What Percentage of the Wedding Day Do You Spend Directing vs. Blending In to Capture Candid Moments?

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If you’re worried about spending your wedding day being pulled away from your guests or feeling awkward being posed, you are not alone. For photo-shy couples, knowing exactly how your photographer operates is essential.

The Core Philosophy: 90% Documenting / 10% Directing

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My entire approach is built around ensuring you feel comfortable and remain immersed in your day. This all boils down to my core philosophy: The Candid Balance of 90% Documenting / 10% Directing.

This ratio guarantees that I spend 90% of my time capturing the genuine, unscripted moments—the laughs, the tears, the dance moves—and only 10% on the necessary, efficient direction for formal groups and a few quick, easy portraits.

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2. Building Trust Before the Camera Comes Out

The key to that 90% success rate is building comfort before the wedding even starts.

  • Understanding Your Fears: My initial consultations and detailed questionnaires focus heavily on your comfort levels, specific family dynamics, and any photo anxieties you might have. I want to know exactly what makes you feel awkward so I can actively avoid it.

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3. The 10% – Necessary Direction, Built for Efficiency

Direction is reserved for only a few key moments, and we make these as quick and painless as possible.

Fast & Painless Family Formals:

To ensure family formals run smoothly and take up the least amount of your reception time, I require a pre-planned list of 10-12 groups from you two weeks before the wedding. I take care of everything else. On the day, I have a trusted assistant or family member gather the groups while I focus purely on composing and shooting. This entire process is time-limited to a maximum of 15 minutes—fast, focused, and done.

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The Two-Part Couple’s Session:

To guarantee you don’t miss any of the party, I structure our couple’s session into two short, high-impact chunks for maximum efficiency and varied light:

  • Session 1 (The Quick Connection): A 10-15 minute session taken while guests are being seated for dinner.

  • Session 2 (The Evening Vibe): Another 10-15 minute session captured later, usually just before your first dance.

In both sessions, I use natural prompts (like “Whisper a joke to your partner”) rather than stiff poses. By splitting the time, we ensure you are never pulled away from the action for too long, resulting in genuine portraits while you enjoy the day you planned.

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1. Documentary Photography Defined: Why you don’t need the Tik Tok Gallop

When couples think of wedding photography, they often picture a strict director telling them exactly where to stand. If that makes you cringe, you’re looking for a documentary approach.

True documentary photography is about observation, not orchestration. My job is to capture the narrative of your day as it actually unfolds—the quiet moments, the unplanned surprises, and the authentic connections you share.

I achieve this by being an integrated presence, not a lurker with a long lens. My method is to seamlessly integrate into your celebration. By quickly building rapport with your family and friends, I become a trusted, comfortable face in the crowd. This is how I get those incredibly close, intimate images—because the people in them are relaxed and truly present, not performing for the camera. The result is a gallery filled with candid emotion and energy, not stiff perfection.

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You’ve worked hard planning this day. My job is to protect your ability to enjoy every moment, giving you incredible images without ever interrupting the magic.

If you value being present over posing, let’s connect and talk more about how my immersive documentary approach fits your wedding day!

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