As a newly engaged couple, the one thing that you will be looking at during the beginning of your wedding planning days is booking the right kind of photographer.
After all, your wedding is so much more than just an event. Woven with moments of love, joy, and celebration, it is important that you find just the right person to shoot the big day. Capturing these precious moments in their most authentic form requires a unique approach that goes beyond traditional posed photography.
Enter documentary style wedding photography—a compelling method that focuses on telling the unscripted story of your special day through candid, heartfelt moments.
What is Documentary Style Wedding Photography?
Documentary-style wedding photography is a candid and unobtrusive approach to capturing a wedding day.
Unlike traditional posed photography, which often involves staged portraits and controlled settings, documentary style photography focuses on capturing genuine moments as they naturally unfold.
A lot of people only associate “documentary photography” with unposed black and white photos. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The idea behind this style of photography is to create a narrative amidst the chaos that is your wedding day and present it in a manner that allows you to relive it for years to come.
Who is This Style of Photography Best For?
- Those Who Prefer Natural Photos: If you prefer natural, unposed photographs that capture genuine emotions and interactions, documentary style photography is perfect for you.
- Those Who Are Storytellers: Couples who see their wedding day as a narrative and want their photos to tell a cohesive story will appreciate how documentary-style photography can document the progression of the day—from getting ready to the ceremony, reception, and beyond.
- Those Who Like Emotionally Connected Photos: Documentary-style photography excels at capturing the heartfelt moments, laughter, tears, and joy shared with loved ones.
- Those Seeking Authenticity: If you wish to see authentic reactions captured on the reel that reflect the true atmosphere and personality of your wedding day, then documentary style photography should be your go-to choice.
- Those Who Wish Minimal Intervention: Documentary style photography allows you and your guests to enjoy the celebration naturally without being interfered with by the wedding photographer.
Why Documentary Style Wedding Photography is the Right Choice for You
When deciding on the photography style for your wedding, it all ultimately depends on how you wish to look back on your big day.
Would you prefer cinematic photos that evoke a movie-like atmosphere, or do you want images that vividly recall the genuine emotions and humorous moments shared with your loved ones on your special day?
It is truly a personal preference. However, if you are thinking of picking the documentary style wedding photography, then it would be good to know why this style can be the perfect choice for you.
Authentic & Genuine
Documentary style photography excels in capturing authentic moments and emotions as they naturally unfold throughout the day. This authenticity ensures that your wedding photos reflect genuine expressions and interactions, preserving the true essence of your wedding day.
Memorable Details
The specialty of this style of photography lies in its ability to capture the minute details.
Beyond capturing major events, documentary style wedding photography also focuses on the small, meaningful details that contribute to the overall atmosphere and story of your wedding. These details often hold sentimental value and add richness to your wedding album.
Minimal Interruption
Documentary photographers adopt a non-intrusive approach, allowing you and your guests to enjoy the day without constant direction or posing. This ensures that the moments captured are genuine and uninhibited by the photographer’s presence.
Timeless & Evocative Images
The candid nature of documentary style wedding photography produces images that are timeless and evocative. These photos evoke emotions and memories years after the event.
Personalized Approach
Each wedding is unique, and documentary style photography allows your photographer to capture the individuality of your day. It reflects your personalities, relationships, and the atmosphere of your wedding in a personalized and meaningful manner.
Focus on Story Over Poses
Documentary style photography prioritizes capturing the story and emotions of your day over posed shots. This means that your wedding album will be filled with images that tell a narrative of the genuine emotions experienced by you and your guests.
Long-Term Value
Your wedding photos are a visual record of your day, capturing not just how you looked but also how you felt and the atmosphere that surrounded you. The storytelling aspect of documentary style wedding photography makes it a priceless investment for you and the coming generations.
How to Get the Best Documentary Style Wedding Photos
Choose the Right Photographer
Research photographers who specialize in documentary style wedding photography. Review their portfolios before you meet to ensure their style aligns with your vision. It can also be helpful to shortlist around 5 to 8 potential photographers and meet with them to discuss your expectations and their approach.
Communicate Your Vision
The key to getting great wedding photos is to clearly communicate your preferences and the important moments you wish to be captured. You can share specific events or details that you want your documentary-style wedding photographer to capture on the big day.
Trust Your Photographer
When you trust your photographer, you give them the creative freedom to capture genuine, candid moments that truly reflect the essence of your celebration. Additionally, when you are not preoccupied with concerns about photography, you can be present in the moment, translating into more authentic and heartfelt images.
So trust the chosen photographer and have faith in their expertise in documenting the best candid moments from your wedding.
Stay Present & Relaxed
Your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event filled with love, joy, and countless memorable moments. To capture the essence of these moments through documentary style wedding photography, it is essential that you stay relaxed and present throughout the day.
This way, you can create an atmosphere where genuine moments can flourish. It will not only enhance your experience but also provide your photographer with the perfect conditions to capture the true essence of your celebration. The result is a collection of documentary-style wedding photos that beautifully reflect the love, joy, and spontaneity of your special day.
Include Personal Details
Incorporating personal details into your wedding gives your photographer the elements needed to tell a complete and authentic story of your day. These details infuse your photos with emotion, depth, and context, ensuring that your documentary style wedding photos are deeply meaningful and uniquely yours.
The sight of your grandparents’ wedding rings on your fingers, a heartfelt note exchanged between you and your partner, or the lovingly crafted decorations by family members—all these details create photos rich with emotion, depth, and context and go beyond traditional wedding photos.
Encourage Guest Participation
To get extremely authentic images, let your guests know the wedding photographer will capture candid moments throughout the day. Their interactions, emotions, and unique contributions will enhance the storytelling aspect of your wedding album, creating a rich and authentic visual narrative that you will treasure for years to come.
Create an Unobtrusive Environment
To create an unobtrusive environment when it comes to your documentary style wedding photography, choose a photographer who uses minimal equipment and avoids excessive flash.
This will help them blend in and capture moments without disrupting the flow of the wedding events.
Document Pre-Wedding Activities
Seriously consider having your photographer document pre-wedding events like getting ready, rehearsal dinners, or any other significant activities. These simple moments leading up to the actual wedding day can add a lot of context and richness to your wedding album.
Embrace Imperfection
When you choose documentary-style wedding photography for your wedding day, you need to understand that not every moment will be picture-perfect. And therein lies the real beauty of this style. So embrace the imperfections and watch the magic come to life in the pictures!
Takeaway
Documentary style wedding photography is a beautiful and authentic way to capture the true essence of your special day. By focusing on candid moments and genuine interactions, this approach will capture your wedding photos in a way that tells a compelling and heartfelt story.
Choosing this style means trusting your photographer to blend into the background and document events as they naturally unfold.
Ultimately, the goal of wedding photography is to create a lasting record of one of the most important days of your life. So, pick a style that you feel confident will be a true reflection of your love story.
Contact the expert photographers at AVS360 to find out more about documentary style wedding photography.
