In my ‘Picture This’ series I focus on an individual image, or series of images, and explain why I like it.

Documentary wedding photography

When I photograph a wedding, storytelling is what I think about most. How can I best capture the ‘key moments’ of a wedding such as the ceremony, arrivals, speeches, etc? Where do I need to be to best tell these stories? Will this or that frame add to the story?

But, like a writer (my profession before I became a photographer), I’m always looking out for a sub-plot, a diverting side-story that gives depth to the overall edit. To me, this is essential for high-quality candid or documentary wedding photography, and comes firstly from observation. Once I notice a potential sub-plot I start thinking about short sequences of pictures so I can essentially ‘tell a story within a story’ without too much distraction from the main event.

Leatherhead Register Office

At a wedding I photographed in Surrey earlier this summer, the bride and groom’s 5-year-old son was given the important role of ring bearer and as the day went on he could hardly contain his nerves and excitement. By the time we reached Leatherhead Register Office, wrangled by his very patient granny, he was almost bursting with fidgety joy.

In the space of just a few minutes before and during the ceremony, I shot this sequence of pictures showing the gamut of emotions he went through – excitement, impatience, exhaustion, giddiness, nervousness, seriousness and finally pride.

I hope you like this mini story, and if this is the type of wedding photography you’d want, whether you’re getting married at Leatherhead Register Office, or anywhere else I’d love you to get in touch.