What is Editorial Wedding Photography
editorials category
What Is Editorial Wedding Photography? And How I Approach It
There are a lot of labels thrown around wedding photography.
Documentary. Editorial. Fine art. Candid. Fashion. Alternative. Natural.
The problem is that most couples don’t actually care what the label is.
They just want photographs that look good, feel like them, and don’t require them to spend their wedding day performing for a camera.
That’s pretty much where I sit.
I’m a wedding photographer based in Scotland, photographing weddings across the UK, and my approach is a mix of documentary photography and editorial portraiture.
Most of the day is completely unposed.
But when there’s an opportunity to make something great, I’ll step in and give you some direction.
I don’t think those two things contradict each other.
I think they’re better together.
I Don’t Think Wedding Photography Has to Choose Between Documentary and Editorial
For me, documentary wedding photography isn’t about refusing to direct anything.
It’s about letting the important parts of the day happen naturally.
I’m not going to stop your friends having a laugh because I want everyone looking at the camera.
I’m not going to recreate something that happened five minutes ago because I missed it.
And I’m definitely not going to spend your entire wedding day arranging people into groups and telling them where to stand.
If something is happening, I’ll photograph it.
But there are also moments where I can see a photograph that wouldn’t happen without a little bit of direction.
That’s where the editorial side comes in.
What I Mean by Documentary Wedding Photography
A wedding day is full of things you can’t plan.
The nervous bits before the ceremony.
Your friends drinking champagne while getting ready.
The look on someone’s face during the speeches.
Your mum trying not to cry.
Your best mate making a complete arse of themselves on the dance floor.
The weird little moments that probably wouldn’t make it onto a shot list.
Those are the photographs I want to notice.
I want you to have a gallery that brings the whole day back rather than just showing you what you looked like standing beside each other.
That’s the documentary part.
I’m there, paying attention to what’s happening rather than constantly trying to make something happen.
Where the Editorial Side Comes In
This is probably where my approach differs from a purely documentary wedding photographer.
I like making photographs.
Not just documenting what is already there.
If the light is incredible, I’m going to use it.
If the venue has an amazing staircase, hallway or bit of architecture, I’m probably going to drag you over there.
If you’ve got ten minutes where we can make some really good portraits, I’ll make the most of them.
And yes, sometimes I’ll actually tell you what to do.
I’ll Give You Direction
Because that’s not particularly helpful.
Most people aren’t professional models.
Most people have no idea what to do with their hands.
And most couples don’t spend their weekends practising wedding poses.
You don’t need to.
I’ll give you enough direction to make the photograph work without making you feel like you’re acting out a wedding photoshoot.
Move here.
Look at each other.
Walk towards me.
Turn around.
Get closer.
Do something stupid.
Sometimes I’ll give you a prompt.
Sometimes I’ll just make a small adjustment.
The idea is that you have something to do rather than standing there wondering what the hell you’re supposed to be doing.
I’ll Use the Light and Location
Good portraits aren’t just about posing.
The location matters.
The light matters.
The composition matters.
Sometimes the best photograph is five metres away from where everyone else is standing.
So I’ll look for it.
That might be beautiful window light while you’re getting ready, a brutal flash photograph outside the venue, a huge staircase, a dark corridor or somewhere completely ordinary that happens to look brilliant at the right time of day.
I’m not interested in making every wedding look the same.
I’m interested in using what’s actually there.
I’ll Make the Portraits Feel Like You
Editorial doesn’t have to mean stiff.
It doesn’t have to mean standing perfectly still in expensive-looking clothes while staring into the distance.
It can be messy.
It can be funny.
It can be dramatic.
It can be quiet.
It can be a bit weird.
The best portraits usually have some personality in them.
So rather than giving every couple the exact same collection of poses, I’ll look at you, the location, the light and what’s happening around us and work from there.
You Don’t Need to Know How to Pose
This is worth saying again.
You don’t need to be good in front of a camera.
If you are comfortable having your photograph taken, great.
If you’d rather be anywhere else, that’s fine too.
A big part of my job is making the whole thing feel less awkward.
I’ll give you direction when you need it and get out of the way when you don’t.
And after a few minutes, most couples stop thinking about the camera anyway.
That’s when the good stuff starts happening.
Most of Your Wedding Isn’t a Photoshoot
This is probably the most important part of my approach.
Your wedding isn’t a photoshoot with a party attached.
It’s a wedding.
You should be drinking with your friends.
Eating dinner.
Talking shit with your mates.
Dancing.
Actually watching your wedding happen.
I’ll make time for portraits because they’re an important part of what you’ll have to look back on.
But I don’t want to take you away from everyone for an hour just to create them.
Usually, a relatively small amount of time is enough to make a lot of really strong portraits.
Then you can get back to your wedding.
What This Looks Like on a Real Wedding Day
You might get completely different types of photographs within the same hour.
I’ll photograph your friends losing their minds on the dance floor.
Then I’ll notice a great moment between you and your dad.
Then I’ll grab a quick portrait while the light is perfect.
Then I’ll disappear back into the crowd.
Then something completely unexpected happens and I’m back in the middle of it.
There’s no rigid formula.
I’m responding to what’s actually happening.
That’s why I don’t want every wedding gallery to have the same photographs in the same order.
Why I Don’t Want Every Wedding Gallery to Look the Same
One of the things I like most about weddings is that they’re all different.
Different people.
Different venues.
Different weather.
Different groups of friends.
Different levels of chaos.
Different personalities.
So why would I photograph them all in exactly the same way?
I’ll bring the same approach to every wedding, but the photographs themselves should be shaped by what’s happening in front of me.
That’s also why I don’t think you need to recreate photographs you’ve seen on Pinterest.
If you’ve hired me because you like my work, trust me to make something that works for your wedding.
Editorial Wedding Photography Across the UK
I’m based in Scotland and photograph weddings throughout the UK.
That includes Scotland, England, Wales and wherever else the next good party happens to be.
I’m particularly drawn to weddings that don’t feel overly formal.
City weddings.
Country houses.
Small weddings.
Big weddings.
Alternative venues.
Old buildings.
Modern spaces.
Anywhere with good people and something interesting going on.
The location matters, but the people matter more.
So, What Does My Style Actually Look Like?
If I had to put it simply:
Mostly documentary. Some direction. A bit editorial. No forced nonsense.
I want photographs that show what actually happened.
But I also want photographs that look fucking good.
Some photographs should make you laugh.
Some should bring back a moment you’d completely forgotten.
Some should feel chaotic.
Some should be quiet.
And a few should make you stop scrolling through your gallery and think:
“Holy shit.”
That’s the balance I’m looking for.
The Short Version
You don’t need to choose between documentary wedding photography and editorial wedding photography.
You can have both.
You can have the photographs of your friends being themselves, the moments you didn’t even see happen and all the little details that made the day yours.
And you can also have portraits that feel considered, stylish and properly bloody good.
That’s how I approach wedding photography.
Let the day happen. I’ll take care of the photographs.
If that sounds like your kind of thing, [get in touch] and tell me what you’re planning
