Here’s the thing about wedding photography trends.. they’re kind of like TikTok dances… they’re fun for five minutes, then everyone moves on and you’re left wondering why you spent so much time perfecting a body roll.
I say this with love, because I’ve been there. When I first started, I was glued to Pinterest and Posing Apps like it was gospel. Golden-hour couples spinning in a field? Check. Dramatic veil toss in front of a sunset? Double check.
Did my couples look beautiful? Sure.
Did my galleries look like everyone else’s? Absolutely.
And guess what? The more I tried to copy what was “in,” the less confident I felt about my own work. Because if I’m being honest — none of it actually felt like me.
Why Trends Are a Trap
Here’s the danger with chasing trends:
- They don’t last. Today’s “moody brown tones” are tomorrow’s “what were we thinking?” (Anyone else shudder when they scroll back through their 2014 editing style? Just me?)
- Clients get confused. If your website looks like 10 different photographers’ portfolios stitched together, your dream couples won’t know what you stand for.
- You burn out. Trying to keep up with what’s trending is exhausting, especially when your heart isn’t in it.
What Actually Lasts? Your Voice.
The best thing I ever did for my business was stop trying to keep up and start getting intentional.
Instead of asking “what’s trending?” I started asking:
👉 What do I actually love photographing?
👉 What kind of galleries make me excited to deliver?
👉 What do my couples always tell me they value most about their photos?
That’s when things clicked. I realised my couples weren’t hiring me for a trendy editing style or a Pinterest-perfect pose, they were hiring me because I made them feel seen, comfortable, and celebrated.
For example: I once had a couple who told me, “We don’t want anything fancy — just us, in the kitchen, drinking coffee.” Old me would’ve thought, how boring. But when I leaned in and documented their everyday love, it turned into one of my most powerful galleries. Not trendy. Timeless.
No couple has ever said to me, “Ash, can you please make sure our gallery looks exactly like that photographer on Instagram who went viral last week?”
Not once. Ever.
What they do say is:
“We just want the photos to feel like us.”
Funny how that works, right?
Building a Sustainable Brand
If you want a business that actually lasts — and doesn’t fizzle out every time the industry shifts — here’s where to start:
- Consistency beats trends. Develop an editing style and approach that feels like you. Stick with it.
- Curate with intention. Share work that reflects where you want to go, not just what’s popular.
- Prioritize connection. Your ability to make couples feel comfortable will outlast any Lightroom preset fad.
- Invest in education. Not to follow trends, but to refine your skills, voice, and strategy for the long run.
Trends might get you likes. But they won’t build you a sustainable photography business.
Your unique voice, your ability to tell stories with intention, your connection with couples, that’s what lasts.
And if you’re sitting there thinking, “Cool Ash, but how the hell do I figure out what my unique voice even is?”, that’s literally why I created Beyond The Pose. It’s built on the lessons I learned the hard way (after 800+ weddings and many cringe-worthy Pinterest boards), so you don’t have to.
Your business deserves more than chasing someone else’s idea of what’s trendy.
👉 Ready to ditch the noise and build something that actually lasts? Check out Beyond The Pose here.
