How to Love Your Wedding Photos: A Storytelling & Documentary Approach

Especially if you’re camera-shy (or just not into posing for 8 hours straight)

If you’re looking for a storytelling wedding photographer who prioritizes honest moments over stiff posing, you’re in the right place. And if you’re worried you’ll feel awkward or “not yourself” in your wedding photos? You’re also very much in the right place.

I work with so many couples who are drawn to documentary wedding photography because they don’t want to spend their day glued to a shot list. They want to feel the moment, not perform for it. They want their photos to reflect who they are–not just what looked good on Pinterest this year.

But even after choosing a storytelling or editorial wedding photographer they love, many still carry that fear:

What if I hate how I look in our photos? What if they don’t feel like us? What if I’m too awkward, too camera-shy, too “not a photo person”?

I get it! The good news? Loving your wedding photos doesn’t depend on being photogenic or knowing how to pose.

It depends on how you experience the day—and whether your photographer knows how to capture that experience honestly.

Storytelling vs. Documentary Photography–What’s the Difference?

These two styles are often grouped together, and for good reason: they both prioritize real, unscripted moments. However, they each bring something slightly different to the table.

Documentary wedding photography

Documentary wedding photography is all about observation. It’s raw, real, and rooted in authenticity. A documentary approach means I’m not directing you; I’m quietly capturing what’s already happening. Your partner quietly moving a piece of hair behind your ear, your mom tearing up while you get ready, or the wild joy in your face during your first dance.

Storytelling wedding photography

On the other hand, storytelling wedding photography takes those raw moments and gently threads them into a visual narrative. This might include curated details or guided portraits, but the focus stays on emotional truth, not perfection. Think of it like this: documentary is the what, storytelling is the why. It’s about how the pieces come together to reflect the full scope of your love and experience.

As a storytelling and an editorial wedding photographer, I blend a mix of both. I’m there to capture the real stuff as it happens–and to gently guide you into portraits that still feel like you. No forced poses, no awkward “look at the camera” moments. Just images that reflect your energy, connection, and story!

Set an Intention for the Day You Actually Want to Live

Before choosing a venue or picking your florals, pause and ask:

What do we want this day to feel like?

This feeling becomes the anchor for everything else. Truthfully, it shapes the kind of energy that lives in your photos. Want the day to feel slow and sacred? Wild and windswept? Full of belly laughs and movement?

The most powerful galleries I’ve delivered weren’t built on trends–they were built on intention. On couples who said no to what didn’t feel like them, and yes to what did! Your photographer can’t fabricate that kind of magic–but they can document it beautifully when it’s already there.

Make It Personal, Not Pinterest-Perfect

You don’t need a champagne tower or linen vow books to make your day meaningful. (Unless that feels true to you–in which case, pour the bubbly and let’s go!!)

Your day should feel like a reflection of your story. Maybe that’s a first look on the porch of your Airbnb, or breakfast together before the chaos begins. Maybe it’s getting married barefoot on the Oregon Coast because that’s where you fell in love!

When you build a wedding around the things that matter to you–not what looks good online… it shows. You’re more relaxed, more grounded, and definitely more present. That’s exactly what translates into honest and emotional wedding photos.

As a storytelling wedding photographer, my role isn’t to make your wedding look like something it’s not. It’s to hold up a mirror and say: Look–this is your love!! This is what it feels like!

 Build a Real Relationship With Your Photographer

Booking someone whose work you love? Awesome!

But actually connecting with them? Thaaat’s where the magic starts.

When we spend time together before the big day–whether it’s an engagement session, a walk through your venue, or even a pre-wedding hang at your Airbnb… this creates familiarity. You stop feeling like you’re being photographed and start feeling like you’re just being seen.

By the time the day arrives, you’ll know how I work. You’ll know when I hang back and when I gently guide. You’ll trust that you’re in good hands. That kind of trust opens the door to vulnerability–and that’s what makes your photos real.

 Give Your Timeline Room to Breathe

You’ve probably heard the phrase “your wedding day goes by so fast.” And that definitely rings true. But the pace of the day isn’t just about logistics–it’s about how you feel moving through it.

A packed timeline can leave you feeling like you’re checking boxes instead of living memories. When you build in breathing room–space to pause, reflect, laugh, or just sit still–it allows the moments to unfold naturally.

Want golden hour portraits? Let’s plan time to chase the light. Want to enjoy cocktail hour with your guests? We’ll make it work without skipping key moments. Some of my favorite storytelling images come from the unscheduled, in-between moments–the quiet before the ceremony, the walk back from the first look, the way you hold hands when no one’s watching.

This is what documentary wedding photography captures best: not just what happened, but how it felt to be there.

 Embrace the Imperfect (That’s Where the Good Stuff Lives)

Your hair might frizz. The flower girl might cry. You might spill champagne on your dress or laugh through your vows. Good!

Perfection isn’t the goal… presence is.

When you stop trying to control every detail, you open yourself up to the real, soul-stirring stuff. That’s the moment you’ll come back to, again and again.

As a storytelling wedding photographer, I’m not here to make your day look flawless. I’m here to reflect it back to you as honestly and artfully as I can. The beautiful, the chaotic, the stillness and the noise.

So… How Do You Love Your Wedding Photos?

By living the day fully.

By choosing intention over expectation.

By trusting the process… and (most importantly!!) yourself.

You don’t have to be “good in front of the camera.” You just have to be in the moment.

And when you are? That’s when your photos start to feel like memory, not just documentation.

That’s when your gallery becomes a time capsule.

That’s when you’ll see yourself and say, “Yes! That was so us.”

Ready to document your wedding in a way that feels like you?

I’m a storytelling wedding photographer blending documentary wedding photography with an editorial edge. I specialize in nostalgia, intentionality, and the real stuff that lives between the lines. Let’s create images that feel like your love story–honest, emotional, and completely yours.

Inquire Here 💌

More Storytelling Wedding Resources and Inspiration

Why You Should Book A Super 8 Film For Your Wedding

How To Build a Stress-Free Elopement Timeline