How to Make the Most of Your Documentary Wedding Photography Experience
You’ve chosen a documentary-style wedding photographer to photograph your wedding day, which means your photos will tell the true, unscripted story of your day—full of emotion, movement, and real moments.
Here’s how to make the most of your experience:
1. Trust Your Photographer
You hired me for my eye, my storytelling, and my ability to capture fleeting moments. The best thing you can do is relax and trust the process. No need to pose or direct—I will find the magic in what’s already happening.
2. Be Present
The more you focus on enjoying your day, the more natural and meaningful your photos will be. Forget about the camera and soak in every hug, laugh, and quiet moment.
3. Embrace Imperfection & Movement
Documentary photography isn’t about stiff, posed shots—it’s about real, raw, beautiful moments. Wind-blown hair, happy tears, or a spontaneous dance move? That’s where the best photos happen.
4. Prioritize Connection Over Perfection
Forget trying to look “perfect” in every shot. Instead, lean into the real emotions of the day—holding hands, whispering inside jokes, squeezing your best friend before walking down the aisle. These natural moments will mean the most when you look back on your photos, because they will show real feelings and real moments.
5. Set the Scene with Good Lighting
While I can work in any conditions, great lighting makes a big difference in getting great photos. If possible:
Consider soft, ambient lighting for dinner and dancing.
Avoid harsh overhead lighting when possible (especially fluorescent lights).
6. Let me Capture the Whole Story
Some of the most memorable moments happen before and after the “big” events—getting ready, transitioning between locations, or even the late-night energy on the dance floor. Consider full-day coverage so nothing is missed.
(For example, I took photo above while riding in the front seat of an Uber with my couple on the way from their ceremony to their reception. It was pitch black in downtown San Francisco, and it was perfect.)
7. Share Your Timeline, but Stay Flexible
It’s helpful for me to know the flow of the day so I can anticipate moments. That said, some of the best images come from unexpected, unplanned moments—so don’t stress if things run a little behind, I know it won’t stress me out one bit.
8. Don’t worry about the Camera
I am there as your photographer to capture moments as they naturally unfold, not to direct you into stiff poses. Just be yourself, interact with your people, and trust that I’m capturing you at your best.
9. Communicate Any Must-Have Shots
While documentary photography is all about storytelling, if there are certain moments, traditions, or people you absolutely want captured, let me know ahead of time so I can keep an eye out—without disrupting the flow of the day.
10. Trust the Editing Process
I will curate and edit your gallery to tell the full, cohesive story of your wedding. I avoid heavy retouching or selecting only “perfect” images—sometimes the raw, in-between moments are the ones that bring back the most emotion.
Final Thought: