5 Must-Have Types of Documentary Wedding Photographs
By definition documentary wedding photographs are unscripted and unposed, and I definitely don’t turn up to your wedding with a list of shots we HAVE to get. My job is to capture each moment as it happens, telling the story of your wedding day as naturally and unobtrusively as possible. This being said, there are 5 categories of documentary wedding photographs I always look to capture - I think they are the perfect set of shots to show how the day felt to you and your guests, and, portray the relationships between all your loved ones. Here’s my list!
Must have documentary wedding photographs #1: Getting Ready
When you book my ‘ALL or Nothing’ full day photography package for your wedding, I’ll rock up a couple of hours before your ceremony starts to capture some documentary wedding photographs of you getting ready. I love ‘getting ready’ photos because they contain so much emotion; the excitement, the nerves, the giddy chatter between you and your friends…they’re also a lovely thing to look back on if you get ready separately from your partner. In this case it’s the only part of the day you don’t get to see each other, making the photos super special when they arrive! Documentary wedding photographs of you getting ready are the perfect introduction in the story arc of your day.
Must have documentary wedding photographs #2: Pre-ceremony nerves
Most couples get nervous right before the ceremony! It’s totally normal, and something I love to capture with my documentary wedding photographs. There’s so much anticipation and a sense of time getting a little bit out of whack, and on the day itself you might feel like this part is a bit of a blur! When you get your images back and see how your partner was feeling right before they met you at the end of the aisle, it’s a really special moment. Your last images together before saying ‘I do’!
Must have documentary wedding photographs #3: Conversations
My documentary wedding photographs are all about capturing people naturally, finding moments of magic in ordinary things. I love to shoot while people are mingling, having conversations, meeting for the first time in months (or years), or meeting for the first time! There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing a room full of people, gathered there for their love of you, enjoying each other’s company - and whilst you’ll try and do the rounds to say hello to everyone, you won’t be able to see everyone all of the time! Looking back through pictures of you and your guests mingling and chatting can be more enjoyable than flicking through endless group shots against the same background…trust me!
Having said this, there is always still space in your day to get the important group shots - I wrote a blog on the subject which you can read HERE all about how to get the best out of them; the headline is to really think about gathering your nearest and dearest together for these!
Must have documentary wedding photographs #4: Guests having fun
Let’s face it, wedding days often have significant periods of ‘blank’ time for your guests. I really recommend getting some sort of entertainment throughout the day, so that your guests can enjoy themselves while you’re off getting changed, mingling with the uncles or spending half an hour together. Some of the best documentary photographs are of your guests having fun! I love to capture your loved ones mid-laugh, in fierce competition and displaying genuine reactions to the entertainment you’ve put on. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive; if it’s an outdoor summer wedding, how about some giant lawn games? You could also hire a magician to mingle among the guests and surprise them with some card tricks during the drinks reception!
Must have documentary wedding photographs #5: The dancefloor
With my full-day wedding photography package, I always hit the dancefloor with you for a while before I go home. Not only to throw some shapes but to get some AWESOME documentary wedding photographs! This part of the day is the time for you and your guests to let loose and have fun, and there’s nothing more natural or candid than taking someone’s photo while they dance to their favourite song. Pictures of the party are going to be the best final chapter to your wedding day, and you’ll love looking back at some parts of the night you may not remember so well…!
The thing about documentary wedding photographs…
The important thing to remember about documentary wedding photos is that there’s never a guarantee of specific shots; when you hire me, you’re hiring my experience and a trained eye in looking for the best moments throughout your day. The above is a guide to the things I love to capture, but what you’ll receive in the end is going to be personal and tailored to the day you have, not dictated by a list. Check out what’s included in my documentary wedding photography packages; there are a couple of different options for coverage, so see what works for you and then drop me a line!
Gina x0x0
