My Style
Why documentary style is the best way to capture the magic moments of your wedding day
Documentary-style wedding photography or candid wedding photography is the practice of capturing unforced and unplanned fleeting moments during a wedding ceremony and reception. It is important that the photographer does not interact with the guests and works unnoticed in the background to accomplish this. In doing so the photographer can tell the story of the day in captivating images of moments which are full of feeling and meaning. These moments are by nature transient and would be forgotten in the course of the day, and so become a valuable record and narrative of one of the happiest days in the life of a couple.
Documentary candid wedding photography is the polar opposite of traditional “editorial style” wedding photography which focuses on capturing formalised images of couples and groups. Documentary wedding photography requires the photographer to be a highly skilled and practiced observer, to be able to put themselves in the right place and moment to capture those fleeting instants of connection and emotion which are so valuable.
One of the most compelling reasons to use a documentary-style approach to your wedding photography is to give you the freedom to enjoy your day without being sequestered for a good proportion of it just to pose for photographs. I have seen this take up to two hours. Out of a twelve to fourteen hour day, that’s a lot, and you are paying for every penny of it!
Anyone looking to capture their wedding day in the documentary style should look very closely at what is on offer. This approach is becoming very popular and many wedding photographers claim to be able to offer it but a very close look at their portfolio may reveal something different.
Documentary photography and photojournalism have been used throughout the history of the medium to tell stories. Love stories, war stories, records of everyday life, sometimes extraordinary moments. Think of that iconic image of the construction workers having lunch on top of the Empire State Building or the kissing sailor in Times Square. Of course, many of these images may appear quite ordinary at the time but time and memory make them something different – allowing the viewer to see the detailed workings of a world gone by or bring back memories lost in time. The practitioners of Documentary candid street photography have captured these moments for more than 150 years. It works really well for weddings!!
