5 Reasons You Should Hire a Documentary Wedding Photographer

We see this phrase everywhere these days - in photographer’s bios, Instagram handles, and captions - but what does it really mean? I’ll dive into the aspects of what makes a photographer’s style “documentary” and whether it’s the right fit for your wedding or elopement day!

What is documentary wedding photography?

At its core, documentary wedding photography is about capturing how your wedding day feels, not just how it looks. These photographers prioritize capturing real emotions and behind the scenes moments that make your photos come to life - so you return and relive your wedding day for years to come.

Why You Should Hire a Documentary Photographer

The bottom line: you should experience every moment of your wedding day. This is a day honoring YOU, so why miss out on any part of it?

With a documentary photographer, you can trust that all of the joy, tears and emotions of this incredible event will be captured so that YOU can enjoy your day to its fullest, without being pulled aside for poses. So if these 5 reasons resonate with you, consider hiring a documentary wedding photographer like me to capture the energy of your wedding day.

Reason #1: You can be present for every moment of your day

Because your wedding or elopement day is about joy, love and the experience, not poses, timelines, rushing and props. So stay in every moment of your day, and let your photographer work around you, not pull you out of your celebration.

Reason #2: Authentic emotions

Your uncle crying in the corner during your first dance? Captured. Your little cousin stealing extra cupcakes and grinning? Noticed. Your partner’s joy at seeing you for the first time? Documented. When you give people space to be themselves without a camera in their faces, their real emotions can bloom.

Reason #3: No fake poses

While most documentary photographers still offer gentle guidance during photos, you can avoid the stiff and awkward moments that intense posing can bring. Rather, documentary photographers guide you to  moments so you can be yourselves, and then capture whatever happens in these spaces.

Reason #4: Candid captures

Candids- or unposed and spontaneous moments-are the bread and butter of a documentary photographer. They are the in-between moments that give momentum, motion and emotion to your day, and help you remember the feeling of each moment you were there (and even some parts you didn’t get to see).

Reason #5: Artful imperfections

Life is imperfect, and so is art. Instead of focusing on the perfect shot with the perfect expression, we capture everything - blurry motion, fun angles and all the emotions in between that make your day unique, and special. You get a collection of artful images that feel authentic to you.

So, is this the right fit?

If you are nodding your head or saying “hell ya” then a documentary wedding photographer is the right fit for you. Working with a documentary photographer like me will take the photography stress off your hands, so you can spend every moment of your wedding day enjoying the experience.