CANDID & CREATIVE APPROACH
Documentary Wedding Photography
REPORTAGE / PHOTOJOURNALISM
I approach weddings like a street photographer
If I had to describe what I do in one sentence it would be this: I capture natural moments of love, beauty and humour as your wedding day unfolds without interference on my part, that together create a visual story I hope you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. Oh, and I’m very happy to take a few couple and group photos too, if you want them.
I know…that was two sentences, but you get the idea.
None of the natural moments I capture can be staged or posed, or asked to smile, or stand still, or wait there, or do that again. Weddings are fast moving at times, which I why I take pictures like a street photographer – observing, anticipating and capturing what’s in front of me, without interference. And that takes skill, experience, confidence and an eye for what makes a great photograph.
Read on for more detail about my approach to documentary wedding photography.
UNPOSED WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
This is the best definition of documentary wedding photography I can think of. Some people call this approach reportage wedding photography, or wedding photojournalism or candid wedding photography.
However you describe it, it’s all about capturing moments that move us and reveal something to us. I was a writer and journalist before I became a documentary wedding photographer so for me this approach is the most natural way of telling the story of your wedding day.
OBSERVATIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
To take interesting wedding photos you need to have an eye for composition; know how to observe and be patient; always be anticipating what might happen next; strike the right balance between being unobtrusive and being close to the action; and know how to make the best of the available light to create mood and capture natural beauty.
To this end, I almost never use flash. This not only allows me to go unnoticed much of the time, which in turn means I can capture more genuine images, but also gives me the look I want – the look that my clients chose me for – beautiful, natural, atmospheric wedding photography.
IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE IT’S TRUE
Humour is a very big part of my documentary wedding photography. My favourite kind of photography is street photography, and especially pictures that make me smile. And weddings are full of humour of all different kinds – I think it’s the main reason (along with the beauty of weddings) why I love being a wedding photographer.
I love simply capturing people interacting with each other in a revealing way. This is where my unobtrusive approach to photography most comes into its own. It’s like inviting a guest who’s also a street photographer.
COUPLE AND GROUP PHOTOS – KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Not all, but most couples want a few group pictures and a few of just the two of them together. But I always suggest to my clients, at the pre-wedding meeting, that the number of group photos is kept to a minimum. I’m yet to meet a couple that likes standing around endlessly posing for group photos!
When it comes to couple photos, my aim is always to capture images that are as unposed and natural as possible. I usually suggest going for a short walk (depending on the venue) and making use of the most beautiful light, but that’s it. 10 to 15 minutes max. Some of my clients don’t even want any shots of this kind because they know I’ll be taking candid photos of them together throughout the day. It’s totally up to you and whatever you feel comfortable with.
STORYTELLING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Another definition of documentary wedding photography I hear used a lot is ‘photography that tells a story’. As a journalist and writer, I learnt the knack of how to construct a narrative and how to edit my work in a way that tells a coherent and consistent story.
I’ve since transferred that knowledge to my documentary wedding photography so that each image I hand to my clients is an important part of the overall story of their day. My aim is to make sure your wedding photography collection is full of beautifully composed stories.
SEE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WITH THESE RECENT
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HOW TO BOOK ME
Get in touch
If you’ve fixed a date for your wedding and had a look around my website and like what you see, please click on the button below to check my availability or just to have a chat. I’d love to hear more about your plans.
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