Photo Journaled

documentary weddings

Documentary style wedding photography means your wedding is photographed as it happens. Nobody gets lined up or asked to do it again for the camera. You'll also hear it called wedding photojournalism, reportage or candid wedding photography, and it's Craig's favourite way to work, because nobody's acting for him. People laugh and cry the way they would anyway.

We've photographed weddings since 2008, first in the UK and later at destination weddings overseas. We were members of the Wedding Photojournalist Association for a long time in the UK, and about 80% of a wedding day was documentary. We live in Jeffreys Bay now, and Craig photographs weddings around St Francis Bay, Port Elizabeth and the Garden Route.

This is a selection of my documentary-style photographs from weddings.
Craig Bruce

A groom fixing his bow tie in a round mirror
A bride and groom lying back on a striped sofa at their reception
A man kissing a laughing guest on the cheek at a wedding reception
A page boy in a waistcoat looking up during a wedding
A bride and groom walking out as guests throw petals
Wedding guests dancing, reflected in the floor below

highlights

Bridesmaids watching the bride
A groom doing up his tie in a round mirror hanging from a rope
A groom doing up his shirt collar
A bride in an archway looking out at her groom, who waits with his back to her
A groom smiling at his bride during the ceremony
Wedding guests dancing together at the reception
Guests dancing under strings of fairy lights
A bride doing her make-up at a mirror
A groomsman spraying cologne on the groom, seen through glass
A man in a suit holding a little page boy's hand on a deck above the sea
A groom laughing as he climbs off a game drive vehicle
A barefoot bride laughing as she lifts her dress on the dance floor under fairy lights
Groomsmen doing shots in front of a stone fireplace
Wedding guests cheering on the dance floor
Two pairs of hands lacing up the back of a bride's beaded dress
A bride and her bridesmaids walking up to the groom
A bride laughing with the groomsmen at the reception
A groom's face caught in a mirror between blurred frames as he gets ready
A man with a beer dancing with a guest under fairy lights
A little page boy in braces, a man in a suit resting a hand on his shoulder
Two men laughing on the dance floor
Bridesmaids watching the bride
A bride doing her make-up at a mirror
A groom doing up his tie in a round mirror hanging from a rope
Two pairs of hands lacing up the back of a bride's beaded dress
A groom doing up his shirt collar
A groomsman spraying cologne on the groom, seen through glass
A groom's face caught in a mirror between blurred frames as he gets ready
A bride and her bridesmaids walking up to the groom
A groom smiling at his bride during the ceremony
A bride in an archway looking out at her groom, who waits with his back to her
A groom laughing as he climbs off a game drive vehicle
A bride laughing with the groomsmen at the reception
A man in a suit holding a little page boy's hand on a deck above the sea
Wedding guests dancing together at the reception
Groomsmen doing shots in front of a stone fireplace
A barefoot bride laughing as she lifts her dress on the dance floor under fairy lights
A man with a beer dancing with a guest under fairy lights
Guests dancing under strings of fairy lights
A little page boy in braces, a man in a suit resting a hand on his shoulder
Wedding guests cheering on the dance floor
Two men laughing on the dance floor

Questions about documentary wedding photography

Will we still get formal family photos?

Yes. Craig photographs every family group you want. Send him a list of the groups before the day, and ask someone who knows everyone to round people up after the ceremony.

Do you tell us what to do on the day?

Only when it helps, mostly during your couple portraits. The rest of the time Craig would rather photograph the two of you being yourselves than performing for the camera.

What's the difference between documentary and editorial wedding photography?

Editorial wedding photos are posed and styled, closer to a magazine shoot. Documentary photos aren't set up at all. Craig mixes the two and calls his style relaxed, editorial documentary. He gives direction for the family groups and your portraits, then photographs the rest of the day as it happens, so you can get on with enjoying it.

Is one photographer enough for a wedding?

For a small wedding or an elopement, Craig on his own is plenty. For bigger weddings Chanelle comes too, so one of us can be with the bride while she gets ready and the other with the groom.

Do you travel for weddings?

Yes. Craig will come to you anywhere in South Africa, not only around Jeffreys Bay, St Francis Bay and Port Elizabeth. Before we moved home we spent years flying out to destination weddings, Bali and Morocco among them.

How do we check if Craig is free on our date?

Send your date and venue through the form below, or WhatsApp Craig on +27 (0)71 547 7249.

Craig-Bruce-Wedding-Photographer

If you're looking for a natural, relaxed, editorial feel from your photographer, contact me for a chat.

WhatsApp: +27 (0)715477249
Thanks, Craig

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