Posts tagged documentary family photography

Erin and Jen’s Wedding Weekend at Venture Retreat Center

“How do you know Erin and Jen?”
“Did you go to school with them?”

We love when people ask us that. It happens a lot. Guests often think we’re old friends or cousins, and honestly, I take that as the biggest compliment. It means we blend in. We are present. We care enough to truly observe and document each unique wedding story like we are part of it.

That is the heart of documentary wedding photography. We don’t just show up with cameras. We step into the story and capture it as it unfolds, real and unfiltered.

Erin and Jen didn’t want their celebration to last only one day. They wanted a full weekend surrounded by their favorite people. So they invited everyone to Venture Retreat Center in Pescadero, California and said, “Come stay the whole weekend!” A summer camp with a wedding. Perfect, right?

Their story is just as beautiful as their day. They met on Hinge while Jen was hiking through Norway. Their first date was at a climbing gym. Years later, Jen proposed under the stars in Yosemite, and Erin almost lost her ring. Their love story is full of adventure, laughter, and real connection.

Their Venture Retreat Center wedding weekend was filled with hugs, cats, cozy cabins, handmade DIY details, and so much heart. 🏳️‍🌈 Every detail felt like them. It was joyful, colorful, and deeply personal.

As LGBTQ+ wedding photographers, we felt honored to document every part of it. This is what we love about authentic wedding photography in California. Every story is different. Every couple brings their own kind of magic. Erin and Jen’s weekend reminded us why we do this work - to capture love that is true and unforgettable.

📸: by me and Brett

💌 Let’s Make Something Real
If you are planning your own wedding weekend in Pescadero, the Bay Area, or anywhere in California, and you want photos that feel honest and alive, I would love to be your documentary wedding photographer. LET’S MAKE MAGIC TOGETHER ✨

Let's tell your story YOUR way!

The Story Behind Our Best Documentary Wedding Photos | Annie Bang

Have you ever looked at a photo and thought, “How the heck did they even get that shot?”
Like the one where the groom is wiping away a tear as his bride walks down the aisle. Or the flower girl is mid-scream and someone in the background is losing it with laughter?

Yeah… those are our favorite moments too.

Let’s pull back the curtain on one of our favorite weddings and show you exactly how these kinds of real, raw, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments happen. This is the behind-the-scenes of what it’s like working with a documentary wedding photographer - aka someone who’s basically a stealth ninja with a camera.

How the Best Documentary Photos Happened

1. **No Posing. Just Presence.**

We didn’t ask them to fake laugh. They were *actually* laughing. Why? Because we gave them space to be fully present, not perform. When you forget the camera’s there, magic happens.

2.
**Trust is Everything.**

They trusted us to *be there* - not hidden in the background, but fully present with them. That’s how we caught the hug between the bride and her grandma in the kitchen. No one else saw it, but we did because we were part of the moment, just with cameras in hand.

3. **Anticipating Emotion, Not Chasing It**

We don’t wait for things to happen. We ***feel*** when they’re about to. It’s instinct built over years. That tearful moment right before the vows? We were already there, dialed in, shutter ready.

4. **Blending In Like a Guest** **(But With Better Shoes)**

People tend to forget we’re there. Seriously. We dress like guests, we smile, we chat a bit, and then we fade into the background and let stories unfold. That’s the secret sauce of the best documentary photographer: invisibility.

Why This Matters to You

Weddings can be messy, beautiful, and totally unpredictable. And that’s where we thrive. These are your memories - not a Pinterest board checklist. When you work with a wedding photojournalist, you’re getting more than pretty pictures.

You’re getting the truth. In all its tender, hilarious, and chaotic glory.

Thinking of Skipping the Poses Too?

If you want wedding photos that feel like you, not a version of you playing a role - let’s talk. We’re not here to tell you where to stand or what to do with your hands all day long. We’re here to tell your story.

Unfiltered. Emotional. Real.

Because that’s what lasts forever.

Let's Talk. Yay!

7 Tips for Documenting Authentic Family Moments

When I was a kid, I actually hated posing for photos. I’d squirm, look away, or make the weirdest faces on purpose. So my dad did what any quick-thinking parent would do - he snapped candids. Us laughing, playing, making a mess… and honestly? Those are the photos I cherish the most today. They were real. Unstaged. Full of life.

Have you ever flipped through family albums and thought, "Where’s Mom? Where’s Dad?" Because let’s be real - they were probably the ones taking the picture. And how often do we snap a hundred photos but never get one where we’re all in it?

If you’re tired of staged smiles and photos that don’t really feel like you, these tips will help you capture moments that do. Ready to make some memories? Let’s go!

1. Capture the Chaos (Because It’s Beautiful!)

Some of the best family moments are messy, loud, and full of life. Kids running around, a dog jumping into the frame, someone laughing so hard they snort - THOSE are the moments that tell your family’s story. Don’t wait for the “perfect” shot. Snap the ones where life is happening in all its glorious and unfiltered magic.

2. Stop Telling Everyone to “Say Cheese”

Forced smiles? No thanks. Instead of stiff poses, let the moment unfold naturally. Crack a joke, reminisce about a funny memory, or have a little tickle fight. The best smiles aren’t the ones we force - they’re the ones that just happen.

3. Take Turns Behind the Camera

If you’re the one always taking photos (hi, moms and dads!), make a point to switch it up. Hand the camera over to your partner, set up a tripod, or even ask a stranger to take a quick snap. One day, your kids will want to look back and see YOU in these moments, too.

4. Choose Places That Mean Something

Your family’s story isn’t written in a studio - it’s in the little corners of your home, the park where your kids learned to ride a bike, the kitchen where you have Sunday pancakes. Instead of a generic photoshoot spot, pick a place that already holds memories. That way, the photos will feel even more you.

5. Find the Moments Between the Poses

Ever notice that the best pictures aren’t the ones where everyone’s looking at the camera? They’re the ones where a parent is tying a tiny shoelace or a child is whispering a secret in their sibling’s ear. Those little, in-between moments tell the real story. Keep your camera ready for them!

6. Let Kids (and Pets) Do Their Thing

Trying to get kids (or pets) to sit still for a photo is like herding cats. Instead of forcing a perfect pose, let them play, explore, and be themselves. Follow their energy, and you’ll get shots full of genuine joy.

7. Print Your Photos & Put Them Somewhere You’ll See Them

In a world where we snap a million pictures but rarely see them again, don’t let your best family moments get buried in your phone. Print them out, make an album, or create a gallery wall. Let those real, beautiful, imperfectly perfect moments live where they belong - front and center in your home.

Quick View

STORYBOOK PHOTO ALBUM

Final Thought

One day, when you’re looking back on these photos, you won’t care if your hair was perfect or if everyone was facing the camera. You’ll care about how they felt. The way your child’s tiny hand fit into yours. The way your partner laughed when you whispered something ridiculous in their ear. The way your family was just being - together.

So get in the frame. Capture the real. And don’t forget to hand someone else the camera once in a while. 💛

Want to get started but not sure how?
We’ve got you. Grab our free family photo guide - packed with simple tips to help you stress less, embrace the chaos, and get photos that actually feel like you.

👉 Download the Free Guide Here

Ready to make some real magic?
Let’s skip the poses and capture the good stuff.

Book your family session now

Los Angeles Documentary Style Photography Stories