Lighting, composition and the moment of action are the key elements of any wedding photograph with or without effects.

If you have those three things then you can do whatever filter you want. Once in a while, a mediocre image can be pushed into greatness with a little bit of editing help, but it’s a fine line.

Stunning effects and filters, however, are not limited to pics snapped via a smartphone and posted to Instagram. Here, some of the most stylish photography trends that photographers can employ to their photos captured via their trusty dSLR camera.

Textured Photos

Textured photography has a design overlay that gives a perceived surface quality to the image. For example, a layer could add a brushstroke effect to different areas in the picture giving the overall image the feel of a painting. If the texture overlay is laid on too thick, it can lend itself as a distraction to the actual image. Though if done correctly, it can be a very pleasing effect. Textures were very popular in the ’90s but are now used less often.

Selective Desaturation

A photo with selective desaturation leaves on part of an image in color while the rest is pared down to black and white. This is one of those trends that have stood the test of time. It first appeared in the ’80s but seems to have timeless character.

High Dynamic Range

HDR has been around for more than a century. “It was originally designed to bring value in lights and darks to create a balanced image in terms of exposure, but if you overdo it, it looks like a painting or a cartoon,” Goodwin says. Picture a comic book to get a sense of what the extremes of this effect can do. Yet, even toned-down usage creates awesome definition and heightens the intensity and mood of an image.

Long-Exposure Photo

This technique requires a night or dark setting and moving light. Stationary elements are sharply captured while moving light blurs during the long exposure time. It has been popularly used to shoot traffic at night, making city landscapes look like a carnival has come to town.

Light Leak and Lens Flare

When film or a camera sensor is exposed to extra light, red or yellow glares can fill the image. Back in the day it was considered poor photography skills. Likewise, lens flare from unplanned reflections or impurities in the lens was considered an amateur mistake. Today photographers are clamoring to get these washed out, hazy effects in their photos. Both can make images look more vibrant, retro or just plain creative.

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