Editorial vs Documentary Wedding: Key Differences

As a wedding photographer, defining your style is crucial to attracting the right clients and setting yourself apart in a competitive industry. Two of the most sought-after styles are editorial and documentary wedding photography and understanding the differences between editorial vs documentary wedding photography can help you refine your approach and better serve your clients.

In this post, you’ll learn:

• The fundamental differences between editorial and documentary wedding photography
• The technical skills, equipment, and editing techniques needed for each wedding photography style
• How client expectations vary between the two approaches
• Tips to help you refine your style and create a versatile wedding photography portfolio

While both can beautifully capture a couple’s big day, they require different approaches, technical skills, and workflows. Some photographers choose to specialize in one style, while others blend the two for a more diverse portfolio.

This article will help you understand five key differences of editorial vs documentary photography for weddings and provide insights into excelling in each.

Editorial vs Documentary Wedding Photography

1. Approach and Workflow

The way you approach a wedding day varies significantly between editorial and documentary photography.

• Editorial Wedding Photography: This style is carefully curated and requires a structured approach. It involves pre-planning, creative direction, and styling to produce high-fashion, magazine-worthy posed portraits. Photographers will often work with couples beforehand to discuss shot ideas, scout locations, and plan specific poses. The goal is to create a polished, cinematic aesthetic with well-composed, intentional imagery.
• Documentary Wedding Photography: Also known as photojournalistic wedding photography, this approach is all about spontaneity and authenticity. Instead of staging scenes, the documentary wedding photographer focuses on capturing real emotions and unscripted or candid moments as they happen. Your role is to blend into the background, anticipate key interactions, and document the story of the day with minimal interference.

2. Technical Skills Needed

The skill set required for each style differs, with editorial emphasizing control and documentary demanding adaptability.

Editorial Photography:

• Mastery of lighting setups, including off-camera flash, softboxes, and reflectors
• Strong posing and composition skills to direct subjects naturally
• Understanding of fashion and styling to create high-end, artistic imagery
• Ability to work with detailed shot lists and creative vision boards

Documentary Photography:

• Quick reflexes and anticipation of key moments
• An eye for genuine emotions and storytelling
• Confidence in using available light efficiently, often without flash
• The ability to stay unobtrusive while capturing intimate moments

3. Wedding Photographer Gear and Equipment

The wedding photography gear you choose depends on the demands of each photography style.

Editorial Wedding Photographer Gear:

• High-resolution mirrorless cameras with excellent dynamic range for fine detail
• Multiple fast zoom lenses like Tamron’s 28-75mm F/2.8, 70-180mm F/2.8, or 35-150mm F/2-2.8 for sharp portraits and shallow depth of field
• Artificial lighting equipment like strobes, reflectors, and softboxes for controlled illumination
• Tripods and light stands for stability during planned shots

Documentary Wedding Photographer Gear:

• Lightweight, fast mirrorless cameras with great low-light performance for mobility
• Versatile zoom lenses like Tamron’s full-frame 35-150mm F/2-2.8 to quickly adapt to different scenarios without changing lenses
• Minimal accessories that fit comfortably in your camera bag to stay agile and move unnoticed
• Discreet camera straps and silent shutter modes for blending in

4. Post-Processing Techniques

Editing plays a significant role in defining the final look of your wedding images.

Editorial Photography:

• Extensive retouching to refine skin, remove distractions, and perfect details
• Color grading to achieve a cohesive, luxurious tone
• Image enhancements for a flawless, high-end aesthetic
• Often uses a consistent, stylized look akin to fashion editorials

Documentary Photography:

• Minimal post-processing to retain authenticity
• Light color correction and exposure adjustments to enhance natural tones or conversion to black and white
• Avoidance of heavy retouching to preserve raw emotion and realism
• A more timeless, organic aesthetic that mirrors real life

5. Client Expectations and Deliverables

Understanding what clients want is crucial to meeting their needs and delivering the right style of wedding photography.

Editorial Photography Clients:

• Expect carefully curated, polished, and artistic images
• Want posed, cinematic, and luxurious wedding portraits
• Often appreciate stylized and dramatic compositions
• Prefer an elevated, magazine-like feel to their wedding album

Documentary Photography Clients:

• Seek genuine, unfiltered moments that reflect the emotion of the day
• Value storytelling over perfection, embracing imperfections as part of the experience
• Prefer candid images that feel natural and heartfelt
• Want a chronological visual narrative that encapsulates their wedding day as it unfolded

Final Tips for Wedding Photographers About Editorial vs Documentary Wedding Photography

Whether you specialize in editorial style, documentary, or a hybrid approach, understanding these differences will help you refine your craft and better serve your clients.

• If you love structured, artistic compositions, editorial photography might be your calling.
• If you thrive on capturing raw emotions and real interactions, documentary photography could be your strength.
• Many photographers successfully blend both styles, offering direction when needed while also allowing space for natural moments to unfold.

Ultimately, the best wedding photography tells a couple’s story in the most meaningful way—whether through dramatic, magazine-worthy shots or heartfelt, candid images. By mastering both wedding photography approaches, you can create a versatile portfolio that appeals to a broad range of clients.