So, really what IS the difference? Cause everyone is talking about it, but like what does documentary or editorial meannnn.

Documentary: Real-life moments

Think fly on the wall. Think peeking around the corner to get natural moments. Think very little direction and more camera crew following you around. Documentary is sometimes used to describe regular old wedding photos. Kinda getting classic shots and candids. And while this isn’t like super wrong, sometimes people aren’t admitting that they are setting up a lot more of their shots than it may seem. If a “candid” is in perfect light every time and very perfectly posed thats a bit more of a plandid. Which is beautiful but not true documentary. Documentary can be more messy. The light is a lot more dynamic. The moments may not be perfect but they are very real. It’s an excellent way to get emotional shots and to have shots that are actually unique on your wedding day.

Best way to make sure the pictures are both beautiful and stick to a true candid moment is to make sure your timeline is solid. Keep the day moving once your photographer arrives and minimize deadtime. You’ll be able to then get loads of pictures of you reacting to things, seeing family and friends, and actually enjoying the party!

Editorial: Carefully created art

Editorial wedding photographer has been the buzz word the last bit. And for goood reason. It’s sooooo beautiful to look at. Now in my mind, there are kind of two looks for editorial. Candid, cool, vibey shots. And perfected, well-composed, well-lit shots. Both are powerful, and both should be present when looking for an editorial wedding photographer.

Editorial means understanding lighting, composition, posing, and editing. It’s the very little tweaks that take a photo from a clean basic to an artistic editorial moment. This process can also mean taking longer to set up a shot.

I personally like to do a hybrid of editorial and documentary. Docutorial, if you will. Because I love making sure my couples stay in the moment, but what can I say, I also looovvveee creating a cool shot. And I think a hybrid system works best for real weddings. Styled shoots, you aren’t actually there to party and talk to anyone. Just to get photos. So you can take as lonnnng as you need to get the shot. But on real weddings, you need to keep it moving and choose when you’ll spend time setting up a shot wisely. Because no one wants to just be taking photos their whole day. And smiles start to fade, people get a bit grumpy, and again it’s a partyyyy. So like, I think you should be enjoying it vs just doing photos.

So if you pick the docutorial route, you really don’t even need to worry about choosing between the two. I would say just be open to catching cool light and quick moments. And also make sure your timeline has some space for those detailed editorial shots if those are important to you!