The Beauty of Documentary Wedding Photography
Documentary wedding photographer based in Johannesburg and Pretoria, South Africa
Planning a wedding involves countless decisions, from the venue to the flowers, and one of the most significant choices is selecting the right wedding photographer. If you’re dreaming of authentic, heartfelt images that tell the true story of your special day, documentary wedding photography is the perfect fit. Here’s why this approach is gaining popularity among brides in Johannesburg and Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
What is Documentary Wedding Photography?
Documentary wedding photography, also known as reportage or photojournalistic wedding photography, focuses on capturing real, unscripted moments. This style is about letting the day unfold naturally, capturing the genuine emotions and interactions that make your wedding unique.
Why Choose Documentary Wedding Photography?
Authentic Moments: Your wedding day will be filled with genuine emotions—joy, laughter, and perhaps a few happy tears. Documentary photography captures these raw moments as they happen, providing a true reflection of your day.
Natural Interactions: Without the pressure of constant posing for the camera, you and your guests can relax and enjoy the celebration. This results in more natural, spontaneous photos that reflect your personalities and relationships. There is of course some posing involved, but I try to keep it to a minimum.
Storytelling: A documentary photographer aims to tell the complete story of your wedding day, from the excitement of getting ready to the heartfelt vows and the joyous celebrations. Each photo is a piece of the puzzle, creating a comprehensive and beautiful narrative.
Timelessness: Candid photos often stand the test of time better than posed shots. They capture real expressions and moments that will always bring back the emotions of your special day.
What happens if it rains on your wedding day?
I often get asked by couples what will happen if it rains on their wedding day. During summer months in Gauteng we regularly get heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon. It is something I enjoy most about living up here. It cools down the day and I just love the sound of thunder. A bride from Spain who got married here said that she has never heard thunder and lightning that loud. She was busy getting dressed when lighting struck very close to the venue, her reaction made for a very funny moment.
Coming back to the question of what will happen if it rains on your wedding day. My answer is simple, there is nothing you can do about it, so why not make it fun and memorable? Your photos will be unique, running around in the rain is lots of fun, the light is nice and soft, dark clouds make for dramatic photos, you might get rainbow photos, the smell of rain is lovely and you will remember it for the rest of your life. Many cultures actually see it as a sign of good fortune.
It is not the end of the world and I always enjoy shooting in the rain.
A wedding photographer's top 10 tips for brides
Top 10 photography tips for brides from a photographer’s point of view
1. Meet with the photographer before the wedding
Once you have decided on a photographer based on their portfolio and style, ask to meet with them in person or via a video call. You should feel comfortable with the person as, you will be spending most of your wedding day with them.
2. Hire a reputable photographer
Don’t just hire anybody with a camera, every second person thinks they’re a photographer these days. Make sure the photographer can shoot a full wedding of a high standard from beginning to end. Go through their portfolio and make sure they have a few full weddings loaded and not just a few lucky shots. We all started somewhere and had to build our portfolios from nothing but make sure the photographer is capable of documenting the entire day in full.
3. Consider getting a second shooter
I can cover all the beautiful and important moments of the day by myself. Some couples do however request that there be a second photographer on the day. They want the second shooter to cover the guests whilst the couple session is taking place, or they would like to have a dedicated photographer to stay with the guys the whole morning. A second photographer is never a bad idea in my opinion.
4. Have a timeline in place and try to follow it as much as possible.
I always sit down with clients long before the wedding day to discuss the timeline of the day. Things move quickly on the day and can easily get out of hand if there is no schedule to work from. The timeline will also ensure that all the important photos are captured during the day. The last thing you want is to be stressed out or late.
5. Make sure there is enough time for hair and make-up.
A delay with hair and makeup can set the whole day behind schedule. Try to plan it in a way that there is at least 30-45 minutes for photos of you fully dressed, and in makeup, before you must leave for the ceremony. Most professional makeup artists will also give you a schedule from which they will work.
6. Include a father of the bride fist look
One of my favourite moments to capture during a wedding is the first time the bride’s father or sometimes mother sees her. It is filled with emotion and makes for truly heartfelt photos.
7. Make sure there is lots of confetti
Make sure that guests have more than enough of whatever there is to throw at you, it looks great on photos! Have a look at all the different options that can be used for confetti. There are many different kinds that look really cool on photos. Some of my personal favourites are popcorn, bubbles, streamers, and rice.
8. Have a list of family photos
Ensure that there’s a list of family photos ready and give it so someone that knows them and can call them out for photos. It might sound like a non-important task, but it really helps speed up the process on the day and will guarantee that no one is forgotten about.
9. Schedule the couple for the sunset golden hour.
Everything looks better during the sunset hour and you probably booked the venue because of its beautiful scenery and surroundings. The 45 minutes before sunset is the best time for photography in the day. The light is soft and flattering and everything just comes to life.
10. Remember, it’s your day
It is one of the most special days you will ever experience, and it goes by so fast. Your photographer will do everything they can to capture it as beautifully as possible. Things might not go 100% according to plan. It might rain or the guests might not be there on time. Do not stress. Be fully present in the moment and enjoy every second with your new husband or wife :)
The first look wedding photo
Seeing the bride for the first time is often a very emotional moment for a parent. It is also on of my top 3 favourite moments to capture during a wedding day.
Which type of confetti is the best?
Not sure what confetti to use on your wedding day? Have a look at these different options that I have shot before and how it looks on a photo. My only advice is to make sure there’s lots and lots of whatever is being thrown. The more the better.
