Rethinking Wedding Photography & Film: Finding the Approach That Feels True to You
Over the years, we’ve seen couples approach weddings in so many different ways. Some want the full cinematic experience — the dramatic highlight film, the styled portraits, the polished images. And there’s nothing wrong with that. For many, that’s exactly what they’ve dreamed of, and it can be beautiful.
But lately, we’ve been having deeper conversations with couples. Honest conversations. The kind that get to the heart of what they actually want from their photos and films — not what Instagram says they should want.
Because here’s the truth:
We’ve all seen weddings where the couple is pulled away for hours of portraits. Guests waiting. Cocktail hour missed. A day that should feel joyful instead feels like a schedule to keep.
We’ve all seen couples stiffen in front of the camera, worried about how to pose, worried about how they look — and later saying: “We felt so awkward… we missed so much of our day.”
The reality is, it doesn’t have to be that way.
A Different Way Forward
For some couples, the answer is a completely documentary, observational approach. No direction. No posing. No production.
Just the space to actually be there — fully present with your people.
Does that mean you might not get certain posed photos? Yes.
Does that mean you might not have a perfectly lit golden hour portrait? Yes.
But it also means you’ll have a wedding that feels free. A wedding where the photos and films reflect how it really felt, not how it was staged to look.
An Alternative: Another Day
For couples who still love the idea of portraits — but don’t want to miss out on their wedding — there’s another option. Plan a portrait session on a separate day.
A day with no time limits.
No guests waiting.
No coordinator keeping track of the clock.
No stress about weather or light or logistics.
Just the two of you, relaxed, together, embracing each other in your own time.
This way, your wedding day can be just that: a celebration. And your portraits can happen when the only thing on your schedule is to simply enjoy each other.
It All Comes Down to Honesty
There’s no right or wrong way.
Cinematic can be stunning. Documentary can be freeing. What matters most is that it feels true to you.
Our promise is this: we’ll have the honest conversation with you before the day. We’ll ask the questions that matter. Do you want polished portraits, or do you want presence? Do you want a highlight reel, or do you want a memory that breathes?
Whatever you choose, we’ll be there — not to perform, not to control, but to witness and to create something that feels real.
Because your wedding deserves to be remembered the way it was lived.