What is Documentary Wedding Photography?
I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in Norfolk County, photographing weddings across Southern Ontario including Hamilton, London, and Toronto.
If you’ve been researching photographers, you’ve probably seen the words “documentary,” “candid,” and “natural” about 500 times and you might be wondering what documentary wedding photography actually means.
The tricky part is that those words get used and I think often very misused. Some photographers use them to describe work that’s still quite guided or posed.
what Documentary Wedding Photography is
Documentary wedding photography is about capturing what’s really happening, as it’s happening, without interference. It’s rooted in photojournalism. The goal isn’t to create moments - it’s to notice them.
I do some documenting - not all, some. I am very clear about that, and I am careful about how I use the words “documentary wedding photographer,” because if I can’t actually show work that reflects that, then it is just a lame buzzword used to confuse couples.
I used to actually loathe the term because it was so overused by photographers. I did eventually realize that it’s okay to use, and I felt confident that I had the goods to back it up. I truly do sit and see what happens without interfering. None of these photos below had anything to do with me guiding them. These are not candid shots either - I composed them. I saw something and approached it at certain angle, but still did not interfere with what was happening. At times I may see the angle before the scene has happened! I’ll wait because my intuition tells me a few more seconds (or minutes) and it will all come together.
A lot of documentary-style wedding photography happens in the morning of a wedding and during times that have buffer time in the schedule (another reason it’s important to make a proper wedding timeline). These are simple moments that where I wait, scan, and notice. This is not to say that I don’t do any poses during the day-I totally do. But I love the part of photographing a wedding day when you are on your toes, scanning the room to see what there is to notice and what there is to document. They are layered storytelling - layering photos is by far my most favourite thing to do with with photos.
What It’s NOT
I get a little testy at this part!
If a photographer is posing the couple and giving them direction, that is the COMPLETE opposite of “documentary photography”. I have absolutely zero idea why photographers write these words without truly exhibiting that skill set. Calling something documentary doesn’t make it documentary. Just say the type of photography you do! There is absolutely thing wrong with more traditional photography and having the ability to get epic photos of your couples posed in amazing lighting.
I see it daily on photographer Facebook posts advertising their services. Do couples even notice? And honestly, how would they? If everyone is using the same words, it all starts to sound the same. BUT I notice and it is important that I make the distinction and put it out there.
Every time I see a photographer say they are “documentary” I can’t help but to go to their site and so many times, it’s ALL POSED! My blood pressure goes up and I have to stop. This doesn’t mean the work isnt beautiful, it’s the using of the word to attract clients that perhaps don’t really know. Couples want beautiful photos at a the price they can afford - the over saturation of this particular buzz word makes it difficult to discern between styles. No wonder they are overwhelmed with the choices.
I work hard at weddings to truly notice what’s happening around me and where I can the next great moment.
Story Behind the Photo
The Shot That Didn’t Just ‘Happen
This was taken during the ceremony inside a large Catholic church in London, Ontario. Everyone had stood up, and I was seated behind the bridesmaids in the front pew.
Instead of standing with everyone else, I stayed low and started looking for something different. I noticed I could see the bride through the space between the bridesmaids’ arms and thought this could be really interesting… if she turns her head.
So I waited.
And waited.
My camera was heavy, so I braced my arm just to hold the composition. I stayed locked into that exact frame for probably 10–15 minutes, not knowing if anything would actually happen.
And then she turned. Just slightly.
I didn’t move, didn’t adjust, I just fired the shutter and let the moment unfold exactly as it was. So, while it looks like it just happened. It didn’t, I composed and waited of the perfect moment.
The Photo That Was Already There
I was at the bride’s childhood home of her parents as she was getting ready. The house hadn’t really changed, there were photos everywhere, and it still had that very 80s/90s feel.
Earlier, her mom pointed out her own wedding photo hanging on the wall. Big, formal, in an ornate gold frame, the kind you saw in lots of houses growing up.
I had been sitting on the stairs of the house during a bit of lull in the schedule, the bride was dressed, ready and waiting for the next part of the day. She sat down in the chair, and that’s when I saw it. I composed and shot a bunch of frames. Her parents’ wedding photo beside her. Photos of her as a child and teenager above her. And now - her, right in the middle of it all, about to get married herself. I didn’t move anything. Didn’t ask her to sit there. I just framed it and let it exist the way it already did. Most people would walk into a room like this and focus on the dress, the hair, the details. I saw a story on the walls and my spidey sense told me there is something there.
Because Toddlers Don’t Care It’s Your Wedding Day
This was during the morning at Cranberry Creek Gardens while everyone was getting ready.
The bride had a baby and like most toddlers, he didn’t care that it was a wedding day. He was out of his routine and just wanted his mom. Hair and makeup were done. The bridesmaids were ready. There was no rush in that moment but her hands were full.
She sat down on the floor to feed him. Not the couch, the floor. Probably because that’s where he was most comfortable, maybe watching something in the background, one eye on the screen. In the mirror, you can see her maid of honour watching, this quiet look of concern, like she’s seeing her best friend trying to hold everything together in that moment.
I didn’t step in. Didn’t move anything. This wasn’t something to direct or clean up. It just needed to be seen.
If this feels like the way you want your wedding remembered, you can reach out here →