Documentary-style photography, also known as photojournalism or reportage photography, is a style of photography that aims to chronicle events or environments in a factual and objective manner. Here are some key characteristics and principles of documentary-style photography:
Objective Approach: Documentary photography seeks to capture moments as they happen, without altering the scene or influencing the subjects. For weddings and couples portraits this means letting couples be who they are within the frame or backdrop.
Storytelling: It focuses on telling a story through images, often capturing candid and unposed moments. Shooting the whole day from start to finish and the nuanced moments in between. For me this means also shooting the environment and things that catch my eye beyond the couple.
Authenticity: The emphasis is on capturing real-life situations and events as they unfold naturally, without staging or directing the subjects. Im NOT telling couples to be someone they aren’t but asking them to be themselves and in front of a good back drop.
Emphasis on Context: Photographs are often taken in the context of a larger narrative or story, aiming to provide insight into a particular issue, culture, or event. For weddings this unfolds in a few ways as the photographer I respect and honor each couples backgrounds and I work with families and people to capture that in a human way.
Minimal Manipulation: Unlike commercial or portrait photography, documentary photography typically involves minimal editing or post-processing to preserve the authenticity of the image. Exactly, I don’t edit much, and I don’t retouch at all thats an add on service.
I think the goal is to weave, even marry the love of photojournalism with weddings. Offering couples something really honest and unique to their love. Verse cookie cutting the same protocol every time. Someone once told me a lot of my weddings look different and I think to some degree they should, not everyone is the same. So the photos also shouldn’t look the same.
awesome magnum Article HERE on documentary style.
Documentary styled photography is often known for being little more edgy and crud, not as soft and gentle as more commercial and typical wedding photography. Artfully choosing angles that are maybe more about the image that being perfect. Sometimes stepping all the way back or on the floor to catch life from a different view.
Check out a few of my favorite elopement’s I’ve done recently CLICK HERE