Your moments matter!

As I continue to curate and refine the process of how I photograph a wedding, I am often asked what a documentary wedding photography looks like. Really the question is, what will you normally cover and what won’t you cover.

Typically, my approach is to follow the day as it occurs and capture those moments in real time. In a nutshell, this means that many of the traditional posed wedding images I do not deliver or at least won’t worry about delivering unless requested by the client. Think if it must be posed, then I will probably not capture it (e.g., bride prep posed images, individual bridal party member posed images, bridal party paired posed images, etc.)

All weddings should have family formals as these images are very important. I will capture these formal images of the couple with close family. 

Normally I try to keep the groupings to parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, and nephews.

Everyone else I tend to capture during the flow of the reception. In addition, I normally ask for a 30-minute session for couple portraits. This is just to get a couple images of the couple together after they have tied the knot. These are not hard and fast rules as I am aware that every wedding is unique. If the client request specific images, we do our very best to capture those as well.

The point of this approach is to create images that tell the story of the day authentically. I want the MAJORITY of your images to reflect real moments that occurred during the day. The traditional posed images, in my opinion, can take away from the real memories from the day.

In terms of editing and delivery:

• Clean and true to color edits. Crisp true whites and deep blacks with natural skin tones to slightly warm skin tones. I am not the photographer to excessively retouch images by overly retouching skin or shaping bodies. I am deeply inspired by film photography so my images tend to have some film grain in them. The end result is a classic true to life film like image that is timeless.

See a sample wedding to get a feel for the coverage HERE!

Here is a sample shot list from a typical wedding day

These are examples but every wedding is unique and different so the coverage tends to vary based on the wedding. 

Details

I tend to take these images on the couple so not the standard lay flat shots you tend to see. (e.g. invitation, special signs, & gifts, Wedding rings, Wedding dresses/suits, Outfit accessories like shoes, cuff links, or jewelry).

Getting Ready

Bride getting hair and makeup done

Bride and bridesmaid having fun (candid images)

Bride(s) and bridesmaids/flower girls (group shot)

Bride alone in her dress

Groom and groomsmen getting ready

Groom and groomsmen having fun (candid images)

Groom(s) and groomsmen/ring bearer (group shot)

Groom alone in his suit

Pre-Ceremony

Couple alone for your first look (if the couple  decides to complete a first look)

Ceremony

Venue shots including ceremony site, flowers, interior, and exterior details

Guests

Bridal party entrance

Bride(s) walking down the aisle

Groom’s reaction

Father/mother giving the bride away

Exchanging of vows

Exchanging the rings

The first kiss as a married couple and the moment after

Signing the marriage certificate

The recessional (couple walking back up the aisle)

Group Portraits

Couple with the entire wedding party

Couple with any children

Couple with each set of parents

Couple with siblings

Couple with close family members (group shot)

Bridal Portraits

Couple alone (normally this is a 20-30 minute session to just get some images of the couple).

Reception

Details and room decor shots, including table settings, place cards, favors, centerpieces, etc.

Wedding cake detail shots

Grand entrance

Toasts and speeches

Cake cutting

The first dance

Bride(s) dancing with father/groom(s) dancing with mother

Couple mingling with guests

Guests dancing

Musicians, singers, DJ

Grand exit