Understanding the Different Types of Wedding Photography
There’s a lot of language out there when it comes to types of wedding photography.
Words like editorial, documentary, fine art, and traditional get thrown around, and it’s not always clear what they mean or how they apply to your day.
The truth is, you don’t need to know every term. What matters most is how you want to feel on your wedding day, and how you want to feel when you look back at your photos.
If you’re drawn to images that feel honest, natural, and beautiful—but also want a little guidance and intention woven in—you’re not alone. Most couples I work with want something real, but elevated.
They want images that capture not just how everything looked, but what it meant. And they want to feel comfortable enough to be fully present without worrying about what to do in front of the camera.
That’s where the balance of documentary and editorial comes in.
This is my approach. It’s not either-or. It’s both. And below, I’ll walk you through what documentary and editorial photography mean to me and my practice and how blending the two creates a wedding experience and gallery that feels effortless, honest, and entirely your own.
What Is Documentary Wedding Photography?
Documentary wedding photography is all about honesty. It’s about presence, observation, and connection. It’s not about creating moments, but honoring them as they unfold.
This style is rooted in street photography and storytelling. A documentary photographer doesn’t fully direct or orchestrate your day. They watch. They listen. They anticipate.
They understand what’s happening below the surface and respond in real time. It’s less about waiting for a smile and more about knowing when that smile is coming, and why.
When I’m photographing a wedding, I’m not standing on the edge of a moment, hoping something good happens. I’m already in the space. I’m listening to the conversation building, paying attention to who’s telling the story, who’s leaning in, who’s holding their breath.
I’m tuned into the rhythm of the room so I can be in the right place when the shift happens—whether that’s laughter, a quiet tear, or the kind of in-between moment that slipped past you in real time, but stays with you when you see it later.
My background in comedy taught me a lot about this. Timing. Energy. Anticipation. You learn how people move, how they connect, and when a moment is about to land. And at weddings, that awareness allows me to stay present with you, so when the emotion happens, I’m ready.
Documentary photography is about more than snapping candids. It requires empathy, emotional intelligence, and a deep respect for you and your guests' experience. It’s why I won’t tell you to “act happy” or ask you to recreate a hug or a glance. Those moments aren’t mine to choreograph but yours to live. My role is to witness them with care and make sure they’re preserved with the honesty they deserve.
More than anything, I want you to be fully plugged into your day. Not thinking about the camera, just immersed in what’s real. Because later, when you look at your photos, I want you to feel like you’ve been dropped right back into that moment.
That’s what documentary photography is all about.
What Is Editorial Wedding Photography?
Editorial wedding photography is often confused with fashion photography. People hear the word and picture high-fashion poses, blank expressions, or images that feel more like an overly-directed shoot than a memory. But that’s not what editorial means here.
In the context of weddings, editorial photography is about intention. It’s about curating an environment that lets the real moment shine, without disrupting it. It’s about elevating what’s already happening with care.
Where documentary is about bearing witness, editorial brings a sense of visual refinement. That might mean suggesting you put your dress on in a corner of the room with the prettiest light. Removing a bulky fire extinguisher while editing or adjusting a window shade so the space feels clean and calm.
Once you’re in the space, I step back. I won’t ask your mom to redo your buttons or stage a reaction. I create the conditions for the moment to unfold in the most beautiful setting possible, and then I document it, honestly.
Editorial also means preparation and thinking through artistic elements in advance, so when the moment unfolds, I am just documenting. I always scout before, even if I already know the venue, to find new spots to fit each couple. Every wedding is a collaboration to create something different with each couple. It’s about presence with intention, not perfection.
I also bring your vision into the process. I want to see your design board so I can view how you envision your wedding, the vibe your planner has helped create, and what you want it to feel like. I understand the visual world you’re building, and I document it with that in mind. That’s what editorial flair means.
And for couples who feel nervous about being photographed, this kind of thoughtful preparation makes all the difference. You’ll never be left on an island. During your portraits, I give loose direction and locations in mind, but always give you the space to be yourselves.
Editorial photography adds curation, polish, and artistry to the honesty of documentary.
What This Style Is Not
When people ask me to describe my style, I usually say this: documentary wedding photography with an editorial flair.
That means my work is grounded in truth, in observing and honoring your real moments, but with intention and an eye for beauty and art direction. I’ll capture what’s happening without interrupting it, and I’ll also make sure you’re in good light and never left wondering what to do next.
This approach is honest, but also thoughtful. It gives you space to be present while knowing everything behind the lens is handled with intention.
And just as important as what this style is, it’s also important to be clear about what it’s not.
This is not orchestrated.
I’m not going to ask you the groom to put on your tie a second time or have you fake a toast for the camera. I don’t run through a shot list of planned “moments”. I don’t recreate anything, and I will never assign you any emotions.
This is not stiff or overly posed.
You’ll never be arranged into something that doesn’t feel like you. I’ll provide loose direction if needed, but you’ll always be encouraged to interact naturally. I might suggest walking this way, or chatting with each other while we shoot. But the emotion, the movement, the vibe is all yours.
This is not filtered or trendy.
The colors will look like the colors of your day. The moments will look like the truth of what happened. No sepia tones. No filters that flatten the feeling or change the vibe of your day.
This is not a photoshoot for my portfolio
I’m not here to create content for my portfolio or check boxes on a moodboard. Your day isn’t being put into my aesthetic box. I will never keep you from being present at your wedding for a photo I want to take. Your experience on your wedding day is more important. Instead, I’m seeing it through your lens and documenting it with care.
The bottom line: this style doesn’t ask you to perform. It doesn’t expect perfection. It’s built around you being fully present and yourself. All you need to do is honor who you are and trust me to preserve it.
How to Know If This Style Is Right for You
If you’ve been reading this and nodding along, chances are this might be what you’re looking for, even if you didn’t have the words for it before.
My approach blends emotional presence with thoughtful direction, all while staying grounded in your world. It’s about helping you stay connected to what matters most, rather than creating a performance.
This style might be the right fit for you if:
You want wedding photos that feel real, full of genuine emotion, natural movement, and unfiltered connection.
You want to be present on your wedding day.
You care about how your day looks and also care more about how it feels.
You want to look amazing in your photos and enjoy your day.
You’re nervous about being photographed and want someone who can gently guide you, not leave you flying solo.
You want a photographer who prepares, observes, and supports you.
You’re looking for a calm, creative presence. Someone who reflects your story back to you instead of placing you into theirs.
Most of the couples I work with don’t come into this knowing exactly what they want to call their style. But they do know how they want to feel—supported, relaxed, comfortable.
That’s what this style is built for.
You Don’t Have to Choose Between Real and Beautiful
You deserve wedding photos that feel like you, not a version of you posed for the camera, and not a set of trendy edits that won’t hold up in a few years. You deserve images that are both honest and artful. Photos that take you back not just to how it looked, but to how it felt.
That’s the heart of editorial documentary wedding photography. It’s about honoring the truth of your day while creating the space for those moments to unfold beautifully. And it’s designed around you.
If you’re looking for photos that reflect your connection, your people, and your story, I’d love to talk more.
Reach out today so we can hop on a call, and be sure to send me a message if you have any additional questions about types of wedding photography.