When Landscape Wedding Photography Works Better in Portrait Format – Farmers Image Of The Week

This incredible Farmers Image Of The Week from David Conaty stopped me in my tracks, not just because of the location or the drama of the scene, but because of a decision that feels quietly confident and very intentional – choosing portrait orientation for a landscape wedding photograph.

We see so many wedding images made in epic locations shot wide and horizontal. It’s almost instinctive. Big view equals landscape format, right? But this image is a perfect example of when landscape wedding photography works better in portrait format.

By turning the camera vertically, David immediately changes the way we experience the scene. Instead of our eye drifting across the frame, it is pulled straight into the heart of the image. The couple are placed centrally and directly in front of the castle, which becomes less of a backdrop and more of a framing device. It anchors the composition and funnels attention exactly where it should be – on their connection.

The tighter crop does a lot of heavy lifting here. In a wider frame, the couple could easily get lost in the drama of the setting. Instead, portrait orientation compresses the environment, making every element feel deliberate. The rocks, the mist, the castle, the texture of the landscape – all of it supports the couple rather than competes with them.

One of my favourite details is how the bride’s dress flows down through the rocks. It reads almost like a river of fabric, guiding your eye from the couple down into the foreground. That movement is key. It visually merges the couple with the landscape so they don’t feel placed into it, but grown from it. That’s not accidental. That’s careful posing and awareness of how fabric, terrain and camera orientation work together.

Why This Image Works So Well

1. Using their bond as the strongest element

From a technical and compositional point of view, this is a strong example of using portrait format to create hierarchy. David has orchestrated the pose so the couple are bold enough to stand up against a busy, textured environment. Their closeness, the way they hold each other, and the subtle inward lean all reinforce that their bond is the strongest element in the frame.

2. Using Restraint

What I also love is the restraint. The scene itself is undeniably dramatic, but the moment between them is quiet. That contrast is powerful. The portrait orientation helps contain the emotion, keeping it intimate rather than overwhelming.

3. Storytelling

This image is a great reminder that format choice is not just a technical decision – it’s a storytelling one. When landscape wedding photography works better in portrait format, it’s often because the photographer is prioritising connection over scale, and narrative over spectacle.

4. Prioritising connection

David has done exactly that here. The landscape is extraordinary, but the relationship remains the focal point. And that, ultimately, is what makes this image sing.

If you want to experiment with this approach in your own work, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Place the couple centrally and let the environment frame them, rather than sitting behind them as a backdrop.
• Look for natural vertical lines (castles, cliffs, trees, walls, dresses!) to reinforce the portrait orientation
• Use movement in fabric or terrain to guide the eye through the frame, top to bottom
• Encourage closeness in the pose – inward lean, soft connection, subtle touch – so the relationship feels stronger than the setting
• Crop with intention. Less space can often say more

At the end of the day, choosing portrait over landscape isn’t about rules or trends. It’s about deciding what you want the viewer to feel first. When you prioritise connection over scale, and emotion over spectacle, portrait format can turn an epic location into something quietly powerful and deeply intimate. And honestly? Those are often the images that linger the longest.