The world of wedding imagery is always evolving, and 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for new trends and creative approaches. If you’re planning a Pittsburgh wedding (or anywhere) and want your photos and videos to feel fresh and contemporary, take note of these top trends. From nostalgic film looks to same-day social media sneak peeks, here are five big photography and videography trends to consider for your wedding:
1. Documentary-Style Storytelling
Couples are increasingly favoring a documentary approach to their wedding coverage – meaning less perfectly posed shots and more candid, authentic moments. Photographers and videographers in 2025 are focusing on telling a story rather than producing a series of static images. This trend means your wedding album and film might feel more like a narrative, capturing the raw emotions and in-between moments: your laughter during the ceremony, the happy tears as you get ready, the goofy dance moves at the reception.
In photography, this translates to more photojournalistic coverage – you’ll see black-and-white candids, sequences of images that show progression of an event (like the moments just before you walk down the aisle), and fewer “everybody stand and smile at the camera” shots (beyond the necessary family portraits). For video, audio is a big part of this storytelling. Weaved-in snippets of vows, speeches, and ambient sound (cheers, laughter) make the film truly immersive. The final video often plays out like a mini-documentary of your day, giving viewers a genuine feel of the wedding’s atmosphere.
How to embrace it: Choose a photographer/videographer who advertises a “documentary” or “storytelling” style. Be sure to still allocate time for some posed portraits (you’ll want a few!), but otherwise, let the professionals roam and capture things as they happen. The key is for you to be present in the moment – genuine emotions make for the best story, and that’s something you can’t fake.
2. Drone Footage and Aerial Angles
Drone photography and videography at weddings has been rising for a few years and is now almost mainstream for 2025. Those epic aerial shots of your ceremony by a lake or your reception at a countryside venue add a cinematic flair that wow everyone. In Pittsburgh, imagine a sweeping aerial video of your entire venue – whether it’s a cityscape shot of your downtown rooftop reception or a bird’s-eye view of rolling hills at an outdoor estate.
Drones can capture perspectives that used to be impossible or required a helicopter. And as technology improves, drones are becoming quieter, more agile, and able to produce higher quality footage. One videographer noted how adding a DJI drone to their kit “has been so fun to work with” in capturing new angles at weddings
. Drone shots often make fantastic opening scenes for wedding films and can also be delivered as standalone clips for social media.How to embrace it: Check with your venue about drone allowances (some places have restrictions). Then, hire a videographer (or photographer) licensed to fly drones. They might capture the whole venue, a gorgeous sunset shot of you two, or even a fun aerial of guests forming a heart shape. Safety and privacy are important – a good operator will ensure no flying during sensitive moments (like directly over the ceremony crowd) and follow regulations. When done right, a few well-placed drone shots will elevate your wedding visuals literally and figuratively!
3. Nostalgic Vintage Touches (Film & Super 8 Revival)
Everything old is new again! A big trend heading into 2025 is the incorporation of vintage media into modern weddings. This takes two main forms:
- Film Photography: Some couples are requesting that their photographer shoot a roll or two of real film in addition to digital. Film has a grainy, dreamy quality and unique colors that many find appealing (think soft pastels or dramatic contrasts). There’s also the nostalgic factor – knowing your photos were taken the old-fashioned way.
- Super 8 or Vintage Video: On the video side, many wedding films now include snippets shot on old Super 8 mm film cameras or edited with a retro look. The flickering, warm-toned footage instantly feels like a home movie from decades past, giving your wedding film a sentimental, timeless vibe. Even if videographers don’t use actual film, they might apply filters in post-production to mimic it.
We’ve seen couples incorporate this by having a dedicated “vintage” shooter – for example, a second photographer who snaps Polaroids or film, or a cinematographer who roams with a Super 8 camera for parts of the day. Some also hand out disposable film cameras to guests for fun (the surprise of developing them after is part of the charm!).
How to embrace it: If you love the look of film, ask your photographer if they can include some film shots. Many hybrid photographers shoot both digital and film. For video, discuss with your videographer about adding a vintage twist – some have actual vintage cameras, others can simulate it. You could, for instance, have your pre-ceremony moments or a montage of dancing edited in a nostalgic style within the final video. It’s a beautiful way to blend past and present, and you’ll end up with footage that feels like cherished family archives.
4. Same-Day Edits and Social Media Sneak Peeks
In the age of instant content, couples are eager to share their wedding moments immediately. Enter the trend of same-day edits and quick turnaround sneak peeks. A same-day edit is when your videographer shoots and edits a highlight reel on the wedding day itself, to be shown at your reception. Imagine enjoying a 3-minute film of your ceremony and earlier events with your guests during dinner – it’s always a huge hit and brings the house down with cheers. This requires an extra skilled team (someone edits on-site while others keep filming), but it’s growing in popularity for that wow factor.
On a smaller scale, many photographers now provide a next-day or 48-hour sneak peek of a handful of photos to post on social media. Similarly, videographers might send a quick teaser clip within a week. This satisfies that excitement to share while the buzz is fresh. In 2025, we also see dedicated social media content creation: vertical videos optimized for Instagram Reels or TikTok, behind-the-scenes clips, and even intentional photo ops specifically for social posts (like a trendy neon sign backdrop, captured and delivered promptly so you can post a thank-you message to guests the day after).
Live streaming is another tech-driven offering – broadcasting your ceremony live for guests who couldn’t attend. While born out of necessity in recent years, it’s still continuing for those with far-flung family. It’s not exactly a “trend” in creative style, but a modern service that many videographers provide and couples appreciate.
How to embrace it: If a same-day edit excites you, discuss it with your videographer – it typically costs extra and might require a second editor on site, but the result is unbelievable. For quick photo sneak peeks, simply ask your photographer if they can prioritize a few hero shots for the next day – most are happy to oblige. And if you’re active on TikTok/Instagram, let your media team know; some might even capture a few phone clips for you in the moment. Planning for a live stream? Ensure your venue has good Wi-Fi or cell signal, and hire a pro (we handle streams with multiple cameras so virtual guests get a quality experience too).
5. Bold Lighting and Creative Effects
On the artistic front, 2025 weddings are seeing a surge of bold lighting techniques and special effects in imagery. Photographers are experimenting with direct flash (think celebrity-style, high contrast party shots), colored lighting (using neon or LED gels for a creative pop of color in night portraits), and playing with shadows or silhouettes. The goal is to produce some standout images that look like they belong in a fashion editorial or music video.
For instance, that classic sparkler exit is sometimes being captured with a twist – maybe using a slow shutter to create light streaks as you run through, or drones capturing it from above (combining trends!). We also see creative night portraits: the couple posed with the Pittsburgh skyline behind them at night, illuminated by a single off-camera flash – dramatic and cool. Smoke bombs with colored smoke for photos, or using prisms and reflections to create artsy effects are in vogue too (with the right venue permission, of course).
Videographers are incorporating this trend by using techniques like speed ramping (sudden slow-motion for emphasis on a dramatic moment), adding light flares or transitions that give a music-video vibe, and not shying away from using dynamic lighting during dances (some bring their own LED panels to create that clubby ambience on film).
Another micro-trend: 360 photo/video booths at receptions, where a camera spins around you to capture a slow-motion video – very trendy and an entertainment piece for guests. The outputs of these are fun, shareable video clips that add to your collection of wedding memories.
How to embrace it: Talk to your photographer about any special shots you’d love – for example, “We’re open to doing a night shot with sparklers or smoke bombs” or “We love a glam flash look for dance floor photos.” They’ll bring the necessary gear if they know you’re into it. For video, watch some of their samples to see if they use these modern effects and if you like them. You can also set up some of these trends as activities: maybe set aside 10 minutes during the reception to do a 360-video booth or a sparkler first dance. The key is to have fun with it – these effects shine when the couple is willing to be a little adventurous for the sake of amazing art.
In summary, weddings in 2025 are all about personalization and immersion – capturing the feel of the day in creative ways, whether through an unfiltered documentary lens, high-flying drone views, or retro-chic film vibes. While you definitely don’t need to incorporate every trend (classic never goes out of style, after all), it can be fun to include one or two that resonate with you.
When meeting with your photographer and videographer, mention any of these trends that excite you. Professionals are often already on top of them and will be thrilled to tailor some shots to match. Above all, trends should accentuate your wedding story, not distract from it. The best images and videos will always be those that reflect you as a couple – and if that means a TikTok teaser and a Super8 film clip alongside your traditional album, then you can absolutely have the best of all worlds!
Looking for a team that’s up-to-date with the latest in wedding media? We’ve got you covered. From drone footage to film-inspired editing, we love incorporating the newest techniques to give our Pittsburgh couples that extra “wow” factor. Feel free to get in touch to chat about how we can make your wedding vision come to life on camera – in whatever style suits you best.
