Fine Art Documentary Wedding and Portrait Photography

Fine Art. Documentary. Photojournalism. Reportage. Vintage. Alternative. A few words from the many used to describe different styles of wedding photography, but what do they mean and why are they important?

Documentary Photographer

Whilst documentary, photojournalism and reportage are broadly interchangeable terms, I describe my work specifically as documentary, as it relates to telling a story. I believe the best presentation of wedding photography is within an album or book. a physical record to communicate a story. Documentary photography is the capture of images that when viewed as a whole, portray the events of the day; the intertwining of relationships, family, emotions, and laughter.

Photojournalism

Pure photojournalism is about telling a story with a single image. That is the goal for all photojournalists: to convey a place, event, situation within one frame. Some of the most powerful, memorable and affecting photographs ever made are from the field of photojournalism. It is a raw representation of events how they occur with no interaction from the photographer. A difficult thing to achieve and a very true representation of a wedding.

Fine Art Photography

Fine Art defines an approach where the image is creatively visualised in the photographer's mind. Aspects of the capture and production are combined to deliver that end result. My interpretation of fine art does not relate to an individual image, but rather to the collective body of work from a wedding or lifestyle portrait photograhy session.

Style, quality and appeal are the attributes that I strive to achieve in my final presentation, that may be an album, framed print or in a digital format viewed on screen.

Fine Art Documentary Photographer

Weddings or family occasions are fluid, changing, unpredictable events. You can't plan real moments or emotions - they need to happen naturally. My role as a documentary photographer is to record those events with photojournalism authenticity, and a considered fine art approach to the quality and consistency of end presentation.

My style

I love the look and feel of analogue film and try to recreate that within my images. Warm and subtle colours alongside dynamic, striking black and whites. It is timeless without attempting to look vintage or alternative. There is no wacky processing, selective colour or any other fads in my images. It is important to me that my photographs look as good in future years as they do now. 

In addition to the love, emotions and relationship connections at weddings, I look for the humour as well. I want to convey laughter and fun as much as anything else and that is a rich thread that runs through my images.