DoCUMENTARY STYLE photography packages – for intimate weddings in virginia (and beyond)
I hope you’re here looking for something real in your wedding photos…something down-to-earth, not forced or faked…because that’s what I am: a documentary style wedding photographer.
You: “What is this.. doc-u-ment-ary thing? Are we going to watch that show about ancient aliens?!”
ME: “Probably not. Let’s start with a poem:
It has this look, this spark, this mood,
but in a way that doesn’t appear to intrude
on the dance, the hugs, or the time.
Because it didn’t.
The wine, the cake, the food-
-all enjoyed, fully,
and with peace of mind,
That tomorrow
We’ll relive it all.
Because to re-live
we must first live.“
Okay. I’ll stop speaking in riddles and explain it simply. Documentary style photography, or the way I do it, is an attempt to offer wedding photography that’s true to its origins: to tell the true story of the wedding day. To achieve this, the steps are simple: You enjoy your wedding day, authentically, and I take photos of that joy, without interfering with or getting in the way of it. Thus, the images represent real memories. Bonus points: you get to be present on your wedding day! It is a real experience, after all, not a styled shoot.
“Windy October micro wedding
Jordan and Anelia provided everything I was hoping for in a wedding photographer. I wanted to be present for my wedding day while someone took photos, and they did just that! At times, I forgot they were there! But, the pictures are proof that the whole day they were capturing candid memories. To top it off, the photos are absolutely stunning. It’s been 2 months now and I am still looking back at them in awe. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to capture the moments of their wedding day authentically.”
Julie – October 2023
Documentary Style Wedding Photography Packages
The following packages were carefully crafted with you, the actual couple getting married, as the guests of honor. Having been in this career for over twelve years, I’ve seen quite a few couples get their hopes up about an appealing price and end up sucked into a bottomless pit of nickeling and dime-ing.
That isn’t the way I like to do things, so I’ve made this pretty simple:
All necessities are included in every package, even travel
.
Nationwide Wedding Photography Packages
Getting married in Big Sur, California? Wewoka, OK? Providence, RI? This is your package! We’ll roadtrip to you in our Subaru, complementary, and make a classic set of images.
included in every us package:
• complementary travel to anywhere in the contiguous US
• Facetime meeting
• Aneila and I as the team. If you book us, you won’t end up with some random associate, because it’s just us.
• 8 hours of coverage
• access to a downloadable online gallery
• print rights for life (you don’t have to buy them from us)
starting at $4000
.
Virginia Intimate Wedding Photography Packages
This product is for The Lovers, the Virginians, for the most part…we may have dipped into Maryland and West Virginia once or twice. Although I could easily, EASILY live as a drifter on my motorcycle, wandering from place to place forever, taking odd jobs to keep the tank filled, Aneila just won’t allow it. She says the seat isn’t comfortable enough. Virginia is our home base. We have a couch here in our century home, built circa 1875.
included in every virginia package
• complementary travel to anywhere in the state
• Facetime meeting, or face to face meeting within 50 miles of our location.
• Aneila and I as your team. If you book us, you won’t end up with an associate, because we do it all ourselves.
• six hours of coverage
• access to a downloadable online gallery
• print rights for life (you don’t have to buy them from us)
starting at $3000
virginia elopement photography
Nearly all of our elopements have taken place at Shenandoah National Park. It’s a beautiful setting, and we live just under an hour from the center of the park, so we know the place well! If you’re in need of a specific spot, I’ve got a list. It’s in my mind.
details
• for elopements, there is no ‘package’, since they’re all different. We build each quote from scratch, based on an hourly rate
• will this involve hiking boots? Yes? Then the price has more flexibility. (I’m dead serious.)
But what’s the price? Well, they’re all kinda different.
usually around $1800
for complete details:
get in touch – claim your date
If you send me a message with this form, all your wildest dreams will come true (I’ll send you a pdf).
or text me: 5406077511
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your approach to photographing a wedding day?
As a documentarian, my approach to photography is real, honest and sometimes really honest. I consider what we’re making to be a “personal family historical record” and I take it very seriously, despite the silliness across these paragraphs. For weddings especially, I like to observe what’s going on, without influencing it or getting in the way too much, so as not to disrupt the peace or fun of a couple’s most important day. When the moment seems right, I point the camera and push the button.
Can we send you a shot list or pinterest board?
You’re welcome to, but I won’t look at them. Heck, I might even ignore the email altogether…sorrynotsorry. Documentary photography is about observing what is happening in real time and creating honest images of such happenings. Any list or set of precompleted photo ideas only serves to inhibit the documentary approach. The day has not yet happened, so how could we know what the pictures will be?
TLDR; a shot list or Pinterest board is the antithesis of documentary photography.
p.s. – OK look though. If you’ve got a basic pose or two you’d like, or a few moments you’d like me to be aware of, conceptually, mention them! A shot list for family formal group photos is also OK. For scheduling, allow 2 minutes and 13 seconds per group.
“We are not here to do what has already been done.”
– Robert Henri, american painter, teacher
I like your editing style. How would you describe it?
True to life – esk. (generally, not over-stylized or trendy). I’m going for a natural look, inspired by ten years of shooting film and digital alongside one another and trying to make the digitals match said film scans…and by film I mean properly exposed film! Not too bright, not too dark. The greens are green…not too green, but never brown or golden. I use the histogram to ensure that the shadow and highlight details are intact. In the end, I always add a small amount of film grain to give the brightest highlights some texture and to improve apparent sharpness.
The conditions for every wedding are unique, full of beautiful, natural character. I aim for my edits to include as much of that character as possible. This sometimes means inconsistency.
What camera do you shoot with?
Fuji X-T2 + Sony A7s + Fuji X-T2
The X-T2 is a sexy, yet humble little camera who’s design pays homage to the analog days with manual dials and a very geometrical shape. Aneila and I each carry one. Aneila shoots with a normal focal length, 50mm equivalent. I typically shoot with a wide, 24mm equivalent for a more immersive view. I chose this system because it is very small, (even the lenses are small), lightweight, unobtrusive, quiet, and just plain simple to use. ……. Bonus, they’re inexpensive, so I don’t worry about slinging them around all haphazard-like. If it breaks, it gets replaced. No tears shed.
The sony is generally for group portraiture and low light madness. It is currently paired with a Voigtlander 50mm f2 APO-Lanthar which has a high-end look… a Leica-esk rendering, if you will. Occasionally, I’ll throw on some old throwback film lenses, including a Takumar 28mm 2.8 that my father bought in 1980 and a Canon 55mm f/1.2 for a softer portrait look.
Ultimately, the cameras don’t really matter! And neither do the edits. The moments matter most.
why should we hire you for our wedding photography?
1. I won’t make your wedding day experience all about ‘the shot’
2. I’ve been doing this for ten eleven twelve thirteen years
3. Documentary style is timeless
5. the owls are not what they seem
6. number four is missing
4. no I’m not
6. oh, there you are
OR KEEP SCROLLING, ITS OK
