Candid, Editorial, Documentary, Cinematic...


If you're currently planning a wedding or looking for a wedding photographer, you might have heard some of these description words in your search. Words like "editorial", "documentary", "cinematic", and "candid" are all over the wedding industry space currently, and the confusion is equally prevalent. I'd love to help clear up some misunderstandings about what these popular styles of wedding photography actually mean. And since I am a real person, and not using AI for this blog at all, please be patient with my writing skills!

Editorial flash photo of a bride and groom on a red carpet in California for a destination wedding.
Black and white photo of an editorial santa barbara wedding with a couple on the stairs
Editorial film photo of a bride and groom with a porsche car.

Editorial Photography


When you hear the words "editorial photography", you should remember two things. 1. Posed. 2. Magazine. These are photographs that are consciously directed and posed to some degree in order to create a vision that is worthy of a magazine spread. After all, editorial literally means "relating to the commissioning or preparing of material for publication".


The thing is, since the "candid look" is currently all over Vogue and other wedding magazines, it's been insanely confusing for the average person to differentiate what was carefully crafted, and what was genuinely a candid moment.


In my photography style I do a mix of editorial work and true candid documentary work. The images shown above are all considered editorial- where I intentionally posed these couples, directed them, and crafted a shot.


Your job if you want this style of photos: You have to take direction!

Bride and her friend dance in a film photo of a backyard wedding.
Bride shares an emotional moment with her dad for a dance.
Candid film photo of groom interacting with wedding guests.

True Candid Documentary Photography


Think of a childhood family photo that you love, probably taken on 35mm film. Maybe your Mom is making a weird face while she's talking to someone, or there's a bunch of dishes in the sink, or toys on the floor. The photo wasn't posed or staged, and there was absolutely no cleaning or arranging things beforehand. That's true candid photography. It's the photos that are just taken, with no one performing, no one worrying about what they look like, and no attempt at trying to create a Pinterest perfect home. They are the photos that show real life, warts and all.


This style of my photography is what I'm truly passionate about, and while I do take a few minutes to craft editorial portraits during a wedding day if my couple desires, the other 90% of the time I'm focusing on true candid documentary moments. I'm looking for the small glances between people, the genuine smiles and laughter, and the stolen kisses.


It's also important to note that candid documentary photography may also apply to editing styles as well, where your photographer chooses not to edit wrinkles, or flyaway hairs since doing so would change the authenticity of the photo. It's important to communicate with your photographer what they mean by how they describe their style, and also to view an extensive portfolio and real wedding photography galleries to make sure that their body of work matches your desired look.


The images above are all truly candid. Nothing was posed, prompted, designed, or "inspired by". They were real moments that happened naturally during the course of a wedding day.


Your job if you want this style of photos: You have to go do candid things. You have to actually go hug your family, share a stolen kiss, pet your dog, eat a snack, or dance to a silly inside joke. You have to be mindfully present of both your wedding day and your relationships. If you are constantly worried about what you look like, where your photographer is, and what your face looks like, you've already taken yourself out of the moment, and your photos are no longer true candids.

Film cinematic photo of garden wedding with a red bridge.

Cinematic Photography


Cinematic photography is the intersection of candid documentary photography and editorial photography, and it's where most people get confused. If your goal is to have wedding photos that look like a movie- then you're already out of the realm of candid photography, since movies are extensively planned, staged, and directed. What cinematic photography actually is involves cooperation from both the photographer and the subjects pretty equally. In true candid documentary photography, most of the responsibility falls on the couple or subject to be loose, candid, and truly in the moment. In editorial photography, most of the responsibility falls on the photographer to craft an image and guide their subjects. In cinematic photography, there is a split between the photographer giving directions and guidelines, and then the couple taking the directions and making them their own. An example of this would be your wedding photographer placing you in a beautiful spot where they know the light is hitting perfectly, but then backing up and letting their couple truly have a quiet moment alone and interact how they see fit.


A perfect example of this is this shot from The Fellowship of the Ring. Was this crafted? Absolutely yes. Did the actors make it their own in how they interacted? Also yes. Was I inspired by this shot as I took the above shown bridge photo? Yes again.


Your job if you want this style of photos: Take direction from your wedding photographer, and then make it your own. If you want cinematic photography, you have to pretend like you are an actor in a movie.

Scene from Lord of the Rings movie showcasing cinematic photography.

Cheat Sheet:

Candid Documentary Photography: Totally unposed, no artistic interference or design.

Editorial: Posed, crafted, heavy artistic interference.

Cinematic: A blend between the two above styles. Includes some guidance, and some decisions on your own part.