There’s a lot of confusion about what documentary style wedding photography really means. Maybe you are imagining photographers who won’t pose any photos, that all the photos will be dark, grainy, or unflattering. But, we’re here to set the record straight.
If you’re considering hiring a documentary style wedding photographer for your big day, we hope that debunking these myths will help you make a more informed decision and better understand what you want.
Myth #1: All Documentary Style Wedding Photography Looks the Same
A common misconception is that documentary photography equals dark, grainy, blurry images. Some photographers use this as an excuse for delivering photos that are, well, sloppy.
So, let’s clear something up: documentary style wedding photography isn’t an aesthetic style, it’s an approach to photography that emphasizes the importance of candid, unscripted moments and emotionally compelling images.
For us, our aesthetic is often vibrant, using strong light to capture dramatic moments full of color. But we also love soft light and more subtle connections. In short, we love the variety – and challenge – that comes when you don’t use a one-size-fits-all editing style (just Google “light and airy wedding presets” to see what we’re talking about).
We use light, composition, and our ability to anticipate moments to carefully craft images that are full of meaning and visually dynamic.
Just because a photo is candid doesn’t mean it can’t be breathtaking.
Myth #2: Documentary style photographers don’t take posed photos
Some documentary style wedding photographers choose not to do posed portraits – but we don’t! We know how important wedding portraits are to people, but we don’t think they should come at the cost of making you miss out on your celebration.
This is why we help couples figure out how to make portraits with each other and their favorite people fit seamlessly into their timeline to make sure that you don’t feel like half your day is a posed photo shoot.
Myth #3: Documentary style wedding photos are unflattering
Skilled documentary style wedding photographers know how to make you look incredible while still keeping the moment authentic. But here’s the truth, the more relaxed and comfortable you feel, the better your photos will be. That’s why we focus on helping you feel at ease, so your natural beauty shines through.
Myth #4: Documentary style wedding photographers are wallflowers
Yes, we stay unobtrusive. No, we don’t stay in the corner of the room trying to avoid conversation or eye contact.
We love building relationships with our couples, connecting with people, and immersing ourselves in the energy of the day.
Sometimes, we’ll step in to help keep things on track, but most of the time you’ll barely notice us because of all the fun and emotional moments that are unfolding naturally between you and your people.
Myth #5: Important photos will be missed because the photographer didn’t want to pose them
Some photos you can’t plan for, and just because we don’t pose as many images doesn’t mean that we don’t capture as many images. In anything, we capture more. Why? It’s pretty simple: we react a lot faster than traditional wedding photographers, and we take more pictures.
A standard wedding photographer might capture somewhere between 2,000-3,000 photos over the course of a 10-hour wedding. Between the two of us, we usually head home with 8,000 to 12,000 images per wedding, ultimately editing them down to around 1,000 selects that we deliver to our couples.
Trust us, we’ve got first kiss covered – and then some.
Why we love documentary style wedding photography
Documentary style wedding photography isn’t about following a rigid set of rules. It’s about preserving the moments that make your wedding day unforgettable and unique – without sacrificing beauty, connection, or personality.
We believe your wedding photos should be authentic, a reflection of your love, your people, and your story. The true magic comes from real emotions, not forced perfection. And those are the moments you’ll treasure forever.
