Wow, there is a trend on social media websites called “blurry wedding photos”.
Sorry to disappoint you, but this is not new. It’s a technique I have used for many years in my wedding photography to stand out from fellow wedding photographers. It’s a technique called “dragging the shutter”.
NOTE: WITH ME NOT ALL YOUR WEDDING PHOTOS WILL BE BLURRY. ONLY WHEN I HAVE TIME TO USE THIS TECHNIQUE.
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Create Blurry Wedding Photography With Drag The Shutter Technique
This is a photography technique that uses a slower shutter speed to capture motion of moving object by adding light trails and movement. Shutter dragging combines flash, and freezes the subject with a slow shutter speed to capture motion blur.
This technique uses a slow shutter speed to allow ambient light to register on the film or sensor. A tip for other wedding photographers: Use a slow shutter speed, eg 1/15s, while also firing off the flash.
With digital camera’s you can see the effect immediately. But, if you are shooting on film, you’ll have to wait until the film is processed.
Blurry Wedding Photography
1. What is the blurry wedding photography?
The blurry wedding photography trend involves intentionally adding motion blur, soft focus, or light smudges to photos to create an artistic, candid, and emotional effect. This style moves away from perfectly sharp, highly edited images. Instead capturing movement and natural moments to create a dreamy, nostalgic look.
2. Why do couples choose blurry wedding photos?
Modern couples love this style because it adds variety to their wedding album, making photos feel more spontaneous and intimate. It helps convey emotions, movement, and a sense of being “in the moment,” rather than focusing on traditional posed portraits.
3. Does every wedding photo need to be blurry?
Definitely No. Let’s be clear here, your wedding photographs should be sharp, in focus and clear.
The photographer should only shoot a select number of such images, after he has got proper sharp photos first. You deserve to have a visually engaging collection of photos from your wedding day.
4. How do photographers achieve the blurry effect?
As a photographer I have used techniques such as slow shutter speeds and intentional camera movement to add movement to my wedding photos. Some photographers add slight motion blur during post-processing for a refined artistic touch, but I prefer to create it in camera.
5. What moments work best for blurry wedding photos?
I find this technique is ideal for capturing dancing and movement on the dance floor.
6. Will blurry photos make my wedding album look unprofessional?
Not at all. When done intentionally, like I do. I only shoot a select few not the whole wedding. Blurry photography adds an artistic, editorial-quality feel to your wedding photos.
As a skilled photographer I will use techniques to make my photos stand out from other wedding photographers.
Remember when you hire me, you have a choice to include or exclude these photos from your album.
7. Can I request a mix of photography styles?
Definitely YES. But as an experienced wedding photographer I incorporate traditional, natural, candid and documentary-style wedding photography to create a well rounded wedding album.
Bipin Dattani
Wedding photographer in Pinner, England
28 Hillview Rd, Pinner HA5 4PA
07930 324833