Documentary style wedding photography is the most authentic form of story telling during a wedding day that a couple can opt for.

• Approach: Documentary wedding photography is more about capturing moments as they unfold, with very little to no direction from the photographer. It focuses purely on storytelling and the raw, unposed moments of the day.
• Style: It’s all about candid shots, where the photographer aims to remain as unobtrusive as possible, often using a photojournalistic approach. The focus is on emotions, interactions, and real moments, with little interference or posing.
• Goal: The goal is to tell the story of the wedding day without any intervention. The photographer aims to capture the atmosphere, relationships, and events as authentically as possible.

Contrary to the traditional photojournalism approach, I tend to be very non-intrusive but still involved in the environment. By not only listening, but engaging in conversation with my couples and guests, I allow for more report and trust to be built therefore guaranteeing those candid moments have the space to occur.

Who would benefit from documentary style wedding photography?

This style is ideal for people who:

1. Value Authenticity and Real Moments

• Couples who prefer to capture the genuine emotions and reactions of their day, such as laughter, tears, and candid interactions, often gravitate toward these styles. They want their photos to reflect what actually happened, rather than posed or contrived moments.

2. Prefer a Less Posed, More Relaxed Experience

• These styles appeal to couples who want to avoid long sessions of posed portraits and would rather focus on enjoying their wedding day with family and friends. They prefer the photographer to stay in the background, capturing moments naturally without interrupting the flow of events.

3. Are Focused on Storytelling

• Couples who want their wedding photos to tell the complete story of their day, with every moment from the getting-ready shots to the last dance captured, often choose photojournalistic or candid photography. They like the idea of looking back at their photos and seeing a cohesive narrative of their wedding day.

4. Are Less Concerned with Perfection

• Those who don’t mind a little imperfection in their photos (like a guest blinking, a moment of chaos, or a quirky expression) are more drawn to these styles. It’s about the emotion and the “realness” of the moment rather than perfectly composed, polished shots.

5. Prefer a Modern, Contemporary Aesthetic

• Many couples who lean toward more modern, contemporary aesthetics and want their wedding photography to feel fresh and in the moment choose photojournalistic or candid styles. These approaches tend to capture more dynamic, spontaneous, and raw moments.

Why else does it matter? Heres a real life example of a wedding focussed on documentary wedding photography and the emotional benefits from it.

The Importance of Documentary Photography in Weddings

Whole organizations within the wedding industry are focussed on the photojournalism and documentary weddings. Check out WPJA.

Alas, examples work best. Check out these great moments from past PennyPhotographic weddings: