WPPI Wrap Up - 5 Photography Wedding Trends to Watch in 2017

Well Vegas, that’s a wrap! Samy’s Camera, with a pop-up store in tow, attended and exhibited at this year’s Wedding Portrait & Photographers International Expo (WPPI) in Las Vegas, Nevada.  [caption id="attachment_3896" align="aligncenter" width="640"] It was PACKED![/caption] Being the premier wedding photography conference and expo, this event is pretty massive. The Las Vegas Convention Center is not for the faint of heart (and certainly not for those cute new shoes you didn't break in). Wedding and photographers and filmmakers in order to check the latest in photo and video innovation and gear up for the 2017 wedding season. Major companies like Canon, Nikon, Sony, FujiFilm set up booths that could rival most retail spaces in order to not only show off products; but, to also host talks, classes, and workshops. [caption id="attachment_3903" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Class at the Sony booth at WPPI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3900" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Class at Nikon's School Theater at WPPI[/caption] Smaller, yet still impressive, booth set ups invited attendees to break out their camera and shoot incredibly patient and friendly models to test lighting, backdrops, and more. [caption id="attachment_3902" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Model and backdrop set up at WPPI[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3901" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Lighting and model set up at WPPI[/caption] After covering a good amount of convention ground (and grabbing several cups of coffee from the WPPI Photo Den - Thank Canon!), a number of trends kept popping up throughout the event. Here are five wedding photography trends to watch in 2017.

How do we love Instax? Let me count the ways.

[caption id="attachment_3898" align="aligncenter" width="640"] FujiFilm's Instax Camera Booth at WPPI[/caption] There's a pretty good chance that, thanks to the analog and instant camera revival, you own a FujiFilm Instax camera. There's also a pretty good chance that you love this affordable trip down memory lane. It's price and availability in a number of wedding friendly colors has caught the attention of couples and planners who want to put a twist on tradition. A few ways to incorporate the Instax include: Guest Book  [caption id="attachment_3904" align="aligncenter" width="520"] Credit: Kelsey DeWitt Photography[/caption] Guest Favors [caption id="attachment_3905" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Ideal for small gatherings! Credit: Mel Barlow[/caption] Photo Booth [caption id="attachment_3907" align="aligncenter" width="574"] Credit: Michael and Carina Photography[/caption] A Candid Set of Wedding Photos [caption id="attachment_3906" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Cameras in the hands of the bridal party or the happy couple themselves provides a very intimate view of the day. Credit: www.cluskeysmith.com[/caption] Check out our selection of Instax cameras here. 

Fly Me (or a drone) to the Moon

If you are a photographer or videographer and have not added a drone option to your services, you should. The results (not to mention the drones themselves are becoming more affordable and easier to operate) are pretty spectacular. Check out our DJI store here. 

Have a flair for drama with lighting and Photoshop

Leave it to Pinterest and Instagram to make everyone's lives that much harder. While there will always be a place for classic and timeless photos and those "must-get" group shots, couples are starting to want more out of their wedding-day photos. [caption id="attachment_3908" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Like, a lot more. Credit: Steven Kowalski Photography[/caption] From full-on matte paintings to wanting to achieve a look of an era gone by, make your clients wishes a reality by investing in solid lighting equipment and brushing up on those Photoshop skills. Aside from the happy couple, one's portfolio will see a creative and technical boost. [caption id="attachment_3909" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Credit: Kristin La Voie Photography[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3910" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Credit: Erich McVey[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3912" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Credit: Lara Hotz[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3913" align="aligncenter" width="570"] Credit: Julia Robbs, Our Labor of Love[/caption] Check out our Profoto store here. Check out our upcoming Samy's Photo School classes here. 

Cameras of All Trades

In short, cameras that are both great at shooting photos and videos are a professional photographers best friend. One already had to lug around various lenses; cut down your equipment weight and overall inventory by getting familiar with versatile cameras. Currently, the Canon 5D Mark IV is a very popular option for a jack of all trades solution. [caption id="attachment_3914" align="aligncenter" width="536"] Shot with the Canon 5D Mark IV - RAW – 1/125 at f/3.5, ISO 2000, 35mm f1.4L II USM Credit: Albert Palmer via PetaPixel[/caption] Check out the Canon 5D Mark IV here. 

Keeping it Modern & Stress Free with DIY Photography

What do photographers or creative professional couples do when they need a wedding photographer? For one Estonia-based bride, she shot her own wedding. And, the results are magical. Her camera of choice: the Fujifilm X-T10. [caption id="attachment_3915" align="alignnone" width="640"] Credit: Liisa Luts[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3918" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Credit: Liisa Luts[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3916" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Credit: Liisa Luts[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3917" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Credit: Liisa Luts[/caption] While this may sound like an extra stress and an overwhelming idea, Luts told Buzzfeed in 2015 that, while understanding other couples desire to entrust a professional photographer with capturing their day, she received a lot of positive feedback.

“It’s nice to hear people say it’s simple and authentic and [a] really lovely and creative idea,” said Luts.

Going to such a big conference like WPPI can be overwhelming. There are so many new innovations being introduced; not to mention technology and social media putting additional pressures on both photographers and couples to outdo and out-photograph one another. However, whatever one may decide to do or invest in, either as a professional photographer or a couple in search of a photographer, Luts told Buzzfeed some very solid in order to wade through the wedding planning and prep overload: “I think that everyone should make their own decisions whether to get married at all, how to celebrate that day if they do, and all other aspects in life, too.”