Sometimes we have to step in FRONT of the camera.

I recently had the exciting opportunity to participate in my first styled shoot for a fake wedding, surrounded by over thirty of my fellow Puerto Rico wedding photographers. The event was a unique and collaborative experience where we were able to showcase our skills and creativity in a simulated wedding setting. Working alongside other professionals in the industry was not only inspiring but also a great learning opportunity. It was fascinating to witness the different perspectives and styles each photographer brought to the shoot, making it a truly enriching experience. Overall, being part of this styled shoot has further fueled my passion for wedding photography and has left me looking forward to more collaborative projects in the future.

Participating in such a magical scenario has offered me a fresh vantage point, akin to the perspective my clients encounter when they entrust me with capturing their special moments as their chosen wedding photographer in Puerto Rico. The meticulous attention to detail, the intertwining of diverse elements to create a harmonious narrative, and the seamless orchestration of the shoot mirror the dedication and artistry I bring to each client's event. Witnessing the shoot come to life has not only refined my skills but also deepened my appreciation for the transformative power of capturing love and emotions through the lens. It's a reminder of the privilege and responsibility that comes with being a wedding photographer, solidifying my commitment to providing clients with timeless memories to cherish for a lifetime. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, you might be asking yourself…

What exactly is a ‘styled shoot’?

In summary, a styled shoot is a collaborative effort by wedding vendors to showcase their creative skills. It’s a wedding setting where vendors provide their services and expertise in exchange for images of their work. It’s a great way for vendors to demonstrate their talents and for couples to see what different vendors can do. Styled shoots are a collaborative effort that showcases the talents of various wedding vendors, each playing a crucial role in bringing the vision to life. From photographers capturing every detail with artistic flair to florists adorning the scene with exquisite blooms, and from talented bakers crafting delectable confections to stationery designers adding a touch of elegance with bespoke invitations, the array of vendors is diverse and essential. Makeup artists and hair stylists work their magic to enhance the beauty of the models, while wedding planners orchestrate the entire shoot behind the scenes, ensuring that every element harmonizes seamlessly. Together, these vendors fuse their skills and creativity to create a stunning visual narrative that inspires and delights.

Styled shoots have become a popular trend in the world of events and photography due to their ability to showcase creativity, innovation, and attention to detail. These meticulously planned photo sessions bring together a team of talented professionals, including photographers, stylists, florists, and decorators, to create stunning visual scenes that can inspire and captivate audiences. With social media platforms providing a vast space for sharing and discovering content, styled shoots have gained momentum in recent years by offering a curated and aesthetically pleasing look that resonates with a broad audience. The rise in popularity can also be attributed to the desire for unique and personalized content in a time when individuality and creativity are highly valued. Hence, styled shoots have emerged as a means to express artistic visions, set new trends, and establish a distinct identity in a visually driven digital landscape. That begs the question…

How does a styled shoot differ from an actual wedding?

As a destination wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, I can assure you the differences between a styled shoot and an actual destination wedding are distinct. A styled shoot is meticulously planned and executed to showcase the artistic vision of vendors, often exaggerated for editorial or promotional purposes. It allows for creativity without the constraints of a real event. On the other hand, an actual destination wedding involves real couples, emotions, and the unpredictable elements of a live celebration. The backdrop of Puerto Rico's natural beauty and cultural richness enhances the authenticity of a destination wedding, providing a unique and unforgettable experience for the couple and their guests. While a styled shoot captures the essence of creativity and design, a destination wedding in Puerto Rico encapsulates the real joy and magic of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

When considering the vast differences between an actual wedding in Puerto Rico and a styled shoot, it is crucial to understand that the primary distinction lies in their purpose and execution. An actual wedding is a real-life event that involves genuine emotions, dynamic interactions, and unforeseen moments that create a unique and authentic experience for the couple and their guests. On the other hand, a styled shoot is a carefully curated photoshoot designed to showcase specific themes, styles, or vendors in a controlled environment. Confusing these two concepts can be detrimental to potential clients as they may have unrealistic expectations regarding what can be achieved on their wedding day. Understanding this disparity can help clients make informed decisions and ensure that they receive a wedding that truly reflects their vision and personality. This is paramount to you, as a client, in the search for a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico.

How can you spot the differences between the two?

When observing a photoshoot that is entirely styled rather than capturing a real wedding, several distinct signs become apparent to the keen eye. One common indicator is the meticulous and deliberate positioning of items such as table settings, flowers, and decorations, which often appear perfect in a way that is rarely achieved in real-life events. Additionally, the presence of an unusually large team of stylists, assistants, and photographers hovering around the couple can hint at a staged production rather than a genuine celebration. The lack of genuine emotions and interactions between the couple and guests may also serve as a giveaway, as posed smiles and staged poses can be spotted easily. Lastly, continuous pauses and adjustments made by the photographers to achieve the ideal shot further emphasize the artificial nature of a styled photoshoot in contrast to the natural flow of a real wedding day.

When discerning between a real, live wedding being captured and a staged, styled photoshoot orchestrated by wedding vendors, prospective clients can identify several giveaways. The genuine emotions and interactions among the couple and guests are key markers of an authentic wedding, reflecting the joy, love, and spontaneity of the moment. In contrast, staged photoshoots may appear more polished and orchestrated, with carefully curated details and poses that can sometimes lack the natural flow and organic connections seen in real weddings. Additionally, the dynamic energy and unpredictability present in a live event are distinct from the controlled environment of a styled shoot, where every element is meticulously planned and executed for aesthetic purposes. Ultimately, the authenticity and raw emotions captured in real wedding photographs resonate deeply with couples seeking to capture the essence of their special day in a genuine and heartfelt manner.

The importance of telling them apart.

As a prospective client looking for a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, it’s of the utmost importance for you to have the ability to distinguish between what’s real and what is not. This is due to the fact that not doing so will leave you to be susceptible to being mislead and/or disappointed. How, you ask? Well, it’s extremely easy to scroll through social media, specially Instagram, and let your eyes deceive you while thinking that what you’re consuming is and/or was a real life wedding between two people who truly care for each other versus paid actors. As a content creator myself I know that, in reality, when something stands out and goes ‘viral’, the chances and likelihood of that being staged are extremely high. I may be biased because I’m a wedding photographer myself but, more often than not, I can tell when pictures are ‘too good to be true’, so to speak and lack that authenticity that you see in most nuptials photography in Puerto Rico.

I’ve shot weddings in countless venues and, even with my experience, I know that in order to attain some of the results that I see other photographers achieve, there’s no other explanation than to come to the conclusion that much of the imagery posted online is the product of meticulous creativity planned sometimes a month in advance. Why is it a big deal to spill the beans about this? That’s because the last thing that I want you, a potential client, to feel is disillusion whenever you get your wedding pictures delivered. For example, let’s say that you fell head over heels for a picture with a perfectly crafted sky, flashes placed carefully around the couple posing, the editing itself is nearly flawless, the flowers and overall decoration look straight out of a fairytale and your jaw is an inch from the floor. Do you actually think this happens during the fifteen to twenty minutes wedding planners usually give us, the Puerto Rico wedding photographer, for a bride and groom session? Doubt it. Personally, I’ve had that alone time last even less with some couples, five minutes of which were invested opening up a light diffuser and setting up sturdy stand.

Don’t get me wrong: this isn’t to say that I’m not surrounded by an amazing core of photographers in my neck of the woods. Moreover, if you stumble across a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico who has shot countless weddings at the same venue, they probably know every nook and cranny in that space and can easily set up a seemingly perfect environment ahead of time; it’s worth noting that even I can play devil’s advocate here. Having said that, the odds of receiving a more realistic looking set of images has far greater odds of being achieved than to cross your fingers expecting the same results that blew your mind on social media when you first glanced at that photographer’s account. I’m willing to bet anything in the world that the photographer in whom you’re interested is extremely familiar with the place, arrived incredibly early to set up and/or has an amazingly creative staff helping them craft a borderline unbelievable scenario for their clients. I’m not saying it’s not possible: all I’m saying is that it’s highly unlikely. That brings me to my next point…

It’s all about being honest with them…and yourself.

I know all about the exorbitant amount of pressure of being a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico. You’ll do just about anything to stand out amongst a saturated market vying to capture the nuptials of the most lavish and extravagant backdrops in the entire world. What I don’t recommend, however, is deceiving to try and stand out among the competition. What do I mean by that?

A disclaimer should be made when participating in a styled shoot.

Not doing so can have dire repercussions, not just for the audience that already follows your work, but also for the target market (i.e. prospective clients) that will eventually see the results of a fake photoshoot pawned off as a paid wedding. Trust me when I say this: you don’t want to be the photographer that starts off a relationship making the client who contacted you believe the images you’re posting are, not just easily attainable, but also represent your everyday norm. This is the perfect shortcut to overpromising and underdelivering; it’s the gateway to false expectations.

By not providing your followers this preface of what they’re about to see, you’re setting yourself up for massive failure. Think of it this way: if you ultimately make them a wedding album that looks nothing quite like the imagery that caught their attention, you’re inevitably going to end up with a huge problem on your hands: an unsatisfied client will wreak havoc on your reputation and business in general. The last thing you want on a Wedding Wire review is a disgruntled couple who was promised the same quality that drew them to you in the first place. Being a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico (in and of itself) is not an easy task, but by no means should you resort to masquerading reality with fantasy in a world where most of what you see is not feasible. There are two sides to that coin and taking the silent approach isn’t favorable for you in the community either.

Lying will make you stand out…in a negative way.

I recently stumbled across a Youtube video of an Italian wedding photography couple showing behind-the-scenes footage of how they staged their most recent styled shoot. The couple hired to portray the bride and groom were professional models nothing short of demigods. The venue was an 18th century castle with architectural inspiration derived from medieval times. The set and flower decor was prepared in a way you can only find in the most cinematic of scenarios and the lighting with which the photographers posed the couple was pure divinity. In short: a stage you’re only accustomed to seeing in your wildest dreams. As I enjoyed the footage, I can only think to myself: “Wow, if I only had this much time to setup, I’d probably come close to this each and every time I booked a wedding.” Boy, was I in for a huge reality check.

Since I also follow the photographers on a wide array of social media platforms, I couldn’t help but notice they shared the end result of the video I had previously witnessed. I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes: they had failed to disclose that the photoshoot I saw on YouTube was, in fact, styled to the nines. To make matters worse, they captioned their photo carousel with every wedding hashtag imaginable. In other words, not only were they dishonest about their journey but they decided to build on top of their dishonesty and landed on a destination whose foundation was an absolute lie.

I felt like someone spit on my face.

I don’t know why but the overwhelming feeling that came over me was one of betrayal. Not only did I look to these colleagues of mine for inspiration but learning of their deceit made me feel so disrespected. Moreover, it raised all levels of suspicion for me because it got me wondering if the sole reason as to why I derived motivation from their work was based on a premise that wasn’t true to life. Now I’m not necessarily saying they fell off the proverbial pedestal for me because I wholeheartedly believe our levels of photography are on par with each other; I just enjoy consuming another person’s art who sees the same things as I do but with an entirely different vantage point. That disappeared for me, it vanished. I can no longer see their work with the same eyes because of what their actions represent: a façade of untruths. At one point of time the level of disgust was so vast within me that I had to step away from the computer and soak in everything that was happening.

When I finally calmed down, I sat on the edge of my bed and tried not to succumb to my emotions. As I became level-headed again, I tried to wrap myself around what I had just seen and began to dissect what was really going on. On one hand, I felt like I (along with many others realizing what was happening) was being stepped on in order to reach another level. This, in business, is generally frowned upon: leaping someone so that the person can reach new heights. I must say it angered me quite a bit but then my reasoning took an entirely different turn. The thought came into my head that what was really going on was that this photographer was etching in stone the standards by which they would eventually be obligated to adhere. You see, when you establish a precedent, anything that happens moving forward would need to exceed and/or, at the very least, be consistently similar throughout their entire career. As they say: “if you make the bed, you then have to sleep in it.”

I can’t even begin to fathom the amount of added stress that photographer will have to endure day in and day out moving forward. This charade of posing and prompting instead of shooting authentic and genuine weddings will eventually catch up and they’ll inevitably be forced to come clean. In now way, shape or form do I wish that upon myself, much less my fellow colleagues in the industry.

What can be done by you, the client?

If you’re a future bride and groom looking for a wedding photographer in Puerto Rico, there are specifically two things that you can do as prospective client to prevent falling victim to this debacle. First, ask questions. If your interest is piqued by what you see on a photographer’s social media and/or their website then by all means take that newly-found attention and contact them directly. Ask them if a specific image and/or video was the result of an actual wedding or a styled shoot instead. Put yourself in a position to attain clarity. If one thing seems too far-fetched in comparison to the rest of their galleries then it should represent a red flag. Now I’m not necessarily saying that the same results cannot be achieved if you were to hire someone like them or myself but rest assured the level of planning and logistics would have to increase dramatically in order to attain the same outcome.

The second thing I highly incentivize you doing is to formally request what’s called a ‘love story’ session. This is essentially a private, lengthy and well thought out photography session with your future wedding photographer. The similarities you’ll find between this engagement session and a styled shoot make them almost an identical venture together. It has many of the same benefits including: creating chemistry with one another both personally and professionally, it’s a great opportunity for clients to get comfortable in front of a camera before their big day, it serves as an excellent platform to get creative with shots you wouldn’t otherwise be able to attain and it lasts way longer than the scheduled bride and groom session you’d normally have during your wedding in Puerto Rico.

In conclusion, I don’t want anyone thinking that I’m against a well-prepared styled shoot. To be honest, I had an amazing time being in front of the camera and experiencing the guidance from my fellow photographers, something that my own clients have to do whenever I’m behind the camera. I dipped my feet in the photography pool from the other side and I got a taste of what it’s like to be on the opposing side of the lens. Knowing what I know now, I’d be more than happy to be part and even organize a styled shoot in the future but I’d definitely go about it the right way: being honest, transparent and clear about my intentions not just with my future clients…but with myself.

Special shoutout to Maydeline Inés for providing the photography.

Education & Stories

Styled Shoot or Wedding? If You Can’t Tell: It’s A Problem…FOR EVERYONE.