I’m going to start this blog post with some words from one of my couples I had the pleasure of photographing. Feedback of any sort is always appreciated for us photographers, and when it comes from a fellow wedding photographer (Clare, the bride) its even more special. When I get Google reviews and thank you cards from my couples its not only a written acknowledgement that i’ve done a good job, but also a record of letting me know that the documentary approach I love to shoot a wedding with is still working for me!
“I'm trying to pick a favourite and can't - I love the big moments and the small. It’s easy to talk about the obvious big moments, half the time I can’t believe it’s our wedding I’m looking at. But I love the small, quiet moments too - the light on the floor tiles, Craig's hand on my back, the forest leaves - you've captured these so perfectly they make my skin tingle. Please don't ever underestimate the effect of these seemingly 'small' photos.
You were the best and easiest decision we made for our wedding. I could go on, but I won't because I think you already know just how much these photos personally mean to me (and of course Craig).“
CLARE + CRAIG
These guys got married at the beautiful Pumping House in Nottinghamshire. Click HERE if you want to see more from their lovely wedding day.
So what exactly is a documentary wedding photographer? In my mind its a photographer that doesn’t interfere with the proceedings of your wedding day, and will do their very best to capture an honest, true, and real story of the day through a collection of un-staged and natural images.
Working as a documentary wedding photographer really suits me for many reasons. The main attraction is because of my background in photography before I decided to become a full time wedding photographer. The first decade of my career was spent as a press photographer supplying images to newspapers, magazines, and agencies. It was manic, high-pressured, and extremely fun (very much like how weddings can be!). I learnt so much as a press photographer, and it definitely helped me to develop a creative and reportage style that I use at all my weddings I shoot. Being thrown in at the deep end at such a young age was also the best on-the-job education I could have asked for. I was just 17 years old when I started out and was ridiculously shy. I would be so nervous going on assignments, and I was always worried that people wouldn’t take someone so young at all seriously. Yes, the first few years were tough, but i’m so glad I did it and stuck at it!
Because I had to learn how to build my confidence around complete strangers on a daily basis (sometimes these strangers were politicians, celebrities, sports stars, and even members of the royal family) it quickly made me a much more assertive person, and definitely helped me come out of my shell. Being a press photographer really does make you become a ‘people person’. And if you don’t like people… well, maybe being a press photographer or a wedding photographer isn’t for you.
(BELOW) ME! Busy snapping, and enjoying a chilled-out festival-inspired wedding in Devon.
If you’ve booked me to shoot your wedding, or you’re reading this and thinking “this guy seems OK, and his photos are pretty cool, let’s book him!”, then here is my brief guide to how I approach every wedding in a documentary style.
Don’t worry, I still snap the group shots and the bridal portraits. Click HERE If you’re wondering how I shoot the groups, and click HERE if you’re wondering how I do the bridal portraits. And keep an eye out for a future post where I’ll be chatting about how I do the relaxed couple portraits!
Bridal / groom prep (a.k.a the potential chaos hours!)
The first part of your wedding day where I will be present is generally the ‘getting ready’ stage. My biggest advice for this part of the day is to just pretend I’m not there! Carry on like you were a few minutes before I came through the door, and this way I’ll blend into the background, float around taking really natural, fun, and sometimes deeply emotional images as your wedding day kicks off.
On the way to the ceremony - This really is a great time of the day to put my years of press photography into practice. Walking backwards (fast!) and snapping away. I’m pleased to say I mastered the art of the reverse-run when I was working on newspapers…
The Ceremony - This is where all the emotions can come out. The first time all your guests see you in your wedding dress, and also the first time you get to make a connection with the person you’re about to marry! Capturing connections is what I’m all about. I can’t get enough of people hugging, kissing, or just engaging in conversation with a friend or family member at a wedding.
(BELOW) Its great when a couple forget all about the guests, and just concentrate on each other… even if just for a split second!
(BELOW) All the tiny details. You don’t have to have faces in a photo to capture a connection or tell a story at a wedding.
The wider scene - Some people call them ‘environmental portraits’ but I prefer to just class it as taking a look at the wider scene. Capturing the vibe of the day / the moment in a single frame, and really telling a story with a frame-filling image.
All the fun! - By the time the getting ready/bridal prep/groom prep/ is done, and the ceremony has finished, most people have got used to me being around, and being a part of your day. Nowadays so many people are taking photos at weddings with their phones that I blend in even more by this point. Plus, I don’t lug around loads of equipment so am very discreet. This allows me to wander around, chat away to guests, and capture all the fun of your celebrations. I’m very lucky that my work attracts like-minded couples that are fun and carefree, and just want me to capture an honest story of their wedding day.
(BELOW) Here is a selection of candid shots I’ve taken where I’ve employed the “shoot first, ask later” attitude!
Night time action - I love it when a couple book me to stay late on their wedding day. The fun and antics that can be captured late into the evening is fantastic for a documentary wedding photographer. Its not just the action on the dance floor that I look out for… its everywhere!
Fleeting moments - These moments tend to be the images that pull at the heart strings the most with my couples. They are the photos that I always get the best reactions from after I’ve delivered them. I often hear “We didn’t even know you were there when that happened” or “Thats one of our favourite photos from the day… and our faces aren’t even in the shot!”
(BELOW) Kids at weddings. Whether they’re smiling, crying, or just picking their nose, they always make for great (and cute) candid shots.
(BELOW) Documenting this London wedding was ace. The bride and groom met up before the ceremony for a quick pint at their local. How cool is that?! Click HERE if you want to see their whole wedding. Its a gorgeous wedding, and a great example of how I shoot in a documentary style from start to finish!
(BELOW) All the feels! I always say that I like my fun photos to have energy to them, and all my other images to have feeling about them. This image of Clare wandering through the wood barefoot not only looks great, but will also remind her of what her wedding truly felt like. I like to think the images beneath it also give off great feelings too.
“Just turn it black and white… that will make it look arty right?”
My college years (and also my first few years as a professional photographer) were spent in the darkroom, perfecting the art of black and white photography. Its still a joy for me to convert an image into black and white nowadays. Losing the colour and opting for a mono version is more about trying to create an image with greater impact than the colour version had. And yes, it might make the shot look more arty… which isn’t a bad thing anyway. But I don’t just convert any shot to black and white. It needs to have the right content, and the right light for me to do this.
Emotional connections - These are most probably the hardest, yet most rewarding images for any documentary photographer to capture at a wedding.
If I spot a scene playing out in front of me where something like a hug or an embrace is going to happen I’m quick to grab it, move on, and not be seen. If I’m noticed I feel like I’ve ruined that moment for the person, and it would upset me if that was the case. I’m there to document the connections, not intrude on them.
(BELOW) A few of my favourite connection photos from the past couple of years. (I could’ve posted hundreds here!)
