An Exclusive Interview with Saskia Marloh on Wedding Photography Trends

How can you describe your photography style?

I create photographs that look like your day really felt.

My unique aesthetics and understated elegance are visible in each facet of my work. In my images, you see my deep love for each and everyone in front of my lens.

I draw on my years of international experience, and my background in fashion and visual arts to capture photographs that are evocative, playful, candid, and stunning.

Deeply honored to be recognized as the number one sought-after Abu Dhabi female photographer, I cover Emirati weddings, Indian weddings, and mixed weddings in the UAE, GCC, and Europe, creating timeless pieces of art with luxury handmade wedding books

Other studios do not offer this unique, European, and modern approach paired with my outstanding service for mixed cultures and international markets and clients, and consistently resulting in outstanding and timeless work for weddings across many different continents and clients.

Saskia Marloh Photography stands out from other studios and is synonymous with stunning images that immortalize your wedding day experience in a one-of-a-kind style.

Combining technical expertise, innovation, and international fine art, to create images, that stand out from standard wedding photography and surpass short-lived trends.

I am constantly evolving, my inventive style is a product of extensive experience in editorial fashion photography and the ability to capture the priceless, fleeting moments of a wedding day. My keen understanding of lighting and composition, along with a calculated, photojournalistic approach have set my images apart. I take a hands-on approach that exhibits expertise, leadership, and passion for my craft. 

When shooting a wedding, do you prefer to capture candid moments, or do you prefer posed shots? Why?

My individually tailored and luxury wedding collections are a mix of timeless, candid, natural photographs – that show how your day really felt – and editorial and sophisticated, posed images.

As a wedding photographer, I take great pride in having the honor and responsibility of capturing some of the most intimate and important moments of a couple’s new life together.

We practice a balance of discretion, guidance, and quick thinking to ensure a positive, memorable experience and stunning photos and videos a couple will cherish forever. 

My team and I are fully invested in every couple’s special day and take the time to build an excellent history with each client and their families.

Our broad skillset and dedication make this possible. Through the years, I have built long-lasting friendships that have extended well beyond the wedding day. 

My experience in working with high-end markets and clients across many different cultures and continents is the foundation for my outstanding skill to fulfill different creative directions.

Alongside me works a talented team of photographers and videographers, that support my creative vision.

What trends do you see fading away in 2023 but were big in the past few years?

Tiny (mini-) weddings and elopements that were big during the pandemic years are evolving and short-lived vintage color style presets will be outdated soon. Guests are filling venues, dance floors are returning, and brides and grooms are traveling, once again, to far-off locations to tie the knot. Think Lake Como, Bali or Los Cabos.

The Pantone color of the year will be front of mind for many brides. Bright colors are dominating. As life returns, so do colors and emotions: bold and authentic photos are being requested.

Couples in 2023 plan ceremonies that are immersive and unapologetically vivacious, many ceremonies will continue to be intimate, if not increasingly personal—that means smaller guest lists, curated menus, and locations that turn the wedding into a weekend getaway. Think Lake Como shores or Bali, just to name a few.

In 2023, I believe, that the overall mood will shift forward to a more joyous, relaxed yet elevated wedding, minimal yet more luxurious.

Brides will be downsizing their bouquets: petite understated bridal and bridesmaids’ bouquets will take center stage. Paired with grand arrangements for the locations: bigger is better. Grand ceremony florals are back and will peak in 2023. Weddings aren’t just a spectacle—they’re an experience.

We still see small guest lists. Downsized yet having more venue and destination, more luxury for a smaller number of guests. To make the wedding even more memorable. The couple likes to really spoil their favorite people.

Destination weddings: A relaxed yet unexpected location makes for a fun and memorable getaway for couples and their guests, often making it at least a long weekend celebration.

What are the top wedding photography trends we will be seeing in 2023?

As life returns, we will see more of joyous, colorful, evocative, playful, candid shots where all the fun at the wedding is captured!

As a "trend of the coming year" brides request Instagram-worthy, social media-friendly short yet amazing bridal photographic reels, highlight reels of wedding ceremonies, destination shoots, and larger-than-life photography. This has already changed the face of wedding photography and videography and continues to do so in 2023.

Short compiled high-light videos, that can be shared with family and friends.

In videography, the trend of the year is the creation of highlight reels of wedding rituals that are suitable for social media. These videos are also a unique method to connect with guests who couldn't attend your wedding and share memorable moments.

We are already seeing emerging more realistic video edits that are infused with real voices and sound from the actual wedding day along with the music. Such additions bring in the raw element of the celebration as well as emotions into your candid wedding film, which couples are loving more these days.

Editorial-style couple portraits that withstand the test of time.

Candid and authentic couple´s portraits capture the day and how it really felt and look natural and unstaged, yet sophisticated.

Dreamy veil shots will never go out of fashion and are still the romantic trend for the coming season. They not only look stunning but reflect grace and elegance which makes them a favorite amongst brides.

Black and White Photos that already became quite popular in 2022 will continue to do so in 2023.

Black-and-white photography´s strength lies not in what is stated but in what is omitted, unlike color photography which spells out everything in detail.

Pre and post-wedding shoots become fashionable. Sometime before or after the wedding festivities, the bridal couple gets some stunning pictures taken. These images give the couple more freedom to enjoy the day with their guests.

That "First Look or Reveal" shots, not surprisingly, this style has also made it to my list of 2023 wedding photography trends. 

The entrance of the bride is undoubtedly the most emotional moment at the wedding. It is the most vulnerable moment for the bride, the groom, and the father.

Drone wedding shots (when allowed). In the past, drones were only used to record videos. However, brides and grooms have given drones a new task: capturing beautiful wedding images. Wide angles are covered by drones from a greater height, enhancing the images' opulence and attractiveness. Drones also capture elaborate pre-wedding photos.

Wedding albums and wall art! Yes, even though I have always produced my gorgeous handmade wedding books. 

Now – after the pandemic years and in our fast-lived digital century – the desire for precious and priceless wedding albums, that will be passed on from generation to generation and that keep alive in our treasured moments, has grown immensely.

Wedding photography trends for 2023 are quite diversified and have something to offer everyone.

Weddings yet again are romanticized and joyous. 2023 wedding photography is mostly concerned with capturing timeless, stunning, authentic, and emotional moments.

How do you incorporate these trends in your weddings while adding your own photography style?

In that respect, I have probably set trends for years, as this has been the main part of my skill set and photographic style. As a film student I was already drawn to editorial and stunning, yet playful fashion photography, as well as artful black and white photography.

My videography style is more of a cinematic experience with an original soundtrack mixed with favorite music tracks and snippets of people´s statements in conjunction with the spur-of-the-moment personal Instagram story and reel.

I have been booked by agencies, clients, and Emirati brides alike for my evocative, playful, sophisticated, and timeless style that withstands short-lived trends and presets. My clients find my work Vogue and Fashion Magazine worthy.

These beautiful trends in wedding photography will make you want to remarry your partner if you are already married.

And if you aren´t and are looking for the best and most trusted team in Abu Dhabi to capture your wedding, you should definitely request a consultation with Saskia Marloh Photography.

What advice can you give a couple looking for the perfect wedding photographer?

For all bridal couples that are in the demanding process of planning their wedding, I would like to encourage you with 3 thoughts of advice, when looking for their perfect wedding photographer.

• Request a personal or Zoom consultation to get to know her. Beyond artistic vision and technical mastery, I believe that the relationship between clients and their chosen photographers is essential.

A couple´s wedding is one of the most important, yet intimate days in their life. The photographer will be part of some of your most private moments, such as getting ready, family reunions, and happy and emotional moments. It is encouraged. That you feel comfortable and at ease around her since she will be sharing with you the whole wedding day(s).

I would like to encourage you to listen to yourself: what you the bridal couple should feel is trust. When you feel that you can trust this photographer without hesitation, that she will honor your confidentiality requirements, that she genuinely loves you and both of your families, and that she shares the same values, respect, and sense of humor. Trusting her will make you feel relaxed and comfortable, allowing you to focus on fully enjoying your wedding. That is essential for incredible and playful photographs and for creating stunning memories.

• Ask her to speak about the equipment they use. Should this be outdated and not to the highest standard, the risk of card failure or else is higher. Imagine the drama of losing images of your most important life event.

I myself always work with the latest 2 or 3 highly professional NIKON cameras that have 2 card slots each. If one should fall or fail, I always have a backup. All other equipments such as lights and lenses have an extensive backup too.

• Once you have found a photographer that resonates with your style, ask to see one or two full weddings from beginning to end. Many no-name or amateur photographers, that advertise on social media, over-use heavy-handed editing and photo presets and filters for just one shot, you would never know if he missed others or if his camera failed on the more important shots of the entrance or other parts of the ceremony.

Looking at a full gallery gives you an insight into the photographer´s consistency in style and quality. If high standards and skill are visible in your desired style throughout the wedding, then you know the photographer will deliver what you want.

Ultimately after speaking with your chosen photographer you should feel elevated, chemistry, and trust. These ingredients make sure you will receive the best images and fully enjoy your day.

See what my clients say about working with me.