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.