If you speak to multiple photographers, I would expect we'll all have our own interpretations of what makes a documentary style wedding photographer, each with slight tweaks, I guess that's what makes us different!
My interpretation of documentary style wedding photography is to be there, but not there, if you get what I mean!
This style puts more focus on taking candid shots throughout the day, allowing the bride, groom and all of the guests to enjoy the day without too many staged, time consuming and sometimes awkward shots.
As a wedding photographer myself, I put more focus on capturing those moments that happen in a blink of an eye! Clients hire me because they want to feel at ease in front of the camera.
Your photographer should allow you to have as many family and portrait shots as you wish! When viewing our works you'll see we don't hold back on this, so don't be put off by this fly-on-the-wall style, you'll still have those memorable couple and family shots.
Both Hannah (Bride Diaries) and I (Wedding Diaries) believe you should spend as much time as possible with your family and friends on your big day, it'll be the only time you have all of your friends and all of your family together at once!
Our style of photography and videography allows us to take a bit more of a step back so we can capture the natural moments of your wedding day, so when you look back you can see it from your guests-eye-view - in the case of Bride Diaries, you'll be looking back at this content within 24 hours of the wedding!
You'll be less aware of a documentary style photographer being at your wedding, as we work mainly on the periphery, blending in with your guests and background, capturing the tears and cheers at the ceremony, more tears and laughter during the speeches and the celebrations when the first dance opens up the dancefloor.
The editing style of a documentary style wedding photographer should be natural, so the photos can be seen as true to the day without heavy filters (In my opinion, with the exception being black and white!).
I'm confident you'll look back at the spontaneous 'in the moment' images with a fonder memory, than the staged shots.
You can see the photography services offered by Wedding Diaries and the video services offered by Bride Diaries, by clicking the links at the top of the page.
Here is a small selection of images:
