The origins of wedding photography date back to the mid-1940s.
At that time, photography, as a special form of fine art, was almost exclusively commercially oriented. Nevertheless, the idea of creating unforgettable images of a wedding day existed, and it developed very rapidly.
In the 1800s, photographic paper did not exist, and photo albums had not yet been invented. To obtain a single photograph in the form of a copper, tin, or glass plate, one had to faint in front of the camera for up to several dozen seconds. Due to the poor quality of the equipment and techniques, wedding photography was only possible in salons or studios for more than a century.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a technical breakthrough occurred in the production of color photographs. Unfortunately, colors faded and changed very quickly. Therefore, professional photographers continued to work with black and white material. Further technological developments in the field of photo production led to the emergence of new types of film and methods of processing them. In any case, the method of wedding photography remained unchanged until almost the end of World War II.
Due to the high costs and limited film size, it was almost unrealistic to capture the entire wedding day. For artistic wedding photos, the bride and groom posed after the ceremony. This so-called traditional style of wedding photography, featuring original poses taken in salons or outdoors in good lighting, was used for over a century. It remained an essential style in wedding photography practically until 1970.
Digital camera owners now have the opportunity to capture rare, high-quality wedding photographs without much skill or effort. They are joining the ranks of professional photographers, and the wedding photography business, which promises a high income, is an indispensable source of income.
Be that as it may, it must be remembered that the ultimate goal for a professional photographer is to create a high-quality, "living" wedding album. Therefore, when you hire a wedding photographer, you should keep in mind that you are not paying for a bunch of pictures, but for photographic skills, for experience, for the photographer's artistic look and style and - for now - for expensive professional photography equipment.