So, this is our approach to documentary wedding photography. If it speaks to you. Let’s chat more.
DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
This approach is very popular nowadays. Many couples want this style but are afraid that it sacrifices some traditional wedding photos. We are here to explain that it doesn't have to be this way. There's a happy medium. Our style is very documentary but we capture it all.
We get few questions about this time to time. Our couples love our documentary/photojournalistic approach. But really, what is it? Do we only take “natural”/candied moments? No, we’re not war photographers, we are wedding photographers; although we like to call ourselves your documentary photographers for a day.
Every wedding photographer is sort of a documentary photographer. Many of us capture candid moments throughout the day. More traditional photographers take more photos that are set up, or reenact a moment, or pretend a moment…. They may take more portrait type of photos “hey guys, look at me” when you’re chatting with your bridesmaids or parents during getting ready, cocktail hour & reception. This is all fine, some people love the structure & to have typical/traditional photos that are “a must” with or without it happening naturally.
True documentary approach is all about you. Your wedding, your way. If a moment happens; we capture it. If you want an informal portrait of you & your friends/family, we capture it. However, we don’t direct, set up, and reenact stuff. We allow you & your families, to get comfortable, to be themselves and then capture real moments. Fun, emotional, beautiful. We are trained to shoot this way. We put all our concentration into seeking & anticipating a moment, knowing when to push the shutter to capture a smile, a glance or a tear.
Now, do documentary/photojournalistic photographers take traditional portraits or details/still life? Yes, most do. We certainly do. We cater to our clients’ individual needs; you can choose to have 5 family formals or 25 (or even 50; we work with you to set up the list & enough time to capture those). Also, we actually encourage everyone to take family formals (some do come to us saying that they want ONLY candid photos as they are shy & don’t want to be center of attention or for some other reason). Well, no. We encourage at least few groupings with the VIPs. You will not regret having such family heirlooms & make your parents very happy. Trust us. Everyone likes a good simple portrait of themselves. We also encourage for family or bridal party to ask us for a portrait during cocktail hour (which usually happens outdoor & at time of great light); that gives you time to mingle & enjoy yourselves, but still have other people who are more keen on portraits get them (they do make great holiday gifts from the couple!). Speaking of cocktail hour; that’s when we also allow people to eat & mingle and go take some detail/décor shots. So, yes, we take all the pretty detail shots too. Those usually are during getting ready (invites, dress, shoes, jewelry etc.), ceremony set up & reception set up.
So, documentary photography is about allowing the day to go as you want, letting moments unfold naturally in front of us. When there’s no planner, we do keep an eye on time (most of our clients want a loose structure of the day, a more modern/relaxed approach; so we schedule time for first look, couple/bridal/family formals and give ample time not to rush those things). Aside from the structured time for portraits, we blend in & do our magic.
Lastly, many documentary photographers don’t show many detail/formal photos, because we simply put more emphasis on emotion & people captured in the moment; this is what sets our work apart. But it doesn’t mean that we don’t or can’t take a kickass detail or formal photo. We love décor (aga is pinterest queen, pinning away ideas for years) and we know how much time & effort you’ve put into your décor at the wedding; so we capture all the little details. Also, as mentioned earlier, we are big on family, besides capturing family love naturally, we like to give our couples good family formals. They are relaxed and we work fast during them. FUN FACT: these photos are always ordered by family members from your private gallery!
