Inside the Dreamy Trend of Blurry Wedding Photos
A wedding starts slowly—every step down the aisle is deliberate, and the couple stands firm in their love at the altar. But after that first kiss as a married pair, it's all confetti and revelry from there. A wedding photographer's role is to capture love in motion. And blurry wedding photos that show the messy magic of the day—from the flurry of hugs between loved ones at cocktail hour to the newlyweds running hand and hand out of their reception and into married life—are a rising wedding photography trend this year for a reason. We spoke with Elle Wildhagen of Kindred to get a photographer's perspective on the nuances of the blurred-action style and why it's resonating with so many couples right now. "Love is imperfect and its celebrations are a rush of big, beautiful chaos," says Wildhagen. "Photography that preserves this messy, temporal movement rings true to how it feels to be in love." See the breakdown below so you'll know exactly what to ask for once you find your photographer on The Knot Vendor Marketplace.
Meet Our Expert: Photographer Elle Wildhagen runs Kindred alongside her husband, Zach Domes. Based in New England and predominantly shooting in NYC, Kindred aims to capture the imperfect and the intimate moments of your day, celebrating the poetry of modern romance artistically and honestly on digital and film.
In this article: What is it? | Why is it Trending? | Types | Ideas | Tips
What is the Blurry Wedding Photo Trend?
"Blurry" wedding photos is a colloquial way of referencing motion-blur images, which are trending in the wedding photography realm and capture their subjects as they move. Shots could be lightly blurred or heavily blurred, depending on the level of motion and desired effect. Wildhagen says that, in her over 200 weddings of experience, she finds this style lends itself well to any moment that isn't completely still: "This style feels most authentic in the rush after the ceremony, the parade of hugs at cocktail hour and the entire big party that follows," she says. Think of the blurry photo trend as a medium to find the magic in the transitions of your day.
Why Are Blurred Photos Trending?
In general, we've seen couples gravitate toward weddings that feel authentic, intimate and undone in all the right places—and the pull toward motion-blur wedding photos is no exception. These images embody the dynamism of love, how love is an action. "We fall in love, we're swept off our feet, love takes our breath away—each of these phrases are imbued with activity and movement," says Wildhagen.
The pro also mentions that this type of photograph feels much more experiential and true to the moment than the typical nose-to-nose pose or photoshoot-like portrait—and couples are after that sense of authenticity. "The wedding photographer cannot control weddings, they must be ready to respond to whatever arises," says Wildhagen. "And I think we can intuitively feel the freedom of the couple who has an unobtrusive photographer when we glimpse a blurry photograph—unforced and uncontrived. To me, the photographer doesn't feel as present in the image." One of her favorite photos came from one such spontaneous moment, following a couple who had their grand exit on a motorcycle earlier than expected, so there was no time to set up flashes and prep camera positions. And the feeling of being present when that moment unfolded—experiencing that surprise—is palpable in the image.
Modern couples don't just want their photos to be practical, they want them to be evocative. "A slightly fuzzy image feels like an impressionistic painting, while a messy, in-motion blur of colliding color and subjects feels abstract—these are the elements that have the power to infuse feeling into an image," says Wildhagen.
It's that deep sense of feeling that makes these images pop (and continue to pop up) all over our Instagram feeds lately. Sarah Hanlon, The Knot's Entertainment & Celebrity Editor and a social media maven, explains that this "love drunk" look is a step above a traditional candid shot, elevated, yet unfussy. "Blurry wedding photos have a sense of nostalgia about them, making it feel like your photographer has captured a truly authentic moment in time," says Hanlon. "We've even seen celebrity brides like Olivia Culpo and Sofia Richie experiment with blurry photos." The Knot's Social Media Coordinator, Kerre Jo Lattanzio, notes that the essence of blurry wedding photography makes it easy for social media scrollers to get a sense of the celebration, seeing what moments were filled with action and movement. "This trend is currently all the rage, with couples adding them into their photo dumps from their special day nationwide," she says. "Blurry images provide context to followers on social, and the blur helps lead to more insights from the celebration itself."
Types of Blurred Wedding Photos
While it's not something that can be overly planned, Wildhagen achieves this soft, blurred look in her photographs by keeping her aperture higher, ISO lower and her shutter speed anywhere between 1/60th (very blurry) and 1/200th (a little bit of blur) of a second. But she also notes that different settings can create nuanced styles under the intentional, blurry wedding photo umbrella. Here's an explainer:
Motion Blur
This is the style you think of when you think of blurry wedding photography; it's achieved with a slow shutter speed, fairly or completely still camera and a subject in motion. Depending on the scenario, you can achieve a low, standard or high level of blur. It might capture a couple running or the motion of newlyweds leaning in for a kiss, but depending on the environment and camera settings, you can have the subjects swirling into their background or just a hint of movement.
Long Exposure
Captured with similar settings to motion-blur images, long exposure photographs evoke a sense of time passing in one single image. Think: a long table that stands sharp and unmoving, with the figures surrounding it in a blur of conversation by candlelight.
Panning
This technique uses a slow shutter speed, with the camera moving at the same pace as the subject in motion. "This was traditionally used in sports photography to convey the experience of being an athlete, speeding by a landscape too fast to take in any details," says Wildhagen. "In the case of weddings, it can be a way to keep the couple sharp, but also still preserve the whirlwind feelings of the passing moment."
Still Subject, Camera in Motion
This style necessitates a slow shutter speed and adds a soft, fuzzy look to the images, though you can see the subject isn't in action.
Intentionally Blurry Wedding Photo Ideas
Wildhagen notes that blurry wedding photos are perfect for couples that "aren't seeking perfection, but feeling." Peruse this gallery to get an idea of what kinds of special, unexpected and intimate moments could be captured on camera during your nuptials.
Post "I Do" Stroll
This sweet image is a standard motion-blur photo that captures this NYC couple's post-"I do" energy as they skip away from their ceremony as newlyweds.
After-Party Action Shot
The swirl of lights around this bride depict the vibrant, lively energy of her after-party.
Ultra-Blurry Kiss Shot
The heavy level of motion blur in this photo helps the viewer feel totally swept off their feet (and tangled up in the bride's flowing veil as the couple leans in for a kiss).
Guest Perspective
The long-exposure technique helps zero in on the perspective of this little guest, who is in awe of the partygoers dancing and swirling around her as she stands still.
Quick Getaway
This truly unplanned shot of a couple's surprise wedding exit perfectly captures the rush of excitement they felt speeding away on a motorcycle.
Ceremony Exit Smiles
A light motion-blur helps us feel the movement in this image—the couple descending down the aisle, the guests tossing petals in celebration—but still feel drawn to the couple as the focal point.
Meandering Meal
Captured with a long exposure, this photo reflects the hours guests spent laughing and engaging in conversation as servers swirl around.
Party Vibes
This action shot is so playful—the blur helps us feel the motion of the groom scooping up the bride as she waves her bouquet in celebration.
Enthusiastic Hugs
This heartwarming shot has just a hint of motion blur, which reflects the rush and intensity of this heartfelt hug between the bride and a guest.
Ethereal Floating Veil
While the bride stands relatively in focus, the blur of her veil floating around her head and shoulders feels plucked from a dream.
Mountaintop Magic
This shot evokes that feeling of being a child spinning around with your arms outstretched before falling into the grass—we can feel the rush of the wind through the brush, touseling the bride's hair.
Take My Hand
The nostalgia is palpable in this classic motion-blur shot, which showcases the joyful moment of the bride leading her groom into the next chapter of their love.
Elopement Elegance
The only noticeably blurry element here is the bride's long train and the tails of her hair bow, which lends a look of movement and urgency to this elopement photo.
A Longing Look
The sweetness of the in-focus groom's expression is the perfect complement to the bashful bride, whose skirt seems to swish as she approaches her partner.
Lovers in a Landscape
The couple is in clear focus, while the environment whirls and undulates around them like a living painting—it seems to say: "Even in a bustling world, my eyes will always be on you."
Spin Me Around
The blurred look helps us easily feel the movement in this image as the bride is spun around by her groom.
Intentional Blurry Wedding Photo Tips
Getting the photos of your trendy Pinterest wedding dreams is easier than you think, since all you have to do is enjoy your wedding day and trust your photographer to capture the right moments. But if you're still looking for a helpful framework, follow these tips to incorporate the ethereal look into your slate of photos.
Balance Blurry Shots With Crisp Images
The appeal of blurry wedding photos is that these shots are unplanned and captured in the moment when it feels most authentic. So you shouldn't aim to have an entire wedding album full of the style. Your photographer can likely capture this vibey wedding photography style as well as some crisper memory shots. If you're looking on The Knot Vendor Marketplace, you can even filter the photographer results by style (as well as shoot type and photo/video options), so you can ensure the pro can capture both aesthetics.
Feel the Rhythm of the Moment
These photos turn out most magical when the couple is truly just going about their business, forgetting that the camera is there. Don't think about wedding photo poses or trying to look a certain way, just "keep a pulse on the rhythm of the moment," as Wildhagen says.
Embrace the Unexpected
You can't control every element of your wedding, so don't try to control your photos either. Wildhagen explains that sometimes blur appears in images you wouldn't expect, depending on the format and environmental factors, so enjoy the surprises you might find. "With the return to film (and their lower box speeds), we're seeing less capacity to freeze movement, unless it's bright daylight or there's a flash involved," she says. "So if it's overcast and gloomy or in a reception space after 7pm, lit only by candlelight, there's most likely going to be blur in the images, even if the couple isn't moving. The blur is evidence of the messy magic of film formats and their limitations—revealing how something artful can emerge in the midst of it."