Photography by Erica Lynn and Francis Formica
Photography by Erica Lynn and Francis Formica
Explore if documentary-style photography is right for your wedding
Choosing a photographer for a wedding day can be a big commitment. You’re entrusting someone to capture a momentous occasion in your life and, of course, you want to love the photos they snap. With the different styles and editing options, it’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed. Take a moment to think about how you want to remember your wedding day. If you’re imagining looking back at candid shots of you and your loved ones, all the emotions, and small moments from the day, then you might want to hire a documentary-style photographer.
Documentary-style photography defined
Photographers who shoot documentary-style aim to capture the wedding day as it happens. They’ll hang back, snapping photos of moments without too much interference. “It’s a photojournalistic style that tells the story of the wedding with little or no posing involved,” says Francis Formica of Formica Studios. “The photographer becomes an observer with a camera ready to tell a story.” Documentary-style photographers will offer little instruction or intervention in order to get a certain shot.
Rather than telling a bridesmaid to slowly put on mascara, a documentary-style photographer will capture the candid of them getting ready as if they’re the only one in the room. Or, instead of only taking photos of the couple at the alter, they’ll turn their attention to the crowd to get shots of laughter and tears throughout the ceremony.
“Images are not only seen, but felt,” explains Erica Lynn of Erica Lynn Photography. “Your wedding day is a mix of emotions and experiences, filled with countless moments that effortlessly blend into each other. Documentary photography allows those raw emotions to be captured in an elevated and unique way.” Many documentary wedding photographers see this as a more authentic way of shooting the wedding day. There’s more of a focus on storytelling and capturing special moments naturally.
Photography by Erica Lynn and Francis Formica
Expect more candids and less posing
With the photographer acting more as an observer, you can expect the majority of your photos to be shots of moments as they’re happening rather than guests looking right at the camera. “Amid the hustle and bustle, your fiancé steals a quick kiss. Or when you are dancing in matching pj’s to your favorite ’90s tunes sipping mimosas, or your partner’s reaction to your outfit change,” Lynn describes as the kind of shots documentary-style photography catches. “There’s a unique magic in these interactions, and they are an integral part of the day.” Photos may also show a lot of movement as the couple and guests buzz around the room.
The final gallery might have fewer posed portraits and shots of people looking directly into the camera if a couple really wants to lean into the documentary-style. That means you likely won’t see a shot of groups smiling on the dance floor after the photographer prompted them to say cheese.
However, the focus on capturing natural moments doesn’t mean a photographer won’t get the detail shots. There can still be styled images of your invitation suite, your cake, and your dress hanging in the window. After all, those are part of the overall storytelling of the day.
Photography by Erica Lynn and Francis Formica
You can still do a mix of photography styles
If you love the candidness of documentary-style photography, but still want some posed portraits, have no fear. You don’t have to commit to doing solely one style. In fact, many photographers suggest mixing posed shoots into your documentary-style gallery. “[D]oing no posing at all, the photography will miss those family members that aren’t within the scope of documentation,” Formica explains. Meaning that if all your shots are candids, you might not get photos of every guest or of important participants.
Telling your photographer that you absolutely want a picture with your grandparents, or a group photo of your college friends ensures you’ll document those special people. “I capture a healthy mix of classic portraits and candid photos to create the complete story of your wedding day,” Lynn says. These shots only have to take few minutes before the photographer goes back to being a fly on the wall.
Choose documentary photography for the storytelling
Your wedding photography is how you’ll look back and remember the day for years to come. And it might feel like a weighted decision choosing a specific photography style. So, who is documentary-style photography right for?
Anyone who doesn’t want to spend the day posing. “[S]omeone who wants to spend more time interacting with friends and family versus being away during posed photo time,” says local photographer Heather Meadows. Couples who don’t want to spend a ton of time standing for portraits or who want to be present at events like cocktail hour.
Laid back couples will appreciate the unobtrusive nature of this style. If you’d rather the photographer fade into the background and not break the flow of the day corralling people for photos, documentary-style might work best.
If emotion from both the couple and the guests memorialized are top priority, choose documentary-style photography. As Lynn puts it, “Documentary-style photography is for those who want a story and not just the highlights.”
