An Upstate NY Photographer's Opinion on Documentary Style Photography, and a Guide to Finding if it's Right for you.
What is Documentary Style Photography, and how is it Different?
Documentary Style photography is an approach to photography that focuses on telling a story rather than posing shots for a photo. Documentary style photographer's typically take the fly on the wall approach and capture the candid moments of any day or event. So, what does this mean for you? It means, if you care about the little things on your wedding day or in your lifestyle shoot, like your Mom watching you get married, or a siblings chasing each other the kitchen, then you would love a documentary focused gallery.
Does Hiring a Documentary Style Photographer mean all of my Images will have Motion blur and tilt to them?
Well, no in short. While some documentary style photographers may gravitate towards that style, it is not a characteristic of documentary style photography alone, and more of a trend happening in the photography world currently. I myself deliver galleries with crisp, high quality, well lit images, and if the moment feels right, I may add in a creative motion blur or two. The photos below show an artful use of the motion blur in a gallery, it is not overdone, and it is obvious it was intentional. They capture a certain feeling of the morning they were taken on. In my opinion, blurry and off balanced images have a time and a place, but should not be the center and for front of any gallery capturing a day so important such as a wedding.
motion blur used to show emotion and movement.
no motion blur used so you can see facial expressions and laughter.
Should I Hire a Documentary Style Photographer?
If you love when photos capture feeling, and raw unfiltered emotion, then a documentary style photographer is definitely for you! If you care more about very posed portraits, then maybe not. No photographer is for everyone, and that's totally normal. Always make sure to communicate your vision clearly to any photographer before booking to make sure that they are the one to make your vision come to life. If you like what you've seen and heard in this little tid-bit, then feel free to reach out and let me know! Inquiries can be submitted through the "contact" page on my website.
Signing off,
~Sharon Rose
