How I Photograph Your Wedding

As a Boston wedding photojournalist, I have an approach that allows me to capture candid, unscripted moments from your special day in a natural and unobtrusive way. Here is information about the style I have developed and how I photograph each part of your wedding day.

What is Wedding Photojournalism?

This style of photography is all about capturing candid, spontaneous moments and telling the story of the wedding day. For most of the day I will not direct anything and capture the natural interactions and emotions between the couple, their families, and guests. My goal is to create a collection of wedding photos that showcase the feeling and atmosphere of the wedding, rather than spending hours posing the couple in traditional, posed shots.

Techniques I Use to Document a Wedding

As a professional wedding photographer in Boston, I use a range of techniques to capture candid moments in a documentary style. I often shoot close to my subjects with prime lenses and use a wide aperture and shallow depth of field to create a sense of intimacy. I also like to capture candid moments from different angles and perspectives, such as shooting from above or below, to add interest and variety to my images.

I prefer to use available light to create a natural, candid feel and incorporate elements of the surroundings and environment into my shots to add context and tell a more complete story. I may also use editing techniques like black and white conversion or selective coloring to add visual interest and emphasis to certain elements in the frame.

The Benefits of My Photography Style

The main benefit of hiring a documentary style wedding photographer like myself is that you can experience your wedding day without feeling like it's a photo shoot. Documentary style photographers understand that it's a wedding day, not a photoshoot, and will capture candid and spontaneous moments just as they happen. These candid images will give you an honest and authentic look at your special day and can often be the most meaningful photos from your wedding.

Choose a photographer who understands the importance of candid and unscripted coverage and has a natural, unobtrusive shooting style. With the right photographer by your side, you can trust that your wedding will be documented in a way that tell the story of your day not just want your looked like.

I have a natural, unobtrusive approach. My portfolio is filled with candid and spontaneous images that capture the genuine emotions and moments of a wedding day. It's important to me that my you feel comfortable with my style and personality, so you can text me anytime and I encourage you to call anytime you have a questions I can help you with.

All Access

Preparation and communication are key when it comes to capturing a wedding day in an unscripted and honest way. As a Boston area wedding photographer, its important to have access to the entire day, including the ceremony and reception, so I can document the entire event in a more complete and candid way. I also appreciate having the freedom to move around and capture the day from different angles. This means having access to any area of the wedding ceremony / reception, and the ability to get close to subjects helps me photograph the spirit of your day.

How I Photograph Your Wedding Day

Bride Getting Ready

On the day of your wedding, I will arrive at the location where you and your bridal party are getting ready, about 90 minutes before you are set to finish getting ready.

After we catch up and chat I start capturing candid shots of the excitement and anticipation as you prepare for the big day. I will also photograph any details, such as your dress, shoes, and any other special items you've included in your wedding. As you finish getting your makeup done, I will photograph the finishing touches of this process and any other candid photos. If you want to read my tips on getting ready photos, you can read them here.

Groom Getting Ready

If the day's logistics allow me to photograph the groom, I will. These photos don't require much time. I recommend 20 minutes for groom prep. The standard prep images are the groom putting on his shirt, tie, and cufflinks from this time of the day. After that, the guys will have a drink most of the time, and I'll take candids of those moments before the groomsmen head off to the ceremony location.

Ceremony

The ceremony is a part of the day that I look forward to photographing. During this time of the day, I try hard no go unnoticed; I walk quietly and slowly, my camera is on quite a mode.

I like to get there a little early, talk to the officiant about the wedding ceremony, and go over the details. Because I'm there early, I'll be off to the side taking candids of a guest walking in and talking.

During the ceremony, I'll start the ceremony on the right side of the aisle and photograph the parents, wedding party, and the bride walking down the aisle. I'll walk quietly around the ceremony taking candids.

If you are looking ways to make your wedding ceremony stress free I’ve put together this resource for you.

Portraits

Family and Wedding Party Photos:

We usually take the family photos right after your ceremony, while everybody is together. About a month before the wedding, I will send you an online questionnaire; write down any family photos you'd like. During the family photo time, I'll go down the list and check each image off. If you would like to see an example of a list of suggested wedding family photos, check out this blog post.

Couples Portraits:

I like to keep things light and fun. Most of my clients allow 10-15 minutes and maybe a few minutes during sunset for portraits. I go into detail about how I pose my clients here and some of the techniques I use while taking portraits here.

Cocktail Hour

Reception Rooms and Details:

Before the wedding guests arrive at the cocktail hour, I’ll photograph the reception room. I will take a wide shot of the room which shows everything. Then I'll focus on tablescapes. I look for a table next to a window because it has excellent natural light on it. Then I will focus on details on that table. Those details are menus, centerpieces, chairs, and other decorations.

Candids:

When I'm taking candid photos of guests, I try to get a nice picture from a distance. When I'm taking candids of the bride and grooms, I will be closer and use a slightly wider lens that will show the bride and who they were talking or laughing with at that moment.

Reception

The introductions and first dance typically start off the reception. I'm off to the side to go unnoticed while still getting some great photos. By this time of the day, there are no portraits or group shots to take, so this is an ample opportunity for candids. After the first dance, you might have a few more formalities, and then it's an open dance for the rest of the night.

Dance Floor

The dance floor is my absolute favorite part of the night! Being middle of all the action, with everyone partying, dancing, and having a great time makes for great photos. My wide lens is perfect for showing the main subject and also capturing the reactions of everyone in the background, giving a sense of the overall vibe of the room. It's always such a fun and memorable part of the evening!

Conclusion

As a Boston wedding photojournalist, my approach to photography is centered around capturing candid and spontaneous moments in a natural and unobtrusive way. My goal is to create a collection of photographs that truly showcase the feeling and atmosphere of the wedding day, rather than focusing on traditional, posed shots. I use a range of techniques, such as shooting with prime lenses and using available light, to capture intimate and authentic images that accurately reflect the unique personality and style of each couple. The benefits of hiring a documentary style photographer like myself are that you can experience your wedding day without feeling like it's a photo shoot and that you will receive a set of candid and genuine images that tell the story of your wedding day.