Documentary Wedding Photography: A Guide For Couples
August 4, 2024
Introduction
Are you planning your wedding and wondering what style of photography will best capture the emotion and joy of your day? As a midwest documentary photographer specializing in intimate weddings and elopements, I’ve noticed more and more couples are gravitating towards this authentic, storytelling approach. In this blog, I’ll answer your questions about documentary wedding photography and explain why it might be the perfect fit for you and your vibe. Let’s get into it!
What is Documentary-Style Wedding Photography?
Many couples these days are looking for candid wedding photos. Documentary wedding photography, sometimes also called photojournalistic wedding photography, focuses on capturing real, unscripted moments and raw emotions. Unlike traditional wedding photography, which often involves highly posed and planned shots, documentary photography aims to tell a genuine story of your wedding day. From joyful tears to spontaneous laughter, every moment is documented as it unfolds.
The Goal of Documentary Wedding Photography
The primary goal of documentary wedding photography is to tell a genuine story of your wedding day. It’s about capturing the emotions and interactions between you, your spouse, and your guests on your special day. These photos are more than just images; they’re memories that evoke the true feelings and experiences of a wedding.
How Documentary-Style Differs from Traditional Wedding Photography
Traditional wedding photography focuses on posed, planned shots, whereas documentary-style photography emphasizes spontaneity and fluidity. As a documentary photographer, I aim to be a fly on the wall, capturing moments as they happen without intrusion. This approach results in a collection of photos that are candid, emotional, and truly representative of your wedding day.
Why More Couples Are Choosing Documentary Photography for Their Wedding
In recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift towards authentic wedding photography and natural moments. Couples want their photos to reflect their true personalities and experiences. Documentary-style photography offers a unique and personal approach that showcases the real moments, making it a popular choice among modern couples. Plus, it allows couples to relax and enjoy their wedding day, without feeling stressed about timelines or spending hours getting posed bridal portraits with every member of their family. Posed portraits can still be included, but generally less time is spent photographing this aspect of the wedding day. Finally, documentary photography can let you express your personality. Feel free to be goofy, emotional, sassy, and include fun personal elements! It’s your day, and documentary photography will capture you at your realest.
What to Expect from a Documentary-Style Photographer
Preparation
Not every photographer does this, but I like to create Pinterest inspiration boards and have a creative call with all of my couples. This way, we can brainstorm together the vibe you’re envisioning, and you’ll feel confident knowing that we’re on the same page for the kinds of photos you like and the kinds you don’t. Because of its spontaneous nature, documentary-style photography involves a lot of artistic trust in your photographer, a responsibility that I do not take lightly!
Approach
Second, A documentary photographer may spend less time gathering guests for big group photos than a traditional wedding photographer would. They may try and blend into the scene a bit more, to really capture how it felt to be there and the joy everyone experienced as they celebrated you. I aim to capture this unscripted joy when I’m shooting a wedding by observing and documenting in a fly-on-the-wall approach.
Style
Third, photos may be more artfully composed to make you feel like you are in the room. People may not be looking at the camera, because their real emotions and interactions are being captured. I like to use motion blur, interesting angles, and unique close-ups to create a vibrant narrative of what the day felt like. I also often shoot on 35mm film for that real, raw, and authentic look.
Types of Shots
Finally, depending on the photographer, you may get a lot more shots in your gallery of the environment, as well. I want to capture the holistic experience. Where was the wedding held? What was the weather like? What was the food and drink situation? Who were the guests? What was the ambiance in the room? What was the vibe and decor? Think of it like this: you’re spending a ton of money creating an epic wedding experience for your guests. It will be even more amazing to relive that whole experience when you look back at your photos, and are transported back to that magical night! That’s what a documentary photographer will help you do. Instead of a gallery full of front-facing poses, you’ll have a more holistic picture that tells the story of your wedding from start to finish.
See below some samples from a documentary-style intimate wedding I shot at a château in Paris!
Documentary Photography for Elopements and Small Weddings
Documentary photography is also an incredibly popular for elopements, intimate weddings, and destination weddings. A couple can get married in a beautiful destination and spend their day documenting the whole experience with their photographer in tow. Thinking about eloping? Check out my free 50-page elopement planning guide below!
Or, have an intimate wedding with just your closest people, and catch all the real interaction on camera. I wrote a blog about unique micro wedding activities to incorporate into your day so your guests are included and having a blast. Bonus: this makes documentary wedding photos so fun and engaging as a memory of the people who celebrated with you!
Balancing Candid and Posed Shots in Documentary Wedding Photography: You Can Have Both!
While documentary wedding photography focuses on candid moments and a natural photography style, it doesn’t mean you can’t have posed shots. In fact, a mix of both can beautifully balance your wedding gallery. Those posed shots with family and friends can be important mementos. I work with couples to incorporate posed shots and guiding with prompts to ensure these moments are natural and relaxed, blending seamlessly with the documentary style.
How I Make Documentary Photography Feel Editorial
Now you may be thinking, “I’ve heard of editorial wedding photography, what’s the difference”? Editorial photography is all about style and storytelling. It can actually complement documentary photography really well, and I love to give an editorial flair to my photos. To give your wedding photos an editorial feel, we can plan and style certain moments to enhance their aesthetic quality. The key is to maintain authenticity while adding a touch of polish. This could involve choosing a beautiful backdrop, working with light and shadow in your venue, using creative composition, or incorporating meaningful props. In fact, often while I’m doing a “fly-on-the-wall” approach, I may quickly reach out and place an arm in a certain position or say, “hey, just look over your shoulder there,” to grab more editorial shots in the moment while keeping the general air super natural and unforced.
Conclusion
To wrap up, documentary-style wedding photography offers a beautiful, authentic way to capture the essence of your wedding day. If you value genuine moments and want your photos to reflect the true emotions of your day, this style is perfect for you. Contact me to inquire about your wedding and let’s create a day that tells your unique story and shows off your personality!
xo Stacey
