A while back, I had lunch with a husband and wife photography team. Afterwards, and based on a brief discussion we had about Pinterest®, I was inspired to write this blog post detailing the dangers of using Pinterest to plan your wedding.

The honest truth is that while Pinterest is a great resource for getting ideas and inspiration to plan and style your wedding, it can quickly become a major distraction. Going even further, it’s a bit of a lie! It’s not always realistic to expect your wedding gallery to look like your inspiration board. It really sets you up for unrealistic expectations.

There is also such a thing as inspiration overload. And if you’re constantly looking at images of other people’s weddings, you will start to judge. Then there’s a chance that the ugly little monster, named Jealousy, might sneak in.

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One of the reasons is because so many of the images on Pinterest were created from styled shoots. What’s the difference between images from a real wedding and those from a styled shoot? Let me explain.

Beware of Pinterest

A styled shoot is different from a real wedding in a lot of ways.

  • First off, and most important, a styled shoot is based on someone’s imaginary relationship between two people; the love story is factitious
    • There is no love story to attest to
  • Although there is a timeline to work with, no one is going to be the cause of the ceremony starting late if things get off track
  • The photographer can carefully select the perfect light sources, dictate what gets shot where, move light stands, use reflectors, photograph one single detail in 27 different compositions; they’re not running and gunning so to speak
  • People and details can be moved around, positioned, and posed more freely and creatively
  • Some of the people in the photos are professional models
  • Many of the details in the styled shoot were sole creations or only had to be replicated a handful of times
    • For instance, it may not be feasible, affordable, or even possible to recreate the exact handcrafted invitation you saw in the images
  • Not everything you see depicted is possible
    • The glitter lining the rim of that cocktail creation may not even be safe to consume
    • Very few wedding venues are going to let you bring a giraffe to your wedding
  • If some aspect of the styled shoot isn’t working, there is plenty of time to regroup and try something else
  • A story can be carefully crafted in a styled shoot; your wedding day is completely organic—whatever happens is what’s going to get photographed
  • In a lot of ways, Pinterest shows you a version reality that can’t be replicated
  • Pinterest skews couples’ budget expectations
  • Captions on images, such as “wedding inspo” or “hill country wedding” may not be telling all you need to know
    • For example, the item in question could be sourced from a European craftsman and cost $20k to reproduce, or the image could have been taken in the hills of Italy and not even possible to recreate in Texas, or the U. S. for that matter
  • In most cases, when you ask your photographer to take the exact image you saw on Pinterest, you automatically deplete their creativity
    • Photographers are artists; we need to see your wedding day through our eyes in order to give you unique images that truly tell your story

If everyone, and I mean everyone, is styling their weddings on Pinterest, originality ceases to exist. Every couple is basically having the same exact wedding over and over. You are actually recreating items that were meaningful to someone else. And if you don’t believe me, poll your own planner, photographer, or florist. Ask them how many of the weddings they work at look like the same wedding. The names, characters, and locations have changed, but the wedding is just about exact to the one they worked the week prior. Pinterest should be used for inspiration, not duplication.

My best advice is to use Pinterest as a tool for gathering ideas and inspiration. Insert and inject your own personality, your own style, and your own personal brand into each and every aspect of your day. Make your wedding day become an actual glimpse into you and your partner’s love and lives. Successfully pulling this off means that your wedding day will stand out as an incredibly memorable one… not only to the loved ones you’ve invited as guests, but also to all the wedding professionals who do this week in and week out. Successfully pulling this off means others who lack originality, creativity, or imagination will be using your images to plan their wedding.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!


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san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010

I am San Antonio’s most unique wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

I am a full-time, internationally-awarded and WPPI-C certified professional wedding and senior photographer based in South Texas near San Antonio. I offer a premier and personal service coupled with an unforgettable photography experience. I cater to clients who appreciate quality photography and help them to create family heirlooms that will last for generations.

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journeys and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I love to spend my spare time hiking, camping, cycling, reading, listening to Elvis and Prince. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of!

The post, Beware of Pinterest, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.