I was cruising the updates on Style Me Pretty yesterday when I came across these two weddings:

Photo Credit: Twin Lens Photography

What struck me was the huge difference in styles between them – a complete dichotomy.  I’d say that both are well done and each has some excellent images, but where the Napa Valley series is light and airy, Albuquerque goes in the complete opposite direction; dark and rich.

I think what fascinates me most is how radically the styles differ, even though the subject matter is so similar.  Both weddings make me ask “Why was it shot this way?  What drove the photographer to make that decision?”

Is it just a style choice?  Does the Napa photog work bright while the Albuquerque photog shoots dark?  Perhaps.  But it’s more interesting to jump beyond personal style to ponder the other factors.

Certainly the Napa Valley wedding lends itself to bright, airy photos – most of it is outdoors, in lovely afternoon light.  There’s a very warm, natural feel to the scene.  It looks relaxed.  Albuquerque, likewise, lends itself to punchy colors and darker, bolder tones; the brides maids are in bright dresses, the flowers and decor match, and the whole thing has more of a twilight/evening atmosphere.

Photo Credit: Twin Lens Photography

But could you switch the styles?  It’s easy to look at the photos and say that each lends itself to a style, since they’re shot that way in the first place!  I think it’s a lot harder to try and imagine reversing them and, in the end, I’m not entirely sure you could.

You might be able to pull off a brighter style with Albuquerque, wash out the colors and lessen the shadows, but the fact that it apparently took place later in the day is going to dictate some darkness.  And trying to brighten it up might not do justice to the bold color palette (although as shot, I personally think that the images look a little over-saturated).

I’m really not sure that you could take a bright, pastel-based wedding like the Napa Valley example and darken it down.  Without those bold colors, it might just get muddy looking and lose that afternoon warmth.

All this speculation is just that: speculation.  Although I certainly hope it isn’t idle.  What I’m taking from this is questions, a specific curiosity that I want to explore.  I personally prefer the bright, airy feel of the Napa shots, and it’s a style that I want to continue to work with.  But I have to wonder – and I’m sure I’ll try this as soon as I get the chance – what would happen if in the midst of shooting one style I took just a minute to do a 180 and try the exact opposite.

Photography is unpredictable and the results might be surprising.  At the very least they’d be interesting.