When you start looking for a wedding photographer, one of the first things you’ll notice is that not all photography styles are the same. A lot of phrases are banded around that you may have come across but be unfamiliar with – editorial, fine art, cinematic, documentary, and so on. I would love to break down my own documentary approach for you, to help you understand if it’s the right fit for you.
It helps to first understand what documentary photography actually is in the landscape of weddings. At its core, documentary wedding photography is about capturing your day as it really happenened, conveying more than the way it looked, but the way it felt, too. This is achieved by observing and documenting the genuine interactions, emotions, and atmosphere of your wedding. If a docu-wedding photographer is doing their job correctly, then you’ll be given the freedom to enjoy your day authentically, without expectation of performance, and with little to no interruption. The end result is then a reflection of what truly happened, and who you and your guests really are. So, if you’ve had a wild wedding with a big party atmosphere, your album should be full of fun, party photos. Equally, if you’ve had an intimate day, your photos should then be intimate, too.
We’re ultimately people-people, and one of the most important qualities for a documentary wedding photographer is the ability to read a room, and anticipate when a moment is about to happen. To contrast this against a fine art or editorial wedding photographer, their style will rely heavily on their own creative assertion, and the ability to convey what they’re trying to create in their mind, and bring it to life. We anticipate moments, and they create them. There’s no greater style, this or that, just different and equally necessary.
An ideal couple-to-photographer relationship when it comes to a documentary approach, has to be centred in trust. You can’t control all the elements of a wedding day, we know that, but you certainly shouldn’t be attempting to control the end results of a documentary wedding photographer’s work. When you try to control it, you compromise its authenticity, and our style is nothing without authenticity. And don’t worry, most of us will still get all the box-tickers of any wedding day. Your decorations will be captured and are just as meaningful as the people.
Of course, there always comes the point in the day where I have to gather guests for group photos, but that tends to be the only break in my approach. Even couples portraits are kept lowkey, offering prompts and guidance, rather than posing and direction. Some documentary photographers will go really hard on this style, and protect their choice not to offer group photos or couples portraits. The single greatest way to understand a photographer’s approach is to simply ask them about it. Go beyond the portfolio and engage with them, ask the questions you want the answers to, and never be shy of asking for access to full example gallery, either.
Documentary wedding photography isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it’s important to be honest about that. If you love the idea of styled, editorial portraits, with heavy direction, you might be freaked out by the spontaneous nature of this style. Whatever you choose, whether documentary wedding photography is for you or not, you should be having fun in the process. Make sure you’re booking someone with a porfolio you really love, and someone that is completely clear and upfront about their approach and style. And if you’re unsure on what you want, ask yourselves this: do you want to spend your wedding day experiencing it, or being hand-held / directed through it? There’s no right or wrong answer – but your response will usually point you in the right direction. Trust your gut, and happy wedding planning!
Interested in getting to know me further, or asking me to shoot your own special day? You can get in touch at any time right here, and I hope to hear from you soon. G x
