In recent years, documentary-style wedding photography has become a favorite for capturing those genuine, unposed moments that truly tell the story of your special day. Unlike traditional wedding photography, which usually involves carefully orchestrated shots, documentary photography focuses on the natural flow of the celebration. Whether you're exploring your photography options or simply curious about this style, it's good to get to know its key aspects. To give you some insight, we turned to authentic, emotive wedding photographer Brooke Nalani.
Authentic to Your Love
The first thing that sets documentary-style wedding photography apart from traditional wedding photography is its focus on capturing authentic moments. The unposed, the candid, the spontaneous, the imperfect — this approach captures it all. It's perfect for couples who desire a wedding gallery that authentically reflects the raw truth of your love, the organic emotions of your guests, and the authentic story of your day. When you look back at your photos, you won’t just see your memories — you’ll feel them. As a photographer, I document all the little moments that genuinely reflect the events and emotions, and together, we capture the real, the raw, and the heartfelt as the day unfolds.
Storytelling Visuals
Authentic storytelling is another key element of documentary-style wedding photography. As a photographer, I aim to create a visual narrative of each couple's wedding day. By documenting moments big and small, the collection of images together tell the story of your wedding as it organically unfolds. The primary goal of a photographer is to create images that take you right back into that moment, that feeling.
A Celebration of Natural Light
Rather than using artificial light boxes and reflectors, documentary-style photography uses the natural lighting conditions of the wedding venue. By making the most of the light that already exists in the event space, photographers then capture authentic, atmospheric images. These photos transport couples back in time to the feeling of the place they chose to say, “I do.” Chasing the perfect light is also a fantastic excuse to steal the newlyweds away for a moment alone at sunset.
A Time Capsule of Emotion
More than beautiful images, documentary wedding photography aims to capture organic emotion, pausing in time all the little overlooked details that speak to the feeling of the moment. The movement of your dress as your partner spins you around the dance floor, the tear slipping down your grandma’s cheek during your vows, the too-wide smiles that make your cheeks ache but just keep coming, and so many other moments are what make your love story tangible and unforgettable.
Candid Moments
While traditional wedding photography relies heavily on poses and prompts, documentary photography uses little or no posing. Of course, group shots still require some coordination, but for the most part, candids emphasize capturing real moments. Instead of staging poses, it's about capturing couples holding each other tenderly, sharing loving looks because they want to, not because they have to.
Real Connection
I am deeply passionate about documentary-style wedding photography because it’s so much more than taking a photo. To authentically capture the moments that mean the most to my couples, I have to truly get to know who they are, what they love, and who’s important to their story. If I want to document organic emotions, I need to intentionally create a relationship that allows couples to be wholly themselves in front of my lens. So, when choosing your photographer, be sure it’s someone you genuinely connect with and feel entirely comfortable around.
