Choosing a photographer/videographer for your wedding is a significant decision, one that will affect how you remember your special day for years to come. While our documentary style of capturing the footage is relatively set-in-stone, we do offer our couples two distinct approaches when it comes to the coloring of the final product: a timeless, true-to-color look and an artistic film-inspired look. Each style has its own unique attributes, aesthetic qualities, and emotional resonance. Let's dive deeper into the differences between these two options so you can make the decision that best aligns with your vision for your wedding day. Click here to be taken straight to the comparison images.
Timeless True-to-Color Approach
The timeless, true-to-color grading style is designed to capture the essence of your wedding day as accurately as possible. This approach aims to reflect the true colors of the environment and attire of the wedding day. The goal is to preserve the authenticity of the moment, ensuring that when you look back on your wedding video years later, it looks just as it did on the day itself.
One of the main advantages of this style is its versatility. Timeless color grading enhances the natural beauty of the scenes without introducing dramatic filters or hues that might overshadow the genuine colors of your wedding. For example, the whites of your wedding dress will appear pristine, the greens of your outdoor venue will look lush, and the vibrant colors of flowers will remain true to life. This approach emphasizes clarity and realism, allowing the love and joy of your wedding to shine through without distraction.
Moreover, the timeless look is less likely to go out of style. Trends in videography can change rapidly, but a true-to-color approach will remain classic and appealing over time. As you grow older and share your wedding film with future generations, the timeless aesthetic will resonate just as strongly, allowing you to relive the memories without the filter of fleeting trends.
Artistic Film Emulation
On the other hand, the film look draws inspiration from traditional film stock and contemporary aesthetics. This approach employs specific color grading techniques that evoke the nostalgic, soft look associated with classic film photo and videos. Characteristics of this style often include muted colors, softer contrasts, and a grainy texture that adds a layer of warmth and artistic flair to the footage.
The film emulation style appeals to couples who are drawn to a more artistic, stylized representation of their wedding day. It captures the emotions and ambiance in a way that feels romantic and whimsical. The soft, diffused look can create a dreamlike quality that resonates deeply with certain couples, making it particularly well-suited for outdoor, natural settings or vintage-themed weddings.
One significant advantage of this approach is its ability to evoke a specific mood or atmosphere. If you envision your wedding as an ethereal experience, this style can enhance that feeling, creating a cinematic narrative that tells your story in a unique way. The textured grain and warm tones gives personality and character, making it stand out as an artistic piece rather than a straightforward documentation of events.
It’s worth noting that trends can shift, and what feels trendy today might feel outdated tomorrow. While the film style can evoke a specific nostalgia, it may not capture the true colors and details of your wedding as accurately as the timeless approach.
The Comparison
In these examples, the traditional coloring style is on the left and the film style is on the right.
In this blue hour example, you can see how the overall blue tint in the original shifts closer to teal. This is accompanied by the usual grainy look and "soft haze" effect on the street lamps on the bridge.
In this sunny ceremony example, the overall color of the image looks similar. There's a little softness around the guests on the right and the greens are a little desaturated. The grain is still very present.
In this natural light example, you can see how the blues shift to teal again. The overall skintones remain accurate with a lot of softness around the brighter parts of the couple (i.e. the dress where the sun hits it, the grooms face since he's facing the sun, etc..)
Conclusion
Ultimately, both styles have their merits, and your choice should reflect your personal preferences and the story you wish to tell. By understanding the distinctions between these two approaches, you can make an informed decision that will ensure your wedding film captures the essence of your love story, perfectly aligned with your vision for your special day. If you like the film look and want the real thing, check out our film packages where we bring our 1960's cameras to genuinely achieve what we're trying to artificially recreate here. And before you ask, yes, this blog is very much inspired by a few chatGPT prompts but still heavily curated to keep the information accurate.
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