The best photographs capture a story within a single frame. Creating narrative wedding photography, however, is a challenge that involves blending multiple techniques including emotion, composition, and posing or prompting. This week, we asked five of our 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography for insight into how they work to capture a story in a single frame. Find inspiration and storytelling techniques from Autumn Jordan, Juliana Jumper, Echo Kowalski, Mati Machner, and Koko King.

View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024.

Autumn Jordan, Autumn Jordan Photography

When Autumn Jordan of Autumn Jordan Photography embraced the full sun and breeze coming off the sea for Molly and Corey’s wedding day, she created an image full of authenticity. She explains that the couple wed on Long Island Sound, a location that was meaningful to them. That inspired her to integrate the couple into the landscape and lean into the elements rather than try to fight them. Another key to the narrative feel in this wedding photography? Jordan captured the image on film. She used the Mamiya 645 Pro and a 45mm f2.8 lens with Porta 400 film. She used a Sekonic Speedmaster L-858 light meter and the film was processed by Indie Film Lab.

“Think about the elements you have at hand and use them to your advantage,” Jordan advises. “Embrace the weather, the quality of light available, the landscape, the energy of your subject and show up with the right tools to get the job done! Basically, just go with the flow and have fun with it! You can almost always tell when something is too forced.”

Juliana Jumper, Juliana Noelle Jumper Photography

The footprints in the sand, dramatic lighting and the way the couple interacts with the landscape creates a story in this image by Juliana Jumper of Juliana Noelle Jumper Photography. The photographer explains that the bride had ordered a veil online for the elopement at the Great Sand Dunes National Park. But when it arrived, it was just a long piece of transparent fabric. While there was no way for the bride to put the veil in her hair, Jumper asked her to bring it along knowing that the wind would help the veil mimic the shape of the sand. “Composition and interaction with space is pivotal to my work, and that single piece of fabric greatly activated the environment where my clients had chosen to elope,” she says. For this shot, she used the Canon EOS R6 and the Canon EF 35mm f1.4L II USM.

“Composition and lighting are what I use most often to convey a sense of narrative within my work, but there are many, many ways of storytelling,” she says. “I think the best advice I could offer novice photographers is to become extremely aware of why certain images are moving. If you can root out the emotions images convey, you can begin to apply those ideas to capturing and editing your own work. Just as in abstract paintings certain compositions and colors bring forth certain feelings, photographs work the same way, and you can build the narrative from there.”  

Echo Kowalski, Kajade Photography

Echo Kowalski of Kajade Photography says that finding her inspiration in the moment helps her to create narrative wedding photography that is built on the couple’s memories of the day. When she captured this shot with the Sony a7RV and a 35mm f1.4 lens, she was inspired by the slope at the wedding location and the couple’s chemistry. Using motion blur gives the image a whirlwind, playful feel.

“Understanding the personalities and chemistry of the couple prior to the shoot helps to capture a believable story,” Kowalski says. “Listen to their wishes and observe how they interact with each other. And then find ways to just let them be themselves in the shoot.” 

She adds, “I believe using simple techniques helps to tell a story more clearly and directly, such as using slow shutter speed to intensify motion and using analogous color schemes to create a calming atmosphere, which draws the viewers’ attention to the subject (the couple).”

Mati Machner, Mati Photography

The window framing the couple lends a key storytelling element in this image by Mati Machner of Mati Photography. The photographer, inspired by the window, used this vantage point to create a unique glimpse into the couple’s story while creating distance that helps the moment feel more intimate. He captured the shot with the Sony A1 and Sony 35mm f1.4 GM lens.

“For beginner photographers, it’s important to pay attention to various aspects and consider specific tips for storytelling,” Machner says. “I recommend getting familiar with the surroundings on-site and relying on one’s own intuition to understand what is important and what is not. It’s about emotionally immersing oneself in the situations as if directing a film. Both obvious and small details can have significant meaning in a story and convey a message. Whether the image is edited in color or black and white is not crucial in my opinion. What’s more important is understanding and feeling a scene holistically to capture it with the camera because many moments cannot be simply replicated. What’s beautiful is that everyone evaluates situations, beauty, and moments differently based on their own experiences and perceptions, making each perspective unique.”

Koko King, Hastings & King

Inspired by the bride’s veil, Koko King of Hastings & King captured this shot after the couple’s ceremony. She used the texture of the veil to create a dramatic contrast between the couple and the dark foliage behind them. She captured this narrative wedding photography shot using the Holga 120 and natural light.

“I personally don’t love tack sharp images,” King said. “The human body is constantly moving, even if just subtle breaths or blinks of an eye. I truly do believe that a bit of ‘motion’ in a photo can capture a story. With this image you can tell there is a wind surrounding the couple, and I truly believe it helps draw the eye to this image. If it was super sharp from a higher shutter speed, I don’t think it would have the same effect. So, long story short: Don’t be afraid to lower the shutter speed.” 

Dig into our Photo of the Day archives for even more timeless photos, eye-catching wedding photos and portraits. Submit your wedding, editorial, documentary and other interesting imagery (up to 5 images at a time) to: [email protected].

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