Wedding photographers are experiencing a shift in their clients’ expectations. Couples nowadays want immediate access to their wedding photos so that they can share them on social media right after the ceremony.
In the past, couples would patiently wait for weeks or even months to receive their photos, but now they want instant gratification.
Kari Bjorn, a wedding photographer in Arkansas, has noticed this trend and has adapted her services accordingly. She has seen an increase in the demand for “content creator” roles, where photographers are hired to capture and publish photos and GIFs on the wedding day itself.
Couples want their Instagram feeds filled with real-time updates of their special day.
Photographers like Jonica Moore in Brooklyn, New York, find it challenging to meet this demand on their own. Editing thousands of photos takes time, and photographers don’t have the luxury of spending hours tweaking shadows and color balance. To tackle this issue, some photographers are hiring assistants or adopting new techniques.
Sarah and Peter Olson, a husband and wife team from Boston, have hired an assistant to curate content specifically for social media. They have even begun shooting vertical videos that can easily be posted as Instagram Reels.
Naomi Cataldo, a wedding photographer from Baltimore, has slightly adjusted her workflow to accommodate the desire for instant imagery. Instead of delivering photos after eight to 10 weeks, she now provides the couple with previews within the first week and delivers the full set within four to six weeks.
Cataldo also mentions that couples are moving away from traditional wedding features, such as the bouquet toss or cake cutting. They now prefer personalized details and non-traditional, unique elements for their special day.
