A bride recently asked me what “editorial” photography actually meant. When I asked about her vision for her wedding day and the photos, she replied “Editorial and vintage, I think? Wait- can you actually tell me what that means? I saw it everywhere when I was looking at photo inspo but I don’t really know what it means…” It’s a fair question, and an increasingly common one. As wedding photography style terms get used more loosely online, couples are left Googling documentary vs. editorial wedding photography trying to figure out what they’re actually looking at, and what they actually want for their own day.
Here’s the honest breakdown — and where my own work as an Auburn, AL wedding photographer falls between the two.
What Is Documentary Wedding Photography?
Documentary (sometimes called photojournalistic) wedding photography is about capturing what’s actually happening, as it happens — without staging, directing, or interrupting the moment to “get the shot.” Think: the groom’s hands shaking as he reads his vows, your dad’s face the second he sees you, the way your college roommates are laughing at something off to the side during toasts. Nothing is posed. The photographer is present but invisible, documenting real emotion rather than manufacturing it.
The appeal of documentary work is authenticity — when you look back at your gallery in twenty years, it doesn’t feel like a performance for the camera. It feels like your actual wedding day.
What Is Editorial Wedding Photography?
Editorial wedding photography borrows its language and its look from fashion and magazine photography. It’s more intentional and composed: dramatic lighting, styled portrait moments, a couple posed against a beautiful backdrop with the kind of polish you’d see in a magazine spread. Editorial images are often the ones that go viral on Pinterest, because they’re built to be visually striking first.
Editorial isn’t fake or inauthentic — it’s simply a different goal. Where documentary chases real moments, editorial chases beautiful ones, crafted with intention.
So What’s the Difference, Practically?
The simplest way to think about it: documentary photography asks “what is happening?” Editorial photography asks “how can this look beautiful?” Most photographers lean toward one end of that spectrum or blend the two — which is exactly where my own work lives.
My Style: A Blend of Documentary and Editorial
When couples ask about my approach, I describe it as documentary at heart, with editorial polish. The majority of your wedding day — the ceremony, the reception, the in-between moments — is documented exactly as it unfolds, with intimacy without intrusion: I’m there to notice, not to direct. You won’t find me staging crying moments or asking you to “do that again, but slower.”
But within that framework, I also build in intentional portrait time — a short window with you and your partner where we do lean editorial, finding good light, composing the frame thoughtfully, creating a few images that feel elevated and timeless rather than candid. It’s the best of both: a gallery that feels true to how your day actually happened, with a group of images that feel like they belong in a magazine.
This blend is part of why couples hire me specifically rather than a photographer who shoots purely one way or the other. If you want every image staged and polished, documentary-leaning work will feel too loose for you. If you want zero posing and direction whatsoever, even an editorial-light touch might feel like too much direction. Most couples, once they understand the difference between documentary and editorial wedding photography, realize they actually want both — which is the whole premise of how I shoot.
Which Style Is Right for You?
A few questions to ask yourself:
- Do you want your gallery to feel like a story, or like a magazine worthy styled shoot?
- Are you comfortable being photographed candidly throughout the day, or do you want more guidance in front of the camera?
- Do you want a few standout portraits, or do you want every image to feel editorial?
There’s no wrong answer — it’s about matching your photographer’s approach to what you actually want to feel when you look back at your photos.
Ready to Talk Through Your Day?
If a blend of documentary and editorial sounds like what you’re after, I’d love to talk about your wedding. I photograph weddings throughout Auburn, AL and the greater Southeast, and I’d be glad to walk you through exactly how this approach would look for your specific day. Get in touch here →
