Wedding Photojournalism | The Art of Storytelling

In any industry, there’s usually a collection of terms and abbreviations that only insiders know the meaning of. With wedding photography, it’s no different. Of course, this makes it simpler for photographers to talk shop, but it also means a lot of terms to describe what we do are thrown about and used interchangeably for different things, leaving many clients confused as to what it all means.

Wedding photojournalism is one such term that is often used but rarely defined. What does it mean for your photographer to be a wedding photojournalist? Do they show up to the wedding sporting a media badge and a vest with a bunch of pockets for film and such (from old school days)?

Well, not exactly. While many wedding photojournalists do in fact have a background in photojournalism–working for a newspaper or magazine–many others do not. I am one of those others…I’ve never worked for a newspaper or magazine. But, what I aim to do during a wedding is very similar to what photojournalists do working for a newspaper: they aim to capture the story of events.

Weddings are incredible stories–they not only include intricate details and fantastic moments, but they also encompass family relationships through a life-changing event. There are literally hundreds of stories within each wedding day story–from getting ready and walking down the aisle, to all the little “in-between” moments. A wedding photojournalist aims to capture those moments, without regard to whether or not the moment is “pretty” or “expected.” After all, sometimes it really does rain on your wedding day. And that’s part of the story!

For me, I must say I’m not strictly a wedding photojournalist, meaning that I never direct or never take any “posed” photos. While the majority of the photos I take are candid, I also spend some time taking expected, posed photos. Even those photos, however, I try to conduct in a relaxed and fresh manner as possible–aiming to capture who the couple is–not cheesy grins.

So, if you’re a bride looking for a photographer and they describe themselves at a “photojournalist,” definitely make sure their work agrees with the statement. But also know that if you hire someone to tell the story of your day, than that’s what you’ll get! And enjoy the moments they capture–even if they’re unexpected!