If you’re looking for expert advice and creative ideas for documentary wedding photography, this is an article you absolutely shouldn’t miss.
Documentary-style wedding photography can be challenging for any photographer. Nonetheless, with the appropriate tips and ideas, you can adeptly navigate the meticulous and unobtrusive shooting process and capture captivating, narrative-driven wedding images.
Having shot a few documentary-style wedding photos myself, I’d like to share with you what I consider to be the most significant and valuable tips for achieving excellent documentary wedding pictures. But first…
Is documentary-style wedding photography a good idea?
Yes, documentary-style wedding photography can be a good idea for couples seeking authentic, candid, and honest images of their special day. This approach captures moments naturally as they happen, creating a more personal and memorable visual story.
What is documentary-style wedding photography?
Documentary-style wedding photography is a style of wedding photography that focuses on capturing candid wedding moments as they happen or unfold unnaturally without much intervention or direction from the photographer.
Documentary wedding photography is also known as photojournalistic wedding photography. Unlike traditional posed wedding photography, this style aims to document the wedding story naturally and authentically, emphasizing real emotions and interactions.
Wedding photography, a genre of photography that focuses on capturing the special moments, emotions, and details of people on their wedding days, is a competitive but lucrative niche. The niche requires a great deal of skill, creativity, determination, and attention to detail alongside professional gear to produce stunning images of couples. Our Master guide has some helpful information to help you start.
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Some of the key characteristics of documentary-style wedding photography include but are not limited to:
- Candid moments
- Unobtrusiveness
- Spontaneity
- Storytelling
- Genuine emotions and expressions
Having provided a brief explanation of documentary wedding photography, let’s now proceed to how to document a wedding event in a photojournalistic manner.
How to shoot documentary-style wedding photography?
Shooting documentary-style wedding pictures requires a specific approach to capture candid and authentic moments. Here’s a guide to help you master how to shoot in this style:
1. Understand the style
First and foremost, familiarize yourself with the principles of photojournalistic wedding photography. You can study the work of some renowned documentary wedding photographers, like Jesse and Moira La Plante, to gain inspiration and insights into their works.
You can also take paid wedding photography courses online to boost your overall wedding coverage skills. Alternatively, you can attend workshops. If you’re a beginner, it’s worth considering an internship with a professional photographer. This will help you gain practical experience of what the style involves.
2. Establish a relationship with the couple beforehand
Try to establish a rapport with the couple before the wedding day. Discuss and know their preferences and desired effects. Some couples prefer light and airy wedding pictures, while others prioritize capturing genuine portraits.
Knowing their expectations will help you create great documentary-style wedding portraits for them. Additionally, do not forget to ask about their chosen location for the wedding. This will help you know how to plan your camera and lighting settings.
3. Be unobtrusive
Remember, documentary wedding photography is a style that aims to record the moments as they unfold naturally. Therefore, as a documentary wedding photographer, you must wear simple, non-colorful outfits and use unobtrusive equipment during the event.
This will help you move within the crowd without attracting attention or causing people to sit up and pose for the camera. If possible, be invisible during the event.
4. Shoot in burst mode
Use burst mode to document a series of candid moments in rapid succession. The burst mode is particularly useful for capturing fast-moving or unpredictable moments, like the first dance or bouquet toss. This way, you can be sure of not missing a moment.
5. Include the guests and capture only genuine emotions
Yes, the couple should be the main focus of the photo. However, keep an eye out for candid interactions between their guests.
Watch for friends catching, family members laughing, and laughing children. Additionally, keep an eye open for emotional interactions, such as the bride’s mum’s tearful glance at her daughter during the wedding ceremony or the groom’s proud smile during the speeches.
Documenting candid moments between their guests, friends, and family members will add depth and meaning to the wedding stories.
6. Use a telephoto lens
Regarding lenses for documentary wedding photography, a telephoto lens can help you capture candid moments from a distance. This is essential if you don’t want to intrude on personal space.
However, using a telephoto lens might not be suitable for wedding photography in small indoor settings. Alternatively, you can use a prime lens.
Both prime and telephoto lenses are ideal for documentary-style wedding photography. They enable you to capture high-quality images from various angles without being intrusive.
You can go through the article below to learn more about the best lenses for marriage photography:
A Wedding Photography Lenses Guide. When To Use Which Lens?
7. Always Anticipate candid moments
Wedding events are typically characterized by numerous unscripted moments and spontaneous laughter. Therefore, always be prepared and ready to shoot. Keep your camera running as you discreetly walk through the crowd.
Anticipate significant moments between the bride and groom. Pay close attention to their eyes and body movements. Understand the wedding schedule and know when important events are likely to occur, such as emotional exchanges, reactions, and interactions.
8. Document small details
Furthermore, try to photograph the little details that contribute to the atmosphere, such as decorations, table settings, and food and drinks.
Capture images of the wedding cake before and after it’s cut. Likewise, take close-up shots of invitation cards, guest gifts, bridal bouquets, wedding dresses, and any other objects that can add interest to the story or album.
9. Capture only important moments
There are plenty of candid moments at wedding events, and you cannot document everything. So, save yourself some unnecessary stress by capturing only the most important moments.
In the end, select and arrange the photos to tell an interesting story of the wedding, spanning from the beginning to the end.
Finally, you can go through the article below to learn more tips about how to capture beautiful documentary-style wedding portraits.
10 Tips For Shooting Best Documentary Style Wedding Portraits