Melissa & Ian – Documentary Wedding Photography

Melissa & Ian were married at Ansty Hall in April 2016. They wanted very little fuss throughout their day. There’s was to be a massive wedding and  ‘exclusive use’ celebration at Ansty Hall, Coventry, documentary wedding photography only. They married in the small and pretty chapel in the grounds.

I always smile to observe the transformation of brides. At the rehearsal shoot,  Melissa was casually dressed and little makeup, jeans and a hounds-tooth checked winter coat which she did not take off, even for the photos. On the day a huge frothy white wedding dress with multiple layering!

Pure documentary wedding photography and ‘fly on on the wall’ coverage was the couple’s brief  ensuring little interruption to their party. Their personalities,  hedonistic, easy going, with a life focussing on ‘experiences’, having a great time and world-wide travel.

Melissa really did not like the camera and so there are very few images where she is looking straight into the lens and no couple shots at all. Like many couples, they craved natural stylish unposed photography.

Documentary Wedding Photography

Part of the process of shooting weddings and wedding photography is to engage and form relationships pre- wedding. These relationships then grow during the wedding day. After an 8 hour shoot, I am completely at ease with a couple. Part of that relationship is built through reaction to the lens. With documentary photography that’s not always the case, so you miss that constant chat but you gain being immersed within the party where you can shoot far more freely and without detection.

I become part of the party, invisible after a period of time and accepted as part of the celebration. Documentary wedding photography is a great way to become ‘lost’,  ‘included’ and  ‘inside’ the wedding day celebration. Photographs are then richer with observation.

 

 

Photographer: Suzanne Fells
Couple: Melissa & Ian
Date: April 2016
Location: Ansty Hall, Ansty Hall, Coventry.