One of the terms couples often come across when researching photographers is documentary wedding photography. It sounds wonderful, but many photographers define it in different ways.
For me, documentary wedding photography isn’t a technique that I consciously switch on and off. It’s simply the natural result of how I work throughout a wedding day depending on the approach my wedding couples request.
My goal isn’t to constantly direct, pose or interrupt moments. Instead, I become part of the wedding day itself, allowing genuine moments to unfold naturally while I quietly capture them as they happen.
You’ll also no doubt hear and read about ‘candid wedding photography’, which really only means capturing genuine, unscripted moments as they happen. Instead of posing, you and your guests are free to laugh, cry, and celebrate naturally while the photographer acts as a “fly on the wall” to document the real, light-hearted emotion of your day.
Becoming Part Of The Wedding Day
One of the reasons couples often tell me they quickly forget they are being photographed is because I don’t spend the entire day standing in front of them with a camera and we build up a very relaxed relationship with me coming and going.
One minute I’m talking to you or bouncing around near you, and the next I’m chatting with guests, or helping nervous couples and family settle their nerves, laughing, joking and moving naturally throughout your guests and the venue. Over time people stop seeing me as “the photographer” and simply see me as part of the wedding, in fact so much so guest literally treat me as family.
That is often when the most genuine photographs happen.
The Best Moments Are Never Planned
The photographs that couples treasure most are rarely the ones that were carefully organised in advance.
It’s often the unexpected smile between grandparents, a proud parent watching from across the room, children playing together, guests laughing during speeches or a quiet moment between the couple when they think nobody is watching. I’ve even caught wedding cakes mid topple whilst cutting the cake with open mouthed expressions, slips and falls, or confetti cannons that misfire, to shock at dirty jokes or funny speaches, to elderly family entertaining children with magic tricks, all producing photographs my couples adore. I’ve even had brides doing cartwheels and hopscotch, and grooms launched into air or lofted high. These are priceless memories, unscripted and full of character.
These moments cannot be staged. They happen naturally and disappear in seconds, which is why observation is such an important part of my photography style.
Moving Quietly And Unobtrusively
Wedding photography often involves anticipating moments before they happen. Over the years I’ve developed a habit of constantly observing what is happening around me and positioning myself where I think moments may unfold.
Sometimes that means quietly moving across a room without drawing attention to myself. Other times it means waiting patiently for a moment that may only last a fraction of a second.
My job is to be present without becoming the centre of attention.
Why I Don’t Like Endless Posing
There is absolutely a time and place for beautiful couple portraits and family photographs, we always try to incorporate a degree of formal poses as couple do treasure these, as a hybrid approach.
However, I don’t believe couples should spend hours away from their wedding guests being photographed. I do get asked for longer stints with lots of photographs of family, friends and guests, which if desired is fine by me, but it can pull couples away from the fun and real memories.
Your wedding day passes incredibly quickly. The more time you spend enjoying the day with the people you love, the more authentic opportunities there are for natural photographs that genuinely reflect your wedding. This is the power of my documentary or storytelling wedding photography, with my hybrid mix of posed shoot as well.
Capturing The Story Of Your Day
When couples receive their wedding gallery, I want them to relive the entire story of their day.
Not just the ceremony.
Not just the portraits.
Not just the first dance.
I want them to remember the excitement of the morning preparations, the emotions during the ceremony, the laughter during the speeches, the hugs, the tears, the celebrations and all of the small moments that happened in between.
Those moments are often the chapters that complete the story.
Also and this one most couples don’t consider and get a wonderful shock when looking through my wedding photography, they aren’t the only ones having an amazing time and making memories, in the other room, children are skidding on their knees, guest are howling with stories and family members are embracing and catching up.
Natural Wedding Photography That Feels Real
I would say that I photograph weddings as they naturally happen, with out forcing scenes (unless I see a wow moment) and without the need for excessive posing. Natural, Elegant and Timeless Wedding Photography is my brand focus.
I don’t force moments. I don’t manufacture emotions. I don’t spend the day constantly directing people beyond what we have discussed and planned together.
Instead, I observe, anticipate and capture genuine moments as they unfold.
That natural approach is what creates my relaxed, timeless and authentic wedding photography that my couples love.