Inclusivity is at the core of everything that I do and when it comes to the biggest day of your life, it is something that you definitely do not want to sacrifice. Inclusive wedding photography that is actually inclusive is so crucial.
As a wedding photographer myself, I have worked with a wide range of clients all across the board when it comes to gender, sexuality, race, and everything that makes you, you. While it can be easy to say that you are inclusive, actually being inclusive is a whole different story.
So, let’s take a look at what inclusive wedding photography actually looks like and what you can look for in a photographer as you are finding the perfect one for your wedding!
What Inclusive Wedding Photography Actually Entails
Using Client’s and Other’s Correct Pronouns
One of the more basic ways to be inclusive in wedding photography is by simply using the correct pronouns for everyone that you interact with. There are a few things that actually go into this.
First and foremost, it is important to actually ask for everyone’s pronouns. A great initial signal that someone is inclusive can actually be found right on their contact form. Making the small extra step to ask for someone’s pronouns in a contact form is 1) a very low lift thing to do (that everyone should be doing) but 2) a great way for a photographer to show their dedication to being inclusive in everything that they do.
**A bit of a side note, but it is also a green flag if your wedding photographer has their own pronouns on things like their website, social media, email signature, etc or introduces themselves by saying their pronouns.
Now, just asking for pronouns isn’t the end of it. Using them correctly is even more important. Respecting everyone’s pronouns creates a space that people feel more comfortable in and when it comes to your wedding photos (or really any photography in general) a key part of amazing photos is feeling comfortable with the person taking them.
Using Inclusive Language When Posing and Talking to People
Along with using the correct pronouns, it’s also important to use inclusive language when talking to people or posing people. It can sometimes feel easy for us to say things like “guys” when we are talking to a group of people.
At the end of the day, it is going to be impossible to know how everyone identifies and how they want to be addressed when you are doing things like group family photos, so using inclusive language makes it so that everyone feels included and seen.
A great way to do this is by switching out words like “guys”, “ladies”, and “gentlemen” with something as simple as “y’all.” This is a great gender-neutral word that clearly and effectively communicates who you are talking about without actually using a gendered term.
Understanding Different Skin Tones While Also Staying True to Color
Inclusivity also goes beyond just gender and sexuality. Being inclusive also means being inclusive of different skin tones. There are two factors when it comes to this.
First, you have the basic desire, understanding, and willingness to capture anyone’s wedding regardless of their race or ethnicity. This is probably the more basic of the two and is probably what initially comes to mind when thinking about being inclusive.
However, there is another level to this. When it comes to inclusive wedding photography, it is not just about taking the photos themselves. In reality, it is about giving the same, incredible experience and outcome to each and every couple.
Now, when it comes to different skin tones, this means having a photographer that understands how different skin tones photograph and can capture them in a way that stays true to color.
It is no secret that different skin tones look different in photos, so being inclusive also means taking the time to do research, practice, and learn how to capture and edit photos so that no matter the skin color, each and every photo is at the same level and quality.
Respecting All People No Matter Who They Choose to Love
Finally, inclusive wedding photography is about respecting all people no matter who they choose to love. Queer people face enough problems in everyday life that they shouldn’t have to worry about being discriminated against when it comes to their wedding photography/photos.
As a wedding photographer, all types of love should be celebrated and lifted up because at the end of the day, we all are human and we all deserve that. So, at its core, it is crucial to respect everyone and who they choose to love.
What to Look for When Searching for an Inclusive Wedding Photographer
If you are looking for a wedding photographer and want to find ones that are inclusive, here are some great green flags and things to search for when you are trying to find your dream person.
Non-Gendered Language on their Website and Social Media
A very simple one is non-gendered language on their website. Now, this obviously doesn’t apply to cases where they are talking about specific couples that they have photographed in the past (but you can check those to see if they do respect people’s pronouns), but they should have non-gendered language when talking about what they can offer you on your wedding day.
You can look for words like “partner”, “spouse”, “newlywed”, etc instead of words like “bride”, “groom”, “husband”, “wife.” This small switch can be a great indicator that they do respect everyone regardless of who they are and want you to feel as though you can see yourself in their work before you even meet.
A Diverse and Inclusive Portfolio of Clients
You also want to look for photographers who have a diverse and inclusive portfolio of clients. Now this can be found on their website, across their different social media platforms, basically anywhere they show off their work.
Just saying that you are inclusive doesn’t actually make you inclusive. For example, if a photographer’s entire website is white, straight couples, that doesn’t really make anyone who isn’t white and straight confident that they are going to be safe with you.
To some extent, it comes down to practicing what you preach and making sure that everyone can see themselves in the photos and picture what their wedding may look like and how their photos will turn out.
So, be sure to take a minute and look at who is highlighted on their site. Is there any effort to capture a diverse group of people (and actually show them off on the site) or does everyone look exactly alike?
Copy that Celebrates Love in All Forms
Finally, you can look for copy that celebrates love in all forms. Going back to gendered language, you want to read the actual works that they use to talk about themselves and their services and see if they are constantly using gendered language.
In a more general sense, you can look at their copy and see if they include everyone and leave space for different types of love, sexualities, and genders. Do they mention queer love, understanding what it means to not conform to the gender binary, and how every type of love is valid?
In general, it is important to actually read the words that a potential wedding photographer is putting out there, but when you are looking for inclusive wedding photography, actually reading website copy and seeing how they express themselves in this way is so important!
Final Thoughts on Inclusive Wedding Photos
Hopefully all of this helps as you are working to find a wedding photographer and get a better understanding of what inclusive wedding photography actually entails. While we all wish that we lived in a world where being inclusive wasn’t something you had to search for, this guide is a great place to start when you are looking for someone to capture you and your love exactly how you are.
And, if you are still searching for that person, I would love to chat with you. Inclusivity and diversity is at the core of everything that I do as a photographer and I would be honored to be a part of capturing your story.
If you want to learn more about my wedding photography services, you can head over here, or you can get in touch with me to chat about your own wedding here!
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