Why Storytelling is not Gen-Z’s Wedding Photography Priority.

Nov 8

Close-up photo of a couple’s bare feet and dress reflection on water in nature.

As a millennial, my eyes roll back into my head when I hear someone say, “It’s a vibe.” I even think they might be referring to new age concepts from my parent’s time when vibrations were a spiritual concept. But now I am going to make an argument for why vibes, not stories, have recently become the focus of my work as a wedding photographer. Are you ready to catch a vibe? Maybe we can hit the 405? (viral TikTok song reference for those who don’t know).

Wedding party coming down steps mid-day. Non-traditional bridal gown. Elopment.

A story is a great thing to relive in your wedding photos. Photographers do their best to be in all places at once and to intuit your emotional moments (and do a stellar intake where we ask you what matters to you as the person getting married). The millennial generation needed the sincerity and connection of a story, not just the facts. Gen-Z, however, does not. My generation overdid it. We demanded an ethical creation story from peanut butter to footwear. We posted everything we did on social media, including, but not limited to, our weddings. The word vibe can encapsulate the unique colors, locations, textures, and lighting mood that make a wedding one-of-a-kind. Maybe it can be a quick impression or look that communicates what something or someone is about.

A small group of groomsmen whose faces betray an inside joke. Getting-ready wedding photos.

The great thing about the current age is that I can experiment with my camera and take all the photos. That awesome melange of half-eaten cake, party decorations, and evening clutches, your friends letting loose at your after party, and your messy hair beach engagement photo don’t have to come at the expense of the posed shots you think of first when hiring a professional photographer.

A beautiful bride looks into a traditional vanity mirror and applies lipstick. The ambiance is cozy and it is winter.

Gabriela Berinstein

I'm Gaby, a Newburyporter and business owner. I have been in love with photography since age twelve when my father, Martin Berinstein, a well-known photographer in the Boston arts community, took me on a trip to ME in the dead of winter to shoot on a classic Nikon F1, the original workhorse.

I returned to this passion after doing the corporate career path for a number of years in Washington D.C. I wanted to have my own business and meet new people every day. I dipped a toe in, creating a Thumbtack profile, and had the best time connecting and posing these clients. They were also so grateful because they wouldn't have had any shots of their special moments if I hadn't shown up for them. It was a no-brainer - a new path lay before me.

Today, I have worked with over 400 families and businesses. I draw on experience assisting Headshots Photography under Joanne Smith. Clients are super happy when they can relax and leave the cat-hearding up to me!

https://www.GabrielaBerinstein.com