Picture this. You’re barefoot in the sand, hand in hand, laughing at a private joke no one else heard. The light is golden. Your friends are a few feet away clinking glasses. You’re not worried about the camera, because you don’t even notice it. But later, you’ll see the photos and feel everything all over again.

That’s what working with a documentary-style photographer feels like.

You’re not just booking someone to snap pretty photos. You’re choosing to remember your day exactly how it felt. The sand. The hugs. The happy tears. The in-between glances no one else saw.

As a Central Florida wedding photographer who leads with presence and heart, here’s what I want you to know about the experience, and how to get the most out of it.

What “Documentary-Style Wedding Photography” Means

When I say documentary-style wedding photography, I don’t mean standing in the corner quietly snapping candids all day. It’s more about trusting the moment and letting things flow instead of forcing them. I’ll gently guide when needed, but my favorite photos always come from genuine emotion, not direction.

I don’t show up with a shot list and a stopwatch. I show up to witness your love story as it happens. My style is all about letting you experience your day the way it’s meant to be—without interruptions, without posing, without feeling like you’re in a photo shoot. I want you to be in the moment… and I’ll take care of everything else.

Living in the Moment (Because That’s Where the Magic Is)

The best photos don’t happen when you’re “trying” to look in love. They happen when you are in love. When you’re fully present. When you forget there’s even a camera. They happen when you’re laughing, dancing, or soaking in the moment with your favorite people.

So instead of building your day around photos, let’s build your photos around your day. 

Choose Meaningful Locations & Activities

The best wedding photos don’t just show what your day looked like—they show what it felt like. That’s why I always encourage my couples to include places and activities that matter to them.

On your wedding day, you can carve out tiny moments that ground you like holding hands during golden hour, sneaking off to breathe together between events, or twirling barefoot to your favorite song once the sun dips low over the ocean.

Same idea applies to your engagement sessions too! If you love slow mornings at home with coffee and vinyls playing? Let’s start there. If you love paddle boarding together, grab your boards for your engagement session. If your favorite date nights are long walks on the beach or grabbing tacos downtown, let’s go there. 

These kinds of sessions tell your story and give your photos that special sentimental value that lasts.

Wedding Day Tips for the Most Natural Photos

Over the years, I’ve learned a few golden rules for keeping the documentary magic alive:

• Stick together! Seriously, your wedding day FLIES by! And the best candid moments happen when you’re sticking together. If you’re always together, you’ll naturally have the most beautiful, unposed interactions with your friends and family, and each other too, of course.
  
  
• Leave space in your timeline. A packed timeline can be the quickest way to kill the documentary flow & vibe. Build in buffer time to allow yourselves space to linger in the moments. Build in breathing room for the unexpected. (It’s always those unscripted bits that end up being your favorites.)
  
  
• Ditch the Pinterest board! Use it as inspiration, sure. But clinging to someone else’s vision can distract you from living your own. Your love isn’t copy-paste. Your story is worth documenting exactly as it happens!
  
  
• Dance. Eat. Be present. Seriously, don’t hold back! You’ll never regret the photos that show you living your day! Whether you’re doing the worm on the dance floor or having a quiet moment during golden hour, the best photos come when you’re fully in it. So dance. Sneak kisses. Drop it low on the dancefloor and grab some booty!

Consider How You Want to Spend Your Day

Documentary-style wedding photography thrives on authenticity. So when you think about your timeline, think about how you want to spend your day? Do you want to spend cocktail hour catching up with your friends and family? Let’s make that happen. Want soft golden hour portraits and fun party pics? Let’s find windows of light throughout the day. 

You don’t have to choose between memories and moments—we’ll make space for both!!

Ready to Work With a Documentary-Style Central Florida Wedding Photographer?

Hey, I’m Jules, a Central Florida wedding and elopement photographer with a heart for unscripted, heirloom moments. I specialize in capturing weddings with a documentary-style approach so you can stay in the moment, not just pose for it.

My couples want their love stories told truthfully—with movement, meaning, and magic baked into every frame. No cookie-cutter posing. No rushing through your day. Just honest, joy-filled images you’ll pass down for generations.

If that sounds like the kind of experience you’re dreaming of, let’s talk. I’ll guide you through the whole process, and help you create an experience that reflects you.

Inquire here or browse the galleries to feel the vibe for yourself. I’d be so honored to photograph your story.