With a documentary photography approach, the focus is on capturing genuine moments—whether it’s the look of love during vows, a quiet hug between family members, or a fleeting tear in someone’s eye. When I photographed Dan and Jess’s wedding, I made sure to capture the unposed, emotional reactions—those subtle moments that tell the true story of a couple’s day.

One of the most beautiful aspects of documentary-style wedding photography is its ability to tell a story. Weddings are more than just a celebration of love—they’re a reflection of family, life, and shared experiences.

Jess and Dan had originally planned a fall wedding for this year. However, I received a call a week before their new ceremony date and was informed that due to a family illness, they were moving up their wedding 6 months and it was going to happen within the week!

I was lucky enough to be available to shoot their new date and was lucky enough to document just how amazing a wedding can be when your friends and family come through for you and are there to celebrate what truly matters in life.

By focusing on candid moments and real interactions, documentary photography tells the story of the couple in the most honest way possible. Instead of traditional posed portraits, the photographs I took were reflective of the couple’s resilience, the tenderness shared with family, and the profound meaning in the day despite its hurried nature.

Weddings are meant to be a celebration of love, but they’re also about the people who surround us and the memories we create. When those memories are captured through documentary-style photography, they become timeless. In the case of Jess and Dan’s wedding, the true beauty of the day wasn’t in the details—it was in the moments shared and the emotions that filled the air. Documentary photography isn’t just about taking pictures; it’s about capturing the essence of the day and preserving the most important memories, no matter the circumstances.

If you’re planning your wedding, remember that the moments that matter most aren’t always the ones that are perfectly staged. Sometimes, they’re the quiet, authentic moments that only documentary photography can capture and I’m so honored I was able to do so.