What is documentary wedding photography?

If you're planning your wedding and thinking about how you'd like your photos to capture your special day, you may have come across the terms documentary wedding photography, reportage wedding photography, or wedding photojournalism. This style of photography might be unfamiliar to you, especially if you've always associated wedding photography with posed and directed shots.

Documentary wedding photography is essentially capturing photographs as they occur naturally, without any posing or instruction from the photographer. Most wedding photographers will deliver some images throughout the day that are unposed and spontaneous - for example, during the ceremony, it's unlikely that the photographer is going to interrupt this part of the day to ask someone to smile for the camera.

But on the other parts of the day that are more spontaneous and less controlled, a documentary wedding photographer still has the same approach and will not interfere with what is happening in front of them. They train their eyes and ears to observe what is happening and what could be about to happen and move themselves to compose the image in the best way they can to capture real moments. A documentary wedding photographer also won't work from a shot list as this would distract them from being in the moment on your day.

How does a documentary wedding photographer work on the day?

For many couples who book me, my images give off a feeling of being authentic and fun rather than awkward or staged. Before booking, I always meet with the couple to discuss their wedding day and what they want from their photos. During this meeting, I'll explain that my approach is very relaxed and that I want everyone to enjoy the day without worrying about the photographer and trust that the day will be captured authentically.

On the day itself, I talk to the couple and their guests in the morning to help them relax and get used to the camera being there. Sometimes, I'll walk around observing and capturing moments quite quickly, but other times, I'll stick with one potential composition or moment for a few minutes, capturing several images to get the one that is the absolute best it could be. During these moments, I quietly wait and shoot with a silent shutter if possible. I also only use flash if there's no natural light available, usually later in the day.

Is documentary wedding photography right for us?

If you're unsure whether documentary wedding photography is right for you, it is an important question to ask yourself before deciding which wedding photographer to choose. It's essential to ensure that their style of photography aligns with your preferences as a couple.

Suppose you're a couple who are a little camera-shy or prefer spontaneous moments and want to let the day flow naturally without posing for pictures. In that case, a photographer who takes a documentary approach may be a better fit. However, if you still want a few posed shots, it is worth discussing this with your photographer beforehand.

As a documentary wedding photographer, my approach is about 99% natural, but I like to take walk with my couples to capture some quiet moments of you together and create some shots around or close to the wedding venue you have chosen. It's a great opportunity to have a few minutes to yourselves and create some special memories.

Take a look below at a few of my recent documentary wedding photographs.