What to Expect When Working With a Documentary-Style Photographer
Let’s talk about what “documentary-style” really means.
If you’ve ever looked at a photo and felt something like you could almost hear the laughter, feel the warmth, or remember what that moment smelled like that’s the power of documentary-style photography.
It’s not about posing or perfection. It’s about truth. The kind of truth that lives in the way your partner reaches for your hand when no one’s looking, or how your family squeezes you just a little tighter before you walk down the aisle.
As a documentary-style wedding photographer based in Phoenix, my goal isn’t to create a highlight reel it’s to tell the story of your day exactly as it felt.
It’s all about presence, not posing.
You don’t need to worry about “what to do with your hands” or forcing a Pinterest-perfect smile. I’ll give you gentle direction when you need it, but most of the time, I’m just observing, waiting for the little in-between moments that say more than a pose ever could.
Maybe that’s a quiet breath before the ceremony starts. Maybe it’s your friends losing it on the dance floor. Maybe it’s your grandma’s proud tears. Those are the kinds of photos that matter most, the ones that feel like you.
This approach is especially beautiful for couples who value authenticity queer couples, nontraditional weddings, anyone who doesn’t want to fit into a mold. Because when you stop performing for the camera, your love shows up fully as it is.
Here’s what you can expect from the experience.
Working with a documentary-style photographer feels calm, intentional, and collaborative.
When we shoot together, I’ll get to know you what makes you laugh, how you two move together, what feels natural. You don’t have to pretend, pose, or do anything that doesn’t feel like you.
You can expect:
Candid direction that helps you relax instead of overthink.
Plenty of breathing room I won’t rush you through moments.
A focus on emotion over aesthetics (though you’ll still look amazing, promise).
Honesty in every frame. No fake smiles, no forced perfection.
If you’re the type of couple who wants to remember the day as it actually happened not just how it looked documentary photography will feel like home.
Why it matters.
Years from now, you’ll look back on your wedding photos and remember how it felt to be there not how stiff that one pose was or how long you held your smile.
Documentary-style photography isn’t about chasing the perfect shot it’s about chasing the real ones. The joy, the mess, the quiet. The moments you didn’t even realize were happening until you see them frozen in time.
It’s also deeply human. For queer, BIPOC, and nontraditional couples who have often been told what love “should” look like this style gives you permission to show up exactly as you are. No edits, no filters on your story.
How to get the most out of your documentary session
You don’t need to perform for the camera but a few small things can help you feel even more natural and confident:
Focus on each other. Forget I’m there for a bit. Talk, move, laugh.
Choose a space that feels like you. Your home, a favorite trail, a coffee shop the vibe matters more than the backdrop.
Wear what makes you comfortable. Confidence photographs better than anything else.
Trust the process. Even the in-between shots (especially those) are where the magic lives.
You deserve photos that feel like you.
At the end of the day, my favorite thing about being a documentary-style wedding and engagement photographer in Phoenix is getting to see love unfold the way it really looks, not how it’s “supposed” to.
Whether you’re planning a cozy backyard wedding, an elopement in the desert, or a bookstore engagement session, I’ll show up to document every second of your story exactly as it is honest, emotional, and full of heart.
