But there's one misconception about the style that comes up again and again.
You don't need to spend hours posing for photographs or turn your wedding day into a fashion shoot to achieve an editorial wedding photography look.
I've photographed both fashion and weddings for years, and for me, the best wedding photography combines a little bit of both.
It can be polished and beautifully composed while still feeling natural, emotional and completely true to the wedding you're actually having.
What Is Editorial Wedding Photography?
Editorial wedding photography takes inspiration from fashion photography and magazine editorials.
Think beautiful light, intentional composition, movement, gorgeous details and portraits that feel considered rather than accidental.
But it shouldn't stop there.
Your wedding photographs should still feel like your wedding.
That means capturing the beautiful portraits alongside the laughing, champagne, dancing, hugs, tears and all the slightly chaotic little moments happening around you.
Some photographs might be carefully directed.
Others happen completely naturally.
The strongest wedding galleries usually have both.
Do You Need to Know How to Pose for Wedding Photos?
Definitely not.
One of the most common things couples tell photographers is:
"We're terrible in photos."
Most of the time, you're not terrible in photos. You're simply not used to having a professional camera pointed at you.
And that's completely normal.
A good wedding photographer should know how to give you enough direction to make you feel comfortable without making every photograph look staged.
They might find the best light, position you somewhere, adjust your movement slightly or give you something simple to do.
The goal isn't to teach you dozens of wedding poses.
It's to create beautiful photographs while allowing you to stay present and enjoy your wedding.
How Do You Get the Editorial Wedding Photography Look?
A lot of the editorial look is actually created before the photographer even picks up the camera.
Your wedding venue, clothing, flowers, colour palette, stationery, table styling and overall atmosphere all contribute to how your photographs will look.
Even the timing of your wedding can make a difference.
Soft afternoon light, golden hour portraits or beautifully lit indoor spaces can completely change the mood of your photographs.
If editorial wedding photography is important to you, consider the visual side of your wedding when making planning decisions.
You don't need everything to be extravagant.
A thoughtful combination of location, styling, lighting and photography can often have a much bigger impact than simply adding more decorations.
Choose a Photographer Whose Style Already Matches Your Vision
One of the most important things you can do is choose a wedding photographer whose existing work already feels like the photographs you want.
Don't hire someone with a completely different style and expect them to recreate a Pinterest board.
Instead, look through their portfolio and ask yourself:
Does their work consistently feel editorial?
Do their photographs still look natural?
Can they photograph movement and emotion?
Do they capture details beautifully?
Can they create strong portraits without making everyone look overly posed?
And most importantly, look beyond their ten best Instagram posts.
Ask to see complete wedding galleries.
A full gallery will show you how the photographer handles everything from getting ready and the ceremony through to family photographs, portraits, speeches and the dance floor.
Anyone can curate a handful of beautiful photographs.
A complete wedding gallery shows you what your final collection might actually feel like.
Editorial Wedding Photography Is About More Than Posing
You don't need complicated poses to create editorial photographs.
Often, it's the small things that make the biggest difference.
The way your dress moves.
The architecture of your venue.
Interesting shadows.
The shape of your flowers.
A beautifully set table.
The way you're walking together.
A photographer with an editorial eye is constantly looking for these elements and deciding how to use them.
Sometimes they'll give you direction.
Sometimes they'll simply recognise that something beautiful is already happening and photograph it.
Editorial Doesn't Mean Perfect
This might be the most important part.
Editorial wedding photography doesn't mean everything needs to be flawless.
Some of the best wedding photographs happen when things aren't perfect at all.
Your hair might be moving in the wind.
Someone might be laughing in the background.
Champagne might be going everywhere.
Your dress might get slightly dirty.
Those moments often make a photograph better because they give it life.
The goal isn't to make your wedding look like somebody else's styled shoot.
It's to take what is genuinely happening and photograph it beautifully.
How Much Time Should You Allow for Wedding Portraits?
You probably don't need as much time as you think.
A photographer who is comfortable directing people can often create a strong collection of wedding portraits relatively quickly.
Rather than disappearing from your reception for hours, your photographer might schedule a shorter portrait session after the ceremony and then take you outside again for a few minutes later if the light becomes particularly beautiful.
Talk to your photographer when you're creating your wedding timeline.
They'll be able to tell you how much portrait time they recommend based on your venue, ceremony time, season and the type of photographs you want.
Creating an Editorial Wedding Without Making It Feel Like a Photoshoot
If you love the editorial wedding aesthetic, think of photography as part of the overall wedding experience rather than something separate from it.
Choose a venue you genuinely love.
Wear clothes that feel like you.
Create a wedding style that reflects your personality.
Find a photographer whose work naturally matches that vision.
Then trust them to do their job.
The best editorial wedding photographs shouldn't make you look back and remember how long you spent posing.
They should make you remember exactly how the day felt.
Final Thoughts
Editorial wedding photography can be polished, stylish and beautifully composed without taking over your wedding day.
You don't need to become a model for the afternoon.
You just need a photographer who understands light, composition, movement and people, and who knows when to direct a photograph and when to simply let a moment happen.
Because ultimately, your wedding photographs should look incredible.
But you should also have time to actually enjoy the wedding they're documenting.
