groom pulling a face and bride laughing as they say their i do's at hackney town hall

Why choose a documentary wedding photographer

There are many different things to look at when choosing your wedding photographer – perhaps the two most important are the style of photography and the photographer themselves. In this blog piece I’m going to focus on what documentary photography is, and whether it’s right for you.

  • bride with arm around brother as she arrives at mandap at firle place
  • hampshire garden wedding couple kissing on friends shoulders
  • party playing jenga and bricks falling
  • bride cupping groom's hands smiling with joy after getting married
  • kid trying to escape down aisle with mums hand stretched out
  • guests sitting on hay bails all stroking gorgeous lab dog
  • boy hugging his mother's leg
  • mother and son sharing a laugh on the dance floor
  • guests getting down on the dance floor
  • guy laughing at woman trying to lower herself under a pole
  • old granny holding a disposable camera taking a shot
  • bride with arms in air laughing dancing with groom
  • close up on bride wiping away a tear
  • guests hugging
  • close up of bride and groom linking hands
  • kids running through garden at wedding
  • guests with their shot glasses ready to down
  • woman with arms in air on dance floor
  • group of guests old and young saying cheers with goblets of beer
  • bride cups her her husbands face
  • confetti walk
  • dog leaning out of bride and groom's getaway truck
  • mother leans in to hug new son in law at firle place

“The moment we met Pippa we were impressed by her professional manner, quiet confidence and her fun, friendly approach. We sent the photo link to all our friends, family and work colleagues and EVERYONE, without exception, has commented on the quality of the images and how Pippa has captured the day so creatively. It is not until you see the photos that you can see she had all the best angles and somehow managed to be in two places at once. We have ended up with the most amazing photographs that will be a great reminder of the love and laughter at our wedding day. We are thinking up ways of working with her again.”

Jo & Paul

What is documentary wedding photography?

In short, this style of photography uses similar techniques and approaches that a photojournalist would use to report a story. It’s a hands-off type approach with minimal interference from the photographer. It’s an honest, unscripted set of photographs. Uncontrived and unpretentious. It won’t look like someone else’s wedding because no two weddings can be the same with a documentary wedding photographer. There are generally no check-lists of photographs so you can experience the day without stressing over must-have pics.

Documentary wedding photography is about anticipating all the unexpected expressions and emotions that make that wedding unique to you. You won’t see a documentary wedding photographer setting up shots or directing people. That doesn’t tell an authentic real story and telling a story is precisely what this style is all about.

Being a documentary wedding photographer however, isn’t about lurking in the shadows. People will start to think you’re trying to catch them off guard if you’re hiding behind a bush with a long lens. There’s often interaction with the guests, eye contact, listening to and sometimes being part of some banter, which will set up being able to take great natural, honest shots.

“Pippa thank you for capturing all the emotions on our day so unobtrusively. Your tenacity, calmness and soft manner, won everyone over. Your praises have been mentioned more than once. You understood so well how to illustrate our love story and all our friends and family are truly impressed by the quality and creativity of the photos that perfectly capture everything special about our day. It’s clear you really love what you do. We will be recommending you to all our friends.”

Wendy & Claire

Is a documentary wedding photographer right for me?

One thing I don’t believe in when it comes to weddings is perfection. Or for couples to feel they have to conform to perfection. There is so much out there on social media to portray the perfect looking wedding and that’s not what documentary wedding photography seeks to do. If you want your wedding to look a certain way, by following trends, or what others’ weddings might look like – then that is totally great but it’s not at the heart of a documentary wedding photography.

If you want to feel like you can totally be yourselves, not worry about posing and don’t want the natural flow of the day interrupted, then this is the kind of photography you want. If you want timeless honest photographs, edited in a natural and authentic way with no over-editing trends or editing filters then this is for you.

To find the perfect documentary wedding photographer, consider the photographer’s portfolio, experience, and communication style. A strong portfolio will showcase their ability to capture the essence of a wedding day. Experience is essential for ensuring they can handle the fast-paced nature of a wedding. A good photographer should have strong communication skills so you feel comfortable and relaxed on your big day.

For me, I find people endlessly fascinating and and love observing social interactions. Each wedding is a blank canvas so this feels like the perfect job! Good luck with planning your wedding day and please do get in touch if you think we could be a good fit.

“Pippa has a natural and gentle approach to photography, with an ability so special and unique to follow a wedding with an ‘observing manner’, and we are lucky enough to have such real memories to look back at. Pippa caught such honest moments of emotion and memories and it’s this that has truly transformed these photos into something far more precious for us. Thank you Pippa from the bottom of our hearts”

Hayley & Pete