How to Spot an Editorial Photographer
February 28, 2025
When searching for a wedding photographer, couples who love fashion-forward, magazine-worthy images often look for someone with an editorial style. Most of my couples value this look, but also value photographs with feeling, more along the documentary side of things. But what actually defines an editorial wedding photographer? How can you tell if a photographer truly has this skill, rather than just using the term for what’s “in” right now? Here’s how to spot an editorial photographer and what to look for when choosing a photographer who can deliver stylish, editorial wedding images.
How to Know If an Editorial Photographer Is Right for You
If you love the idea of wedding photos that feel like they have soul, yet also belong in a high-end fashion magazine, finding an editorial photographer is key. Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide:
✅ Their work has been published in magazines like Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar
✅ They have a fashion photography background
✅ Their editing and portrait cropping style matches luxury editorial standards
✅ Their couples look natural but effortlessly cool
✅ They have experience with stock imagery and commercial work
✅ They understand lighting, composition, and how to use locations effectively
✅ They tell a story, rather than just taking posed portraits
If a photographer checks all these boxes, you can be confident they’ll deliver wedding photos that feel just as refined, artistic, and timelessly stylish as those seen in the best editorial publications.
1. Their Work Has Been Featured in Magazines
One of the strongest indicators of a true editorial photographer is published work in reputable magazines. Publications like Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, or Brides have extremely high standards and are really hard to get features in. Real editorial photographers don’t pay to be featured—they are chosen based on their skill.
My Experience with Editorial Publishing
I’ve had my work approved and featured in Italian Vogue, showcasing my ability to create high-end, editorial-style imagery. One of my images was later published, and a future bride recognised it when she booked me! Pretty cool, right? When a photographer has been printed in renowned magazines, it proves they understand the level of quality and artistry expected in the fashion and editorial world. Just make sure that the photographer hasn’t paid to get featured – there’s nothing against this, in that the quality is usually up to par, but it tells the whole story of how they got there a bit more accurately.
2. They Have a Background in Fashion Photography
Editorial wedding photographers often start in the fashion industry before transitioning into weddings. This background gives them a deep understanding of:
- Lighting techniques used in studios and on location
- Working with models to achieve natural but high-end looks
- Brand campaigns, where every shot needs to tell a story
- Precision in editing to create polished, magazine-worthy images
My Fashion Photography Journey
Before focusing on weddings, I worked with modelling agencies, brands, and studios, perfecting the ability to craft striking, editorial portraits. This experience translates directly into wedding photography, where I can seamlessly blend natural moments with an effortlessly cool, high-fashion aesthetic without all the posing.
3. Their Editing and Cropping Reflect Magazine Standards
You can tell a photographer has an editorial style just by looking at their images. The best editorial photographers know how to crop and frame a shot in a way that looks effortless but intentional. Some key things to look for:
- Tight, intimate crops that feel cinematic
- Elegant negative space that draws focus to the subject
- True-to-life but refined colour grading—no overdone filters
- Skin retouching* and layering that looks polished, not plastic
If you can imagine the image in a luxury wedding magazine, that’s a great sign you’ve found an editorial photographer.
*Nowadays I don’t do a lot of retouching in terms of skin, but if ever there is a particularly bad skin breakout on the bride or grooms wedding day, it’s something I am happen to help with. Also, in group shots, there’s only so much AI can do to help if one person has their eyes closed – you can trust me to sort out that group shot without a problem.
4. Their Couples Look Comfortable but Cool
One of the hardest things to achieve in wedding photography is portraits where the couple have natural, stylish postures. Many photographers either direct too much or not enough. Editorial photographers know how to find the balance:
- Guiding couples subtly rather than stiffly posing them
- Spotting natural moments in interactions that already look effortlessly stylish
- Using movement to create fluid, organic images – getting them to do stuff together
When you browse an editorial photographer’s portfolio, you’ll notice the couples don’t look staged, but they also don’t look awkward. Their chemistry feels authentic and warm, but the composition and mood of the shot still say fashion. Come behind the scenes during this couple shoot at a wedding that shows the process.
5. They Have Experience Creating Images for Commercial Use
Beyond wedding photography, many editorial photographers shoot for stock image libraries, creating imagery used worldwide for advertising, branding, and publishing.
My Stock Photography Work
I contribute to Lightstock, and my images have been printed and used internationally. This type of experience sharpens an editorial photographer’s skills because:
- They understand what makes an image universally appealing
- They know how to create versatile, storytelling imagery
- They ensure every shot is compositionally strong and well-lit
If a photographer has experience creating stock imagery, it’s a great sign they know how to craft images that work beyond just social media—they belong in print.
A little example of stock photography where space is given for the designer to work around.
6. Editorial Photographers Understand Location and Light
Editorial photographers don’t just show up and shoot. They are masters at using light, architecture, and landscapes to enhance an image. There’s one thing utilising natural light, but it’s another thing using flash to accent and light your subjects.
Best Editorial Wedding Photography Locations in Kent
If you’re looking for an editorial wedding photographer in Kent, these locations are perfect for that high-end, magazine look:
- Chapel House Estate – Private estate, perfect for luxury wedding portraits.
- The Orangery – Classic English venue with stunning white interiors.
- The Old Kent Barn (recommended here) – A mix of rustic charm and modern sophistication.
- Albion House – Dramatic cliffside scenery for a fashion-forward coastal shoot.
- Marleybrook House (also recommended here) – Timeless architecture that elevates any editorial shoot.
A true editorial photographer will know how to use locations like these to get portraits of you with feeling.
7. They Shoot with Storytelling in Mind
Sometimes a wedding day unfolds like a fashion editorial spread, and a skilled photographer knows how to piece it together into a seamless visual story. Editorial photographers think in stages, meaning:
- They don’t just shoot the standard moments—they find unique angles and details.
- They anticipate movement, capturing cinematic shots in between traditional poses.
- They focus on emotions and aesthetics equally, ensuring a balance of beauty and authenticity.
The other thing is consistent, true to colour, polished editing. You don’t want over-saturated or even over-muted colours, you want authenticity with editorial photography.
Looking for an Editorial Wedding Photographer in Kent?
If you don’t know already, I specialise in blending documentary moments with editorial-style portraiture, ensuring every couple looks naturally stylish and effortlessly cool. With my experience in the fashion world, magazine publishing, and luxury weddings, I craft images that wouldn’t look out of place in a high-end bridal editorial. So guilty, you’ve spotted an editorial photographer here!
If you’re planning a wedding in Kent or beyond and want images that are truly magazine-worthy, let’s chat. I’d love to create something special for your day.
📩 Contact Me Here to discuss your wedding photography.
How to spot an editorial photographer – by knowing what to look for, you can find an editorial photographer who doesn’t just take pictures, but creates artistic, stylish wedding imagery that stands the test of time.
