A woman standing on a sand dune and a man holding a baby. Wedding guests are in the background. They are on the beach at Camber Sands.

A Few Thoughts About Documentary Wedding Photography

Groomsmen pretended to act natural.

Whilst out walking the other day I ended up taking a moment to reflect upon how I shoot weddings, as my wedding season is about to almost return to normality.I have missed it so very much.I already talk a bit about my reportage approach on the home page, with a few testimonials to give you a good idea of how I work… but a couple of things occurred to me to say here.All because I was listening to Stewart Lee's documentary Unreliable Narrator on BBC Sounds on my morning walk in the rain. I will listen to anything the 41st Best Stand-Up Ever puts out there, and The Actor Kevin Eldon who also makes an appearance.

A woman in a satin red strapless dress and black fascinator. She is holding a drinking and looking at the camera. Behind her a woman is working at the food table in front of a fan palm tree.
Man at a wedding reception is smiling on the dancefloor and pointing at the camera. At a wedding near South Woodham.

The bands play up to the camera when they notice me too. This is Oomphf, the wedding funk band, playing the venue Houchins in Essex.

A little girl looks at the camera at a wedding.

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Essex Based | Documentary wedding Photographer

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As a documentary wedding photographer, I am a narrator. But I am not a disconnected observer, I am also part of the day. If you've seen my bio you'll read that my first love was astrophysics, so my mind immediately recalls the observer effect, where the act of observation will influence that which is being observed. A physics thing but it applies to human behaviour too (and more, but this isn't the place to talk about quantum philosophy and the human mind).I do not dictate how the day unfolds, but I also do not go unnoticed. However people often do forget I am there to work, which is intentional on my part. Helps people relax when there's a camera around.

Some couples will tell their guests what kind of photographer they have booked, and I've noticed a couple things happen.To a few this candid style might be a novel idea, used to photographers who mostly shoot formal pictures and make their way around a room asking people to look at them.Sometimes people become unnecessarily apologetic if they look at the camera when I take a picture!While others are the complete opposite and will deliberately, cheesily, pose when they see me coming. I've seen many a blue steel face and a catalogue man stance over the years!

Women laughing at prosecco instead of salad. The bride and her friends are pretending on purpose.

The groom acts overly surprised to the best man's exaggerated response. They were apparently acting naturally.

The daughter of the bride hangs out with her friends in the snug at Gosfield Hall.

This is all absolutely fine in my book. If people pose as a joke or catch my eye when I am taking a photograph… fantastic.That's who they are, that's what is happening, and that's exactly what I am there to take photographs of.So for me, documentary wedding photography isn't just about those candid pictures where the subject hasn't noticed I'm taking a photograph. It's also about the pictures taken with awareness, and the various and numerous ways people will naturally react to having their photo taken.It's about not telling people what to do all day (which amuses me considering the song I am often associated with), not moving stuff around for a spotlessly perfect picture but capturing the real scenes I see through my lens, and generally being an easy-going but professional photographer.There to make the day easy for my couples, and to not get in the way too much!And ultimately delivering a collection of photographs that tell the story of a couple spending their wedding day with the people they love.

Jake Maskall escorting another guest out of the Union Chapel after a wedding ceremony. He is wearing a white suit, the woman is wearing a black and white dress and a black fascinator.

Women at a wedding pretending to laugh naturally. A reception at Home House in London.
Man taking a photograph of the photographer with a pink iPhone.
Oomphf the wedding funk band playing a reception at Houchins wedding venue. The singer is pointing at the bass player and they are both looking at the camera. Under blue and red lights. The drumsticks are in the foreground.
An older couple are sat on a sofa laughing at the camera. At a wedding reception at Home House in London.