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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Great Gatsby Wedding at The Grand Tradition

Mike and Riley’s big day at The Grand Tradition in Fallbrook, California, was pure joy. 💛 From start to finish, it was all smiles, love, and fun. They know how to be fully present and to celebrate what is real. As their documentary wedding photographers in California, we were so thankful to capture a Great Gatsby-themed wedding that was filled with unique style, big emotions, and love that felt alive in every corner.

Mike, a Navy vet from Philly, is loyal, big-hearted, and so proud of where he comes from. Riley, raised in Silver Spring with Black Armenian roots, has a warm and grounding spirit that makes everyone around her feel at ease. When they are together, it just feels right. Their love showed up in every laugh, every hug, and every moment they shared.

What made this day so special was the mix of elegance and honesty. The Gatsby details were beautiful, and everyone followed the dress code!!!! And what really made the day shine were their wedding story. The wild laughs, Riley eating her favorite Wendy’s burger before her ceremony, her tears, the hugs, the wild dance floor, and the way family and friends poured out their love. This is what documentary wedding photography is all about. Authentic, raw, unscripted, and full of truth.

For us as Southern California wedding photojournalists, these are the best moments to capture. No awkward poses. No fake smiles. Just candid wedding photography that shows the true story of the couple.

If you are searching for The Grand Tradition wedding photography or dreaming of a San Diego documentary wedding photographer, Riley and Mike’s celebration is proof that the documentary style is the way to go. Their wedding was not just pretty; it was deeply genuine.

We feel so lucky to have been there, cameras in hand, while Riley and Mike celebrated with their whole hearts.

📸: by me, Brett, and Lucca

💌 Let’s Do This!
If you are planning a wedding at The Grand Tradition, in San Diego, Los Angeles, or anywhere in Southern California, and you want photos that feel real, raw, and full of life, I would love to be your documentary wedding photographer. LET’S MAKE MAGIC TOGETHER ✨ Click the button below and let’s start planning your story!

Kelli and Geno’s wedding was the kind of day that makes our hearts so full.

They got married at Azure Hills SDA Church in Grand Terrace, with over 200 people cheering them on. And honestly? It felt like one big family reunion - in the best way. Everyone was hugging, laughing, crying (happy tears, of course), and just so pumped to celebrate these two.

Kelli and Geno met in college, stayed best friends for years, and then finally turned that friendship into something even more beautiful. They’re sweet, goofy, kind - and totally in sync. You can tell they just get each other. Geno kept sneaking little smiles at Kelli all day, and Kelli? She lit up every time she looked at him.

After the ceremony, the reception was pure JOY. Music, dancing, and a whole lot of love. Geno’s Kenyan culture took center stage and brought the party vibes - color, rhythm, and dancing that went all night long (yes, we were dancing too).

What made this wedding so special? It wasn’t about perfect timelines or stiff traditions. It was about real moments. The ones you can’t plan for. The ones you feel. That’s what we’re all about - and Kelli and Geno let us capture it all.

Thank you both for letting us in. For being fully yourselves. For making the day so fun, emotional, and unforgettable.

Here are some of their engagement photos at Balboa Park in San Diego.

Planning something big (or small!) in Los Angeles or San Diego and want wedding photos that feel like you? We got you.

👇
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