Wedding photography is always changing, and that’s one of my favorite parts about this job. Every year I see couples gravitating toward new styles and finding different ways to tell their story. Some trends disappear almost as quickly as they arrive, while others stick around because they actually make people feel something.

As a photographer, I don’t really chase trends just because they’re popular. But when I see a style that helps tell a story in a more meaningful way, I’m all for it. These are a few of the 2026 wedding photo trends that I’ve been loving lately and why I think so many couples are connecting with them.

1. Motion and Movement

I’m absolutely in love with this trend, and it’s one of my favorite ways to photograph a wedding day.

From a technical photographer’s standpoint, it’s actually pretty difficult to achieve. By slowing my shutter speed down to around 1/30 of a second (or even 1/15), I can intentionally blur motion within a single frame. One of my favorite ways to do this is by having my couple stand completely still while people move behind them. The result is a sharp subject surrounded by beautiful movement that immediately brings the photo to life.

I also love creating movement by literally running with my couples while shooting wildly to capture the motion. It’s chaotic, it’s fun, and when everything comes together, the images have so much energy!

I think people are loving this trend because your brain instantly knows something is happening. Sure, modern cameras can freeze every little movement with a super fast shutter speed, but intentionally slowing things down creates something that feels artistic, fun, and unconventional It reminds you what the moment actually felt like instead of simply showing you what it looked like.

2. Direct Flash Photography

Direct flash has made a huge comeback lately, and I completely understand why.

Personally, I much prefer direct flash over off-camera flash techniques because it creates this fun, in-your-face vibe that’s hard to replicate any other way. It feels intimate and personal.

What’s funny is that this style isn’t really new at all. Think about old Polaroids or disposable cameras. Those photos all had that same on-camera flash look, and I think that’s exactly why people are drawn to it today. It instantly feels vintage and film-like.

More than ever, couples tell me they want photos that feel candid and authentic. Between blurry motion shots, direct flash, and all those little in-between moments, there’s something about these styles that brings out the nostalgia of a wedding day. They feel organic, like you’re reliving the memory, and just simply fun!

3. The Scenery Is the Subject

Out of all the trends on this list, this one is my favorite.

Photography is ART. Anybody can take a picture of a person standing in front of them, but are you looking beyond that? Are you seeing the bigger picture? How are you capturing the moment in all of its beauty?

The whole scene is what makes your photos beautiful.

If we’re standing beneath giant redwoods in Big Sur, I want to show how massive those trees really are. If we’re overlooking the Pacific Ocean or standing near the Golden Gate Bridge, let’s frame those views into your photos because they’re part of your story too.

After all, you chose to get married there for a reason, right?

Couples literally travel from all over the world to Big Sur because of its beauty and majesty, so of course I want to make sure those views are appreciated. Those wide scenic photographs help tell the complete story of your wedding day, and I’ve found that they’re especially meaningful for couples who feel a little uncomfortable in front of the camera. Instead of worrying about posing, you get to enjoy the place you came all this way to experience together.

Wedding Photo Trends Will Change, But Great Storytelling Never Does

Even though these three photo types can be called “2026 wedding photo trends,” they’re still amazing ways to capture this important moment in your lives.

My goal is to create photographs that make you remember exactly what it felt like to be there. The wind coming off the ocean. The towering redwoods. The laughter in between poses. The scenery that made you choose your wedding location in the first place.

Trend or not, we’ll get the photos that do that!