What is documentary wedding photography?
Documentary wedding photography focuses on candid storytelling to allow for more presence and connection on your wedding day and in your photos. It is an invitation to soak in the moment without having to feel like your wedding day is a photoshoot. In documentary wedding photography, your photographer captures you day as it naturally unfolds, with all the beautiful, spontaneous, and heartfelt moments that make your day uniquely yours. Instead of orchestrating scenes, we focus on storytelling; finding the beauty in fleeting glances, authentic connections, and the laughter that fills the room. The result is a visual narrative that feels genuine, emotional, and undeniably real.
Does a documentary wedding photographer still do portraits?
Absolutely! We offer a lot of guidance and direction to help you and your family look your best during portraits. We simply won’t interrupt moments throughout your day to create staged photos (we want to be documenting those genuine moments!)
Our goal is for you to get to enjoy being present on your wedding day and have beautiful, storytelling photos to show for it. We may offer slight suggestions here and there, like getting ready in spots that have beautiful lighting, but we mainly aim to blend in so you can relax and focus on enjoying your wedding day.
All photos in this article are candid moments, unless otherwise noted.
Who Is Documentary Wedding Photography For?
This style is for couples who want to enjoy their wedding day without feeling like they’re on a photoshoot. It’s for those who value authenticity and connection, and who want their photos to reflect the real emotions and experiences of their celebration. If your heart longs for images that tell unique stories of authentic personalities and connections rather than staged moments, documentary wedding photography may be exactly what you’re looking for.
What Can You Expect?
With documentary wedding photography, we become part of the fabric of your day, moving intentionally and blending in as guests with cameras. There’s no need to perform or hold a smile for the camera. Instead, we’re there to witness the way your hand lingers in theirs, the way your loved ones light up when they see you, and the in-between moments that make your day genuinely yours. The result is a collection of images that feel like your memories: vivid, emotional, and full of life.
it helps you not worry about the cameras
The less we interrupt the flow of your day, the more you forget about the cameras and the more your story shines through. Documentary wedding photography allows you to be present and truly live your day, while we seamlessly document the little details and big moments without interrupting your experience. We believe your wedding photos should take you back to how it felt to be there, the love, the personalities, and the energy of the day so that when you revisit your photos years from now, you can feel the magic of it all over again.
DO you also give direction?
Yes! During portraits with you, your wedding party, and your family, we’ll give you direction to make sure everyone feels at ease and looks their best. If you’re open to it, we may even suggest slipping out during sunset for a few quick portraits wrapped in gorgeous, golden light. The focus and feel of your portraits is guided by your unique personalities, style and preference for how much or how little you would like to focus on this part of the day.
Sunset portrait directed by Abby + Dave
Bringing your vision to life
We’re passionate about collaborating with you to bring your unique vision for your day to life; how you want to feel, how you want your guests to feel, and how the personal touches you’ve poured into your celebration are reflected in your images. Whether it’s incorporating a personal item or location you love, featuring your furry family member, or elevating a special moment to make it uniquely yours, we’re here to create images that feel truly personal.
because it's your wedding day, not a photoshoot
Our approach is rooted in letting you enjoy your day. We want you to feel the love and connection surrounding you so you can forget that we’re even there. That’s why we blend in like guests with cameras, documenting the day as it unfolds while you get to be yourselves. This way you can focus on celebrating, laughing, and sharing moments while we create images that reflect the heart of your story.
