What is a Documentary Wedding Videographer?
Your wedding day should feel like your day,not a production. A documentary wedding videographer captures your day authentically, preserving the real emotions and moments without pulling you out of them. The goal? To document your wedding as it naturally unfolds, so when you watch your film years from now, you’re reliving the genuine joy, laughter, and love, not a staged version of it!
Unlike some traditional or cinematic approaches, I won’t be directing every moment or asking you to redo something for the sake of a shot. The only time I guide couples is during their portrait session and group photos, everything else is real, raw, and in the moment.
The Difference Between Documentary, Cinematic, and Editorial Wedding Videography
Before you book a wedding videographer, it’s important to know what style resonates with you. Here’s how documentary videography compares to other approaches:
Documentary: Natural, unscripted, and timeless. Focuses on real emotions and candid interactions without interference.
Cinematic: More stylized and dramatic, often with choreographed shots that feel like a movie. Think sweeping slow-motion footage and a heavily curated storyline.
Editorial: Posed and polished, with a focus on making every frame look like a magazine spread. This often involves more direction from the videographer to achieve a highly stylized look.
If you want a film that feels true to your experience, one that transports you back to exactly how you felt, documentary wedding videography is the way to go!
Why I Believe in Letting Moments Happen Naturally
One of my biggest pet peeves in the industry is when photographers or videographers try to control or recreate moments that should just happen. I’ve seen brides asked to zip and unzip their dresses multiple times for a staged shot. I’ve witnessed first looks that feel more like a choreography routine, where the photographer tells the bride exactly when to walk, when to pause, and when to tap the groom on the shoulder, all while the groom is stressing about which direction to turn. It takes away from the magic of the moment and can make it feel more like a performance than a memory in the making.
Instead, I believe in capturing these moments as they naturally unfold! Your wedding day is not about the perfect shot, it’s about the real moments. The way your hands shake just before the first look. The way your mom’s eyes well up as she zips up your dress. The unscripted laughter, the fleeting glances, the little things you didn’t even realize were happening but mean the world when you see them later.
A Beautiful Documentary Wedding at Stonebridge Manor, Mesa, Arizona
Stonebridge Manor? Total dream venue for creating timeless wedding films. With its lush gardens, grand courtyards, and stunning architecture, it’s like a fairytale waiting to happen. For this wedding, I was all about capturing the real, candid moments that made the day truly special, everything from those raw, emotional exchanges before the ceremony to the contagious joy on the dance floor. And guess what? You can find some of those moments featured in the gallery, because there’s nothing more beautiful than letting the day unfold naturally and allowing those magical moments to speak for themselves.
A Glimpse of Working with Your Soon-to-Be Arizona Wedding Videographer
Choosing a documentary wedding videographer means embracing an experience that's as genuine and effortless as your love story. Here's what you can expect when we work together:
1. Let's Get Acquainted
It all starts with a relaxed chat to make sure we’re a great fit. After all, your wedding videographer is going to be by your side all day, so it’s important that we vibe and connect on a real level.
2.Pre-Wedding Prep
To make sure I capture every moment just right, I’ll send you a pre-wedding questionnaire. It helps me get to know your unique story and all the special moments I need to be ready for, so nothing slips through the cracks.
3.Your Wedding Day
On your big day, I’ll be there, but you won’t even notice me. My goal is to stay out of the way, capturing everything authentically and with minimal direction, so you can enjoy every second without feeling like you're on stage.
4.Crafting Your Unique Film
Once the day’s over, I dive in, dedicating over 50 hours to edit your film. Every shot, every detail is carefully chosen to create a film that feels as personal and beautiful as your love story.
5.Reliving the Magic
Years down the road, when you hit play on your wedding film, you’ll be transported right back to that moment, the joy, the emotions, the love. It’s not just a video; it’s a living memory that keeps the magic alive for decades to come.
From our first chat to the final frame, I’m here to make sure every step of the process reflects you and your story. I’ve got the details covered so you can focus on the fun and excitement of planning your perfect day. Let’s make your dream wedding film together!
Because some moments are too powerful to just tell, they need to be felt and seen. And that’s exactly what your wedding film does: it lets you relive the laughter, the love, and the emotions, just as they unfolded.
Ready for a Wedding Film That Feels Like You?
If you want a wedding film that doesn’t just look beautiful but also feels real, I’d love to chat. Documentary wedding videography is all about capturing your story as it happens, so you can relive it exactly as it was, every emotion, every laugh, every unforgettable moment.
Arizona Wedding Videographer | Emily Faye Films
Whether you're dreaming of a wedding day that feels effortlessly you,filled with real, unscripted moments, or you want a film that transports you back to the way it felt, you deserve more than a standard wedding video. You deserve a wedding videography experience that’s as authentic and timeless as your love story. That’s exactly what I’m here to create. Let’s capture the moments that matter most,without the awkward posing or forced emotions. Ready to relive your day, exactly as it happened? Let’s make it happen! Get in touch, here!
Want to see more of my Arizona Wedding Videography? Head to my Pinterest to save ideas for your wedding planning boards!
Arizona Wedding Vendor Team:
Venue: Stonebridge Manor | Videographer: Emily Adkins | Photography: Ashley Wise Photo | Florals: Maggie Berri | DJ: Direct Sounds
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