This blog is all about how to get UNIQUE wedding photos. If you’re anything like us, the last thing you want from your wedding day is to end up with a bunch of photos that look EXACTLY the same as everybody else’s. 

You all know what I’m talking about…

Photos of the same cheesy nonsense (If I see one more shot of bridesmaids in their matchy matchy robes all pretending to giggle over their champagne glasses I’m going to lose it!).

Photos of all the same ‘stuff’ the wedding industry has deemed IMPORTANT (Let’s be honest: I’m never going to look back on a photo of my oh-so-perfect perfume bottle and start tearing up!).

And photos of couples in the same weirdly unnatural poses (When did you and your partner last hang out forehead to forehead gazing awkwardly into each other’s eyes?!).

Nope, we’re not into that. And neither are you: you’re different and you want your photos to reflect that. You want unique wedding photos.

Well, let us tell you how to get them…

First up, stop looking at traditional wedding blogs! Everything you’re going to see in there is sooooo cookie cutter: just one trend after another, the absolute antithesis of unique. 

If you want unique wedding photos, you need to start thinking differently. 

So, please, remember that a wedding day is a blank slate and can be literally whatever you want it to be! It does NOT have to look the same as everyone else’s. Instead, strip away all preconceived ideas of what a wedding ‘should’ look like, and now start building something that is reflective of who you and your partner really are…. Because THAT, by definition, will be unique.

If you let go of all preconceived notions and instead choose to bring YOUR personalities to your day, you’re way more likely to get unique wedding photos.

But what does that actually MEAN?!

Well, without further ado, here’s 10 fun ways to get unique wedding photos…

*** This is a list of IDEAS only, it’s up to you to pick and choose what works for you and your situation. We’re well aware not every idea will be attainable for every couple, but hopefully there’s a little something for everyone here. ***

1. Pick An Interesting Location To Get Unique Wedding Photos

If you want unique wedding photos, then you’ve got to start thinking outside the box when it comes to the setting. If you get married at the same traditional venue as everyone else in your town, then you’re likely going to end up with very similar photos.

So, branch out!

Maybe you’d like to think about a destination wedding or elopement? Heading to a beautiful new location that inspires and excites you is inevitably going to help you get those WOW photos you dream of. 

We know the cost may feel prohibitive to some but, actually, when you crunch the numbers a small micro-wedding at a cool location often ends up being less than a 100+ person wedding back home. AND you get to have your wedding and honeymoon all in one!

If you would rather stay close to home, then have a think about how you might switch things up to get some unique wedding photos against a non-traditional backdrop. 

Maybe, for example, you’d like to host your wedding at a museum. Or an historic building. Or an aquarium! Imagine saying ‘I Do’ with all the beautiful sea creatures looking on. Now THAT would make for a unique wedding photo.

There’s TONS of fun ideas when you ditch the notion of a traditional wedding venue and start to look further afield.

2. Book A ‘Day After Session’!

If you’re already tied to a more classic venue for your wedding day and are finding it hard to see how to get unique wedding photos in that setting, then this one’s for you. Chat to your photographer about a day-after session! (Or week or month after, whatever works for you). 

This is an opportunity to go exploring and get some really fun photos, with no guests to worry about and no strict timeline to adhere to. Instead, you can focus solely on each other, have fun and get those beautiful wedding photos you dream of. 

With even just an hour or two of coverage, you’ll be able to get a TON of super cool, unique wedding photos you’ll be proud to hang on your walls.

3. Add A Little Something Different To Your Outfit For Unique Wedding Photos

Be honest…. Do you ever look at wedding blogs and, after a while, all the pretty dresses and sharp suits start to look the same?! Yeah, us too. 

Don’t get us wrong, we love a classic white wedding dress! But, if you want unique wedding photos, you might want to add a little something-something to spice up your outfit.

There’s no end of ways you could do this!

For example, if you ARE wearing a classic white dress, you could add some bold statement jewelry that reflects your personality. Or you could opt for some really unique florals, like live flower earrings, or a stand-out headpiece.

Or maybe you don’t want to wear a white dress at all?! We love that! You could go for a colorful dress instead, or branch out completely and wear a jumpsuit or a two piece suit.

If you or your partner are wearing a suit, the traditional floral choice tends to be a boutonniere. We say ditch that and go for a ‘pocket garden’ instead! Waaaaaay more unique and visually interesting.

You could even go all out and scrap the idea of a dress or suit entirely. Wear what YOU feel good in and, if clothing is a way you like to express yourself, then BRING IT!

As you can see, there are infinite ways to jazz up your ‘look’. So, have fun with it!

Put simply: a unique outfit will result in unique wedding photos.

4. Think About Meaningful Details If You Want Unique Wedding Photos

We’ll be honest, we’re really not into the typical ‘flat-lay’ detail photos you see in a traditional wedding gallery: you know the ones where your perfume bottle, your vow books, your jewelry etc. are all lined up perfectly, with a little flower and ribbon placed just so. We’re going to come on out and say it: we find them boring and cliché. (Sorry if you love them. No offense intended, to each their own. But this blog is all about unique!).

HOWEVER, we do believe these images can be completely transformed into beautiful, unique wedding photos if you bring details that are actually meaningful to you, if you inject your personality into them, and if you have your photographer capture them in a more fun way.

For example, vow books! There are SO many unique vow books out there if you do a little bit of research. Etsy is a great place to start! For example, you can get custom vow books made with the exact topographical map of the spot you’re sharing your vows at. How cool is that?!

Or rings! Rather than having them in their perfect little ring boxes (yawn), why not photograph them in a more interesting context? This couple eloped in Iceland, for example, where puffins are a big thing. So this shot will always remind them not just of their wedding day but of their entire Iceland experience.

What we’re basically saying is, details can make for pretty photos very easily, but to make for truly unique wedding photos, they need to have some MEANING.

5. Incorporating A Fun Activity Will Really Help You Get Unique Wedding Photos!

Wedding days typically adhere to a strict timeline and a rigid order of events: first look, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner, speeches, first dance etc etc.

It doesn’t have to be that way!

It’s your day and you have the freedom to structure it however you please. So, how about adding in some fun activities? Not only will this help you get unique wedding photos, but you and all your guests will make unique memories, too.

We, for example, had a silent disco at our wedding and the photos from it are some of our favorites! They have us laughing as the memories come flooding back every time we look at them.

Here’s a totally random list of other fun activities you might like to include at your wedding: a magic show, karaoke, a circus performance, a petting zoo in conjunction with your local animal rescue, a live painter, beer pong…..

If you’re eloping just the two of you, there’s even more opportunity to incorporate fun activities into your day as you’ve got total freedom allllll day long. You could go for a hike, hire a private chef, charter a private plane, go horse riding, play your favorite game, go off-roading etc.

*** If you’d like more fun ideas for your wedding day, check out this blog ***

6. Bring Some Fun Props Along!

A really easy way to ensure you get unique wedding photos – no matter the location or style of the day – is to bring along a few props to have fun with!

For example, you can bring custom personalized signs or backpack signs. Or you could bring lanterns to have fun during ‘blue hour’ just after the sun sets.

Orrrrrrr……Not exactly a ‘prop’, more like a guest of honor….But bringing your doggo along is always a good idea!!!

7. Don’t Be Afraid To Let Your Personality Shine

OF COURSE, you want dreamy photos of your wedding day, but not ALL your photos have to be uber serious and/or romantic.

IT’S OK to let your personality shine and just have FUN in some of your photos!

Every single couple out there is unique, so if you want unique wedding photos, don’t hold back! If you’re naturally silly and goofy together, BE silly and goofy. 

8. Adventure Out To Catch The Sunrise For Guaranteed Unique Photos

If you want unique wedding photos, you have to DO something unique!

Getting out bright and early for sunrise checks that box for sure! Where most couples take their morning at a slower pace, you’ll be out seeing the sun peeking over the horizon and welcoming in your wedding day in style. Talk about romantic!

We LOVE shooting at sunrise: it’s a magical time of day, with so much potential ahead. Plus, 99.99999% of people don’t get in time for sunrise, so you’ll have absolute privacy as you soak in the magic and get those unique photos you’ll treasure forevermore.

*** If you need help planning a sunrise wedding, this blog will help you ***

9. Or Stay Out After Dark!

If sunrise really ain’t your thing, then how about staying up late instead? 

A lot of people have heard of ‘golden hour’, the time just before sunset that gets you those really beautiful, glowing wedding photos.

But the fun doesn’t need to stop there!

After golden hour, you have ‘blue hour’, which brings with it cooler tones and a wholly different set of photos. Way more unique than the standard golden hour photos!

And beyond that, if you’re game to stay out even darker, if you’re lucky you could get truly unique wedding photos under the night sky!

10. Choose A Photographer Who’s Going To HELP You Get Unique Wedding Photos

We’ve saved the most important thing for last…

Your choice of photographer MATTERS if you want truly unique wedding photos from your big day.

A wedding photographer who shoots the exact same style of event in the exact same way, with the same ten cheesy poses, weekend after weekend, ain’t going to cut it.

You need someone who THRIVES on creating unique pieces of art in their photography. You need someone who loves the idea of trying something new, something different. You need someone who encourages you to be YOU and to not fit into some kind of box.

The best way you can ensure this is by taking a long hard look at a potential photographer’s portfolio. Ask to see full galleries, not just the bangers they share on Instagram. Are you EXCITED by what you see? Can you imagine yourself in their style of images? Do you see variety and innovation?

Ok, so there’s our 10 top ways to ensure you get the unique wedding photos you deserve. Remember, you don’t need to do everything on this list to get killer photos!! Pick and choose the ones that make sense to you. Don’t forget to go out there and have FUN on your wedding day…. Be your truest selves, make memories… And the incredible photos will follow!

Let’s do this thing!