Wedding party lifts groomsman in a kilt during a lively reception celebration.

 

Documentary Wedding Photography


Honest, unfiltered emotion and connection

 

Children and adults playfully jumping inside a white bounce house at an outdoor wedding reception.
A red vintage double-decker bus displays 'Wedding Special' sign as passengers board for a special celebration.
Romantic black and white portrait of a couple sharing an intimate moment in wedding attire.
Newlyweds share a candid moment while walking along a serene beach in formal wedding attire.
Artistic black and white detail shot of a bride's elegant cowl neck wedding dress.
Children play and dance on a sunny green lawn during an outdoor celebration.
Wedding guests gather outdoors on a hilltop under power lines during a countryside celebration.

These are some of my favourite documentary wedding photography frames from the last few years. None of them are staged, or posed, they’re all genuine, in-the-moment photos, because that’s where the real gold is; right there in that fleeting moment. Sure, you can say “oh, can you just do that again? I missed that”, but the photo you get won’t evoke the same emotion or feeling when you look back at it, because it isn’t ‘real’. Photos made in the moment take you right back to that moment when you look at them, and for that reason they’re so much more meaningful than anything staged or posed.

Black and white photo of a musician performing at a keyboard with dramatic lighting.
Newlyweds walking under shower of confetti beneath historic stone arches.
Long shadows cast on grass with a cornhole board game setup in the sunshine.
Saxophonist performs on stage with colorful purple lighting at a lively party.
Guests sharing laughter and joy at a lively wedding celebration.
Fashionable couple in all-white outfits walking together in an elegant courtyard setting.
A couple exploring a scenic mountain lake vista while standing on a wooden dock.
Two elegantly dressed guests sharing an intimate conversation at a wedding reception.
Black and white candid photo of a couple sharing an intimate dance moment at their wedding reception.

If you stage it, all you remember is that you staged a photo. If you make photos when they happen for real, you get so much more than just a photo. It’s like you bottled the memory of everything that made that moment, and you can re-live it over and again whenever you look back at it.


For that reason, my priority on the day is for you to spend as much time as is humanly possible with everyone else you’ve invited to be there. It’s not about me schlepping you off around your venue for hours on end, or posing you for endless group photos. No one wants that, right? It’s about you guys having plenty of time to get stuck into your day with your nearest and dearest, and me being right in the mix with you. Don't get me wrong, we'll still make some lovely family photos, and head out to grab some lovely portraits of you both, but it doesn't take ages to do either of those.

Black and white photo showing dynamic dance movements with flowing dresses.
Wedding dress billowing in the wind against a cloudy sky during an outdoor ceremony.
Atmospheric black and white silhouettes during an evening wedding celebration.
Vintage black and white photographs showing elegant formal wear and hats.
Intimate moments captured inside a classic red train car.
Dramatic black and white candid moments during a wedding celebration.
View through car window of guests waving goodbye outside.
Wedding party lifts groomsman in a kilt during a lively reception celebration.
Bridesmaids in elegant flowy dresses prepare in a dressing room with a tufted couch in the foreground.
Wedding celebration silhouettes against a vibrant red and orange sunset backdrop.
Group gathers around elderly woman in blue dress outdoors during summer celebration.
Wedding party members interact in hallway with bride holding colorful bouquet.
People relaxing on garden bench while others peek over brick wall in outdoor setting.
Bridesmaids in olive green dresses react excitedly while someone pours drinks.
Wedding guests enjoying drinks and conversation during outdoor reception.
Outdoor wedding reception with ice cream truck and guests mingling in garden setting.
Three dancers in floral dresses perform energetic moves on a wooden floor.
Preparations underway in a cozy room as a dog watches the pre-wedding activities.
A ceremony takes place in a bright modern venue with large windows and rows of seated guests.
Celebrants raise traditional wedding vessels during cultural ceremony with decorative backdrop.
Guests in colorful floral dresses dance and celebrate at a wedding reception.
Black and white capture of dancing couples at an evening celebration.

You can read more about my approach to documentary wedding photography here. And, if you like what you see and are interested in working with me, get in touch and let’s get the ball rolling. I shoot a limited number of weddings a year and peak dates tend to get booked up pretty quickly, so if you’d like to talk things through in more detail, drop me an email.

A romantic couple shares an intimate dance moment at an elegant wedding reception.

"Matt, your work is like nothing we’ve ever seen before! You managed to capture the most hilarious, crazy moments to the most intimate and romantic ones! We were lost for words when we saw our photo gallery… we just kept crying happy tears because we never imagined we would witness so much emotion and meaning in each and every photo!"

Kayleigh & Luke