If you have made it to this blog, you may be getting married soon and are currently exploring different wedding photography styles to help capture your big day. First off, congratulations are in order, and all the best for your upcoming wedding! We understand that it can be difficult to choose the best wedding photographer when there are so many different options and styles to select from.
One style which is becoming more and more popular by the day is the documentary photography style. Whilst searching for a photographer for your wedding, you’ve probably seen terms such as ‘documentary’ and ‘photojournalistic’ thrown about. But, what does this mean, and how does this style translate throughout your special day?
We have been lucky enough to photograph weddings for countless couples, and each day is always one to remember! Our work leans heavily into documentary style, helping to ensure that your wedding album tells the complete story of your big day, creating memories to cherish. We have put together this guide on the documentary wedding photography style, helping you to understand a bit more about what it is, and how this will come across when it comes to photographing your wedding.
Understanding documentary wedding photography
More broadly, documentary photography refers to a style of capturing real-life events in a truthful and unbiased manner. It involves documenting moments as they naturally occur, without intervention or staging, to provide an authentic visual record of an event - an attempt to record the world as it is.
Documentary wedding photography extends these principles to capture the unfolding story of a couple's special day as it happens. It involves the photographer acting as a silent observer, documenting candid moments, unposed interactions, and the overall atmosphere of the wedding celebration. The result? You end up with a wedding album that is a true reflection of your special day, ensuring you will be able to relive your day through your wedding photos for many years to come.
To avoid confusion, documentary and photojournalistic can be used interchangeably when it comes to wedding photography.
Why is the documentary photography style so popular?
The documentary wedding photography style has accelerated in popularity over recent years, and it is not hard to see why. When combined with other practices, such as the editorial photography style, couples can create a dynamic and engaging visual narrative of their wedding day. Let’s explore a few of the key reasons why documentary photography is such a popular choice at weddings.
Natural moments
Although we have already alluded to this, documentary wedding photography allows you to capture all of the natural moments that occur throughout the day - moments that otherwise may be missed and lost forever. The rye smile from the bride as she takes her first step down the aisle, the subtle tear from the groom as he sees his partner at the altar, or the gentle laugh shared between two elderly relatives at the reception; documentary wedding photography helps ensure that none of these precious moments is lost and that they can be remembered forever.
Inclusive storytelling
We completely understand that your wedding day is all about you. We want to tell the story of your love in the most compelling manner possible, but this story can be enhanced by including the narratives of your loved ones. Documentary wedding photography excels in inclusive storytelling by not only focusing on the couple but also capturing the moments, emotions, and interactions of family and friends. By doing so, this style ensures that the broader context of your wedding day is preserved, creating a heartfelt narrative that reflects the connections and shared joy of everyone involved.
What makes great documentary wedding photography?
Many different factors must be carefully considered when it comes to shooting documentary wedding photography. We believe one of the most important elements of capturing this style begins long before the morning of your wedding day. Let’s explore why this is the case.
Building a great relationship
If we could pick one single factor that contributes to stunning documentary wedding photography, it would be building a great relationship between the couple and the photographer. But why does this matter? Well, if you aren’t comfortable with your photographer, you will naturally be more reserved and tense when they are taking photos of you. This is the same across all forms and styles of photography, but even more important with the documentary style.
It is so important for moments to be candid and relaxed, and this is impossible if you do not have a great relationship with your photographer. This relationship starts long before the big day, and we always insist on meeting up with couples for a coffee (or a pint if you’d prefer) so we can get to know each other a bit better. We like to think we are pretty good at building relationships with all couples that we work with but don’t just take our word for it. Check out some of the kind words which newlyweds have recently shared with us.
Blending into the background
Another essential component of achieving wonderful documentary photography is the need for the photographer to be able to seamlessly integrate into the background. A skilled documentary wedding photographer possesses the ability to navigate the wedding day discreetly, capturing genuine moments without being intrusive. By blending into the background, the photographer becomes an unobtrusive observer, allowing the wedding day to unfold naturally while creating a comfortable space for the couple and their guests to be their wonderful selves.
Expert anticipation
Being able to anticipate special moments is another key skill when it comes to shooting documentary wedding photography. This a skill that can only be developed through experience; knowing when a quiet tear may be shed, bashful eye contact may be shared or genuine laughter may erupt among friends. Being able to anticipate these precious moments ensures that the photographer can always be in the right place at the right time, capturing the unique story of your day through meaningful and emotional interactions.
Our approach to wedding photography
Whilst our approach to wedding photography blends several different styles, we love nothing more than using documentary photography to capture the authentic moments that unfold on your special day.
Sound like we could be a good fit? Let’s talk. Contact us today if you want to book wedding photography in Northern Ireland.
