your ‘I do’s’. Airy and bright imagery usually goes hand in hand with classic wedding imagery, the exposure and saturation of brighter images compliment classic wedding colours of white and pastels and tend to be true to life, allowing you to remember your big day as true to how it was originally - your flowers will be vibrant, your dress will be crisp, your makeup will look flawless.

Photographers that opt for this style aim to make everything brighter but still natural, with less contrast between highlights and lowlights. This gives a pretty, ethereal look with a soft, dewy palette that will add elegance and whimsy to your wedding photo album.

Here are some examples of ‘Airy & Bright’ images.

1. Tasha & Liam

Light flares work well with an airy and bright palette. They create an ethereal edge that amplifies the portrait, as seen in these images by Caline Ng Photography of Tasha & Liam.

Image Credit: Caline Ng Photography

2. Dex & Segina

These pre-wedding photos of Dex and Segina by Ivan Seah Photography come across as really vibrant, with lush greens and the pastel hues of her dress and florals being true to life.

Image Credit: Ivan Seah Photography

3. Jason & Zonia

Choosing white clothing and elements of white in the background really allows the bright and airy aesthetic of WithMinn Photography to shine in this collection with loved up couple Jason and Zonia.

Image Credit: WithMinn Photography

4. Raf & Eugenia

By emphasising the highlights in these images of Raf and Eugenia, Dapper Pictures allows the brighter colours of red and blue to pop against the majority white colour palette, creating images that are both fun and elegant.

Image Credit: Dapper Pictures

Dark & Moody

A dark and moody style embraces the contrast between highlights and lowlights to create cinematic and dramatic images that are bathed in shadow. This style is generally less exposed and has a warmer saturation, showcasing lots of contrast and deep, richer colours. The final edited images are generally not true to life but are an intriguing, artistic interpretation.

This style would suit you if you’re looking for something more dramatic and different with rich tones and lots of contrast that can create interesting compositions for your portraits. It’s worth noting that the contrast of this style works wonders for black and white imagery too.

Here are some examples of ‘Dark & Moody’ images.

1. Keillian & Nicole

These images of Keillian and Nicole by Kompactfaen boldly play with the contrast of light and dark to create these beautifully dramatic portraits.

Image Credit: Kompactfaen

2. Xinyuan & Jason

Bottled Groove Photography have used a warm saturation in these images that make the colours of the surrounding foliage and the red hues of her bouquet look rich and theatrical.

Image Credit: Bottled Groove Photography

3. Linus & Huien

Another moody set by Kompactfaen that plays with natural light and uses contrast to create drama and striking compositions.

Image Credit: Kompactfaen

4. Sherlene & Terence

Not afraid to go dark, Bottle Groove Photography plays with the use of shadow in these images, to frame and highlight the couple and create striking, editorial looking images.