By the time you’re ready to hire a photographer, you and your spouse have put a lot of time and effort into making your dream wedding a reality. From choosing the venue to envisioning the tiny, intricate decorations that set the mood, you’ve made so many decisions to ensure that it all comes together to create the picturesque day you’ve both dreamed of. One vital detail that will solidify these magical moments in time is hiring an experienced wedding photographer who not only knows how to correctly balance light and shadow but also knows how to accurately capture your love story.
Wedding photos are one of the biggest parts of any wedding. They capture the essence of the day while creating magical moments that you and your loved one can look back on for years to come. They also allow you to share your celebration with future generations, showing your love story in authentic and creative images that invoke the love that your family and friends showered on you and your spouse on your big day.
However, with the importance a photographer has in shaping these moments into memories, many couples freeze at the thought of hiring one. What should they ask when they are interviewing potential candidates? What types of photos should they be looking for? What are the current trends in wedding photography that will ensure every special moment is accurately captured?
Not to worry; the wedding planners at Lone Star Mansion have created this 2026 Wedding Photography Guide to help you not only choose the best photographer for your wedding but also share incredible trends and tips that will take your photos to the next level.
Choosing the Right Wedding Photographer for Your Burleson Wedding
A wedding photographer is a professional who specializes in shooting weddings. Unlike other photographers, wedding photographers are experienced in combining multiple photographer styles and skills while being able to work under high-pressure situations where there is little room for error. There are no do-overs during a wedding’s special moments, like the ceremony.
These photographers need to be able to communicate effectively with not only their client but the wedding coordinators as well. They also have to be able to handle complex emotions, as these events tend to bring out a wide range of opinions and thoughts, making customer service and the ability to set boundaries extremely important.
When choosing your wedding photographer, you will want to consider the following:
- Search and Book Your Photographer as Soon as Possible: Many photographers only take a limited number of weddings each year. Booking one as soon as you have your wedding venue and date solidified is vital. Waiting to the last minute may severely limit your choices for experienced photographers.
- Know Your Budget: As with all vendors, the photographer’s price will vary depending on their experience, the wedding’s location, and what packages, if offered, the couple decides to choose. Knowing your budget will help you narrow down which photographers you are able to partner with without breaking the bank.
- Find a Photographer Whose Photo Style You Love: You need to ask for a sample of their work. This will help you envision what your potential photos will look like. If you do not like the work they have provided, then they are probably not the photographer for you.
- Make Sure You Connect With Them Personally: You will be working closely with your photographer, so making sure that your personalities mesh is huge.
- Share Your Wedding Details so the Photographer Knows What You Are Looking For:
- Your expectations for the day
- What moments do you want captured the most
- Any trends you want to implement in your wedding photos
- Ask Questions: Here are the most important questions you need to ask:
- What do you love most about being a wedding photographer?
- How long have you been photographing weddings?
- What do you value most about your experience working with your clients?
- Can we see images from your past works?
- How would you describe your photography style?
- What is your photo editing style?
- How will you make our wedding photos unique?
- What is your price point?
- Do you have wedding packages?
- Are you available for our wedding date?
- How do you handle unforeseen circumstances?
- What is it like to work with you on the day of the wedding?
- Can we see reviews from previous clients?
- When will we receive our photos?
After you choose your photographer, you will want to continue to coordinate with them throughout the planning process. Make sure you know their preferred method of communication, such as email or phone.
Communicating Your Vision: Styles and Shots for 2026
Wedding photography trends for the end of 2025 and through 2026 are showing a shift towards authenticity with a growing demand for documentary-style coverage. This allows the photos to capture the true genuine emotions within every moment, from the love on the couples’ faces to the pride on their parents’ and family members’. Here is a breakdown of the different trends our wedding planners have been seeing.
- Documentary-Style with Candid Shots: More couples want to move away from the hour-long posed sessions and focus more on a natural, documentary style to capture the real-time interactions.
- Editorial With a Cinematic Feel: Some couples are looking for a fashion-magazine aesthetic with dramatic, professional portraits that can be achieved by using various lighting and styling techniques to catch a dramatic and dynamic look.
- Focus on Hybrid Photo and Film Packages: Many couples are eager to have both film and digital copies of their photos. This is because more individuals are eager to have the authenticity of film rather than digital photography, which can be edited later on.
- Portrait Stations: Couples are investing in professional portrait stations where a photographer guides the guests and takes photos of them. This is replacing the cheesy iPad booth with sequin backdrops and goofy props.
- Flash Photography: The drama of feeling as if paparazzi is following around the bride and groom was extremely popular in the tail-end of 2024 and throughout 2025. This trend seems to only be picking up popularity as more and more couples are looking for the flash. The idea is that the flash creates more authenticity and captures more magical moments that may have been missed by trying to stage photos.
- True Color Editing: True-to-color editing aims to ensure that the photos replicate what the human eye sees, rather than editing dark and light to create either a warmer or brighter image.
- Emphasis on Capturing the Fun: Couples are eager to get photos of their guests laughing, dancing, and interacting with each other versus photos that have been posed.
Must-Capture Getting Ready Moments for Your Big Day
While every moment of your wedding is special, there are some that you will want your photographer to capture. These include:
- Boudoir Beauty: Have a private mini boudoir session with the photographer before the bride puts on her dress. She can give these as a gift to her husband after the wedding.
- Admiring Your Dress: Have the photographer capture the dress as it hangs on the hanger or the moment the bride admires it before she puts it on.
- Donning the Dress: The big reveal is an important moment to capture. The expression of the bride, her mother, and her bridal party will be one that you want to have encapsulated forever. Pure magic.
- The Spritz: Have a favorite perfume or cologne? Capture this moment as the bride or groom sprays the scent on their arm or neck. These details are beautiful to look back on and can recall that wonderful scent.
- Putting on the Sparkle: Whether it’s pearls, diamond earrings, or a silver tennis bracelet, capturing the special jewelry that was chosen with such care for this big day will remind both bride and groom of these little moments in the future. This is especially true if the jewelry in question is a family heirloom.
- Dress Details: Have the photographer focus on a particular detail of the dress that you love. Whether that is the lace detailing or the train, these little details make an incredible and magical shot.
- Grooming: Both the bride and the groom should have their final touches documented. This includes getting hair and makeup done, or putting on the outfit.
- Slipping Into the Shoes: Highlight the bride’s shoe choice by having the photographer capture them as the bride slips them on. Or, have the shoes in a staged shot with the wedding rings.
- First Looks: If the Bride and Groom decide to do first looks with each other, these will want to be documented.
- Details of the Venue: You want to capture the magic of the venue, as this is the place where you and your spouse will be professing your undying love and commitment to each other.
Leveraging Lone Star Mansion’s Stunning Backdrop for Photos
The Lone Star Mansion offers a gorgeous photo opportunity no matter where the bride and groom or their guests are. With gorgeous amenities for the bride and groom to get ready in, such as the bridal spa and the groom’s room, the mansion itself screams of luxury.
With grand windows that bring in plenty of natural sunlight, every room within the mansion is set with the natural lighting that couples crave. It doesn’t get much more authentic than the bride and her ladies getting their hair and nails done, or putting on their special dresses. Or the groom and his men, sharing a couple of laughs while shooting a game of pool downstairs, chasing away the butterflies with sport and drink.
These moments move seamlessly into the ceremony and reception, where the 20 acres of breathtaking grounds, boasting the natural beauty of the Burleson landscape, create the perfect backdrop for photos. If the bride and groom decide to get married within the mansion itself or within the carriage house, the large windows, wood accents, and crystal chandeliers bring a majestic feel to each moment. Even the most candid shot will breathe authenticity and elegance. When it comes to having the perfect, picturesque wedding, there is no better venue than the Lone Star Mansion.
Planning Your Photo Timeline and Album Delivery
When it comes to the timeline of your photos and when the pictures will be delivered, it is important to have open communication with your photographer. With so many pictures to go through, it is important that both the bride and groom are very clear about which moments are more important to them and what kind of style they are looking for.
If you need help finding the right photographer for your dream wedding at the Lone Star Mansion, our wedding planners can help. We have an extensive list of vendors that we have fantastic relationships with and have created amazing results for our couples over the years. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your tour of our beautiful venue.
FAQs:
– Documentary-Style with Candid Shots
– Editorial With a Cinematic Feel
– Focus on Hybrid Photo and Film Packages
– Portrait Stations
– Flash Photography
– True Color Editing
– Emphasis on Capturing the Fun
To choose a wedding photographer, you need to determine your priorities for style, personality, and budget. Next, evaluate their work by requesting samples of previous weddings they have shot for. This will ensure that you have an idea as to their quality and consistency. Read client reviews and testimonials to get a picture of how they worked with previous clients. Finally, meet with them to assess their professionalism, experience, and overall comfort level before you book.
You will want to book your photographer shortly after you have the venue and the date of the wedding finalized. This helps ensure the photographer you want will have open availability to be able to shoot your wedding.
