The practice of wedding photography has evolved and grown since the invention of the photographic art form.
[citation needed] Due to the nature of the bulky equipment and lighting issues, wedding photography was largely a studio practice for most of the late 19th century.
[citation needed] Using film roll technology and improved lighting techniques available with the invention of the compact flash bulb, photographers would often show up at a wedding and try to sell the photos later.
Initially, professional studio photographers might bring a lot of bulky equipment, thus limiting their ability to record the entire event.
All forms of RAW have a degree of exposure latitude that exceeds slide film - to which digital capture is commonly compared.
Traditional wedding photography provides for more classically posed images and a great deal of photographer control during the ceremony.
A photojournalistic style of wedding photography takes its cue from editorial reporting styles and focuses more on candid images with little photographer interaction; a wedding photojournalist typically shoots images quickly using available light or on-camera flash rather than using traditional, formal posing techniques and studio lights.
A fourth style that is popular in Asian countries, especially in China, is wedding studio photography (Chinese: 婚纱摄影; pinyin: hūn shā shè yǐng).
There is no standard as to what is included in a wedding coverage or package, so products vary regionally and from across photographers, as do the number of images provided.
Photographers may provide hard copy proofs in the form of small prints, a "magazine" of images with thumbnail-sized pictures on multiple pages.
In the UK there are many organizations including the Master Photographers Association (MPA) and the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP).
Even a modest Indian wedding can have several hundred participants, who are all thought to be "relatives and close family friends".
Wedding photography is now a major commercial endeavor in India that supports the bulk of the efforts for many photographers.
They may need to understand the symbolism of specific religious rituals and traditional photo compositions are desired.
[16][17] Elopements are no longer a trend but have been entrenched as a socially acceptable alternative to a larger, traditional wedding.
[19] Photographers who specialize in elopements take on the role of scouting scenic locations, coordinating and planning timelines, and recommending what to wear and what to pack.