Social Media Has Forever Changed Wedding Photography, For Better or for Worse

The Short Version: Wedding photographers have the intimidating task of capturing memorable moments on your wedding day. Professional wedding photographer Michael Freas told us all about how social media, content creators, and silly photography trends have changed the industry, for better or for worse. 

Aside from the ring on your finger, the most enduring reminder of your wedding will be your photos. Every time you open that scrapbook or pass that gallery wall, you want to be transported back to the day you said “I do” in front of your closest friends and family. But you won’t be able to do this if your photos make you cringe. 

The problem isn’t the people in the pictures, but the person behind the camera. Finding a wedding photographer who is dedicated to their craft and not to ‘likes’ on social media is essential to having photos you can look back on with joy. 

Professional wedding photographer Michael Freas told us exactly which red flags we should look out for when hiring a wedding photographer for your big day. The price point is only one of many factors to consider. Is the photographer technically inclined? Do you have a friendly rapport? Do they understand your vision, and do you understand theirs? 

Looking through Michael’s portfolio, I can easily see why his work has been featured in Rolling Stone and The New York Times. He sees the magic in places that are often overlooked: the smile lines creasing a father’s face as he walks his daughter down the aisle; the way the bride and groom clutch each other’s hands with excitement; the view looking up from the dance floor as friends and family dance… Michael doesn’t just capture moments, but the emotions happening within each moment.  

But as his skill has grown, he’s noticed some worrying trends in the oversaturated industry. From cringy photography fads to the fleeting fickleness of social media, it’s a brand new world for professional wedding photographers like Michael. 

Under no uncertain terms, Michael said, should the cost of quality photos get in the way of your happily ever after. 

“Price dictates how we spend. Quality doesn’t dictate that anymore,” he told us. “If you’re hiring a wedding photographer based on a price, you’re going to be disappointed in the end.” 

Obviously, not everyone has the luxury of hiring a photographer of Michael’s caliber. As a member of the Fearless Photographers and Wedding Photojournalist Association, Michael knows his worth and isn’t afraid to price his services accordingly. 

After all, he brings a level of technical proficiency that has become increasingly rare in the industry. He recommends finding a photographer who understands composition, as well as ambient and supplemental light. There are other skills, such as “how to edit and how to get the settings just right” that you “can only do after years of learning,” he told us. 

Pretty pictures do not a professional photographer make. You need people skills, too. Michael firmly believes in the value of getting to know your clients. “I know people who don’t even talk to their clients,” he said, incredulous. “How do you know anything about them? How do you know what they want? How do you know they trust you, or that you’ve built rapport, through an email?” Michael answered his own questions. “You can’t.” 

Every couple has their own quirks, and as the wedding photographer, picking up on these idiosyncrasies can go a long way. Instead of making the couple look stiff and posed, you can capture them at their most relaxed, authentic moments. You can’t do this if you rely on the same techniques for every shoot. According to Michael, the wedding photographer’s secret weapon is his or her ever-evolving perspective. 

Michael offered a rule of thumb for aspiring wedding photographers: No two wedding photos should look alike. If you refer to your photography style as ‘timeless’ and ‘authentic,’ then your photos should reflect that. 

“Why does every photo look like they were at the same wedding, with the same poses?” Michael lamented. Complacency shows in your work, even if it’s on a subconscious level. 

He also isn’t a fan of what he called “posey” wedding photos that “don’t matter 10 years down the road.”

You won’t want to remember the hour you spent sweating in your suit or gown while the photographer moved you and your partner around like dolls. You’ll want to remember the unique details that made the ceremony so special and the raucous reception so fun. 

Michael named a few wedding photography trends he hopes will fizzle out. “Why are you cutting people’s heads off?” he said of those odd “neck down” photos. But one of his biggest photography pet-peeves is one currently sweeping through Instagram. 

“I can’t stand the blurry photo trend,” he told us. “Blurry photos have a place, but they have to have intention behind them.” I can totally see how a purposefully blurry photo may seem like a not-so-clever way of saying “I don’t want to remember this day.” 

Most people want their wedding photos to remind them of the thrill and intimacy of the day, and that’s just not as likely to happen if your photos reek of microtrends. “Trendy is not timeless,” Michael reminded us. 

The influx of trendy wedding photography clued Michael into a disturbing pattern. “People celebrate bad photography,” he explained. According to him, if you’re relying on trends or simply turning your flash on and snapping pics of the couple head-on, you’re not doing them or yourself any favors. Where’s the unique POV, the creativity, the ingenuity? 

“Everybody thinks because they have a camera that they’re a photographer,” Michael said. In reality, it can take years of practice to gain a unique perspective as a photographer, and this just isn’t something some self-proclaimed photographers are willing to do. 

Content creators have increasingly become the pointy thorn in Michael’s side. “[They] show up to weddings, and it’s just somebody walking around with a cell phone on a gimbal,” Michael said. “You’re paying them four or five hundred dollars so they can give you videos.” 

Videographers are not uncommon sights at weddings, but the typical content creator is usually something much different. Sure, they take videos of the ceremony and reception, and some creators may have real talent to back up their hefty price range, but this isn’t a guarantee. 

Michael told us how his experiences with the budding creators have been less than ideal. 

“TikTok: It’s bad for society and it’s really bad for photography,” he said. When it comes to photography trends that pop up on social media and TikTok, Michael didn’t hide his true feelings. “It’s stupid. It’s gimmicky. It’s kitschy. I don’t do gimmicks.” 

He’s skeptical of content creators who seemingly put very little thought into content that generates thousands of views and even more money. With so many bots and scams out there, I can’t blame him. He sees his own creations as works of art that deserve just as much hype. And why shouldn’t he? His photographs give families dynamic and layered glimpses into the happiest day of their lives.

Michael gave us his own definition of a ‘good’ wedding photographer. “You’re there to document. You’re there to capture what happened. You’re not there to create content that goes into a reel the next day.”  A wedding photographer can be everything from a hype man to emotional support for the bride and groom, which is hard to do if you’re distracted by social media. 

“People don’t know what good photography is because we’re so ‘instant’,” he told us. He called out Instagram reels for indulging our need for instant gratification. “How am I supposed to show an image and give it appreciation in eight seconds?” 

It’s no wonder Michael has a bone to pick with content creators. “Weddings are not for the people on the interwebs [or] the people on social media,” he insisted. “Weddings are for the couple.” And the photos, he told us, should give anyone who sees them an authentic glimpse into the special day. “They’re for the babies who aren’t born yet. They’re for the family members who weren’t able to attend.” 

I suppose all content creators, from journalists to photographers to cartoonists to TikTokers, all contribute to the content tsunami we wade through online each day. Michael’s unique eye shines through in his photographs, and acts as a beacon in a sea of content. After all, he said, “My photos are not for my social media. They’re for my couples.”