Leigh Ball
Documentary Wedding Photography
Macedon Ranges
“These photos are so much more than we even dreamed of and feel incredibly lucky to have had you as our photographer!! We are so so grateful!.“
Testimonials
Documentary wedding photography
No two weddings are the same. Your photos shouldn’t be either.
If you’re looking for traditional, stiff, or perfectly posed wedding photos... you’ve come to the wrong place.
If you’re planning a wedding that feels much more like a massive party .... where you just happen to be getting married. .... then documentary photography is the answer to your prayers.
Drink the champagne (that you paid for).
If you’d rather be mingling with your family and friends than standing in a field fake-laughing for a camera, I have good news: You can.
I wholeheartedly believe that you can do whatever you like on your own wedding day.
I wish we did. While our guests were enjoying drinks and canapés overlooking the city of Melbourne at sunset, listening to our carefully chosen local muso... we weren’t with them. We were trapped in a photoshoot. If we could do it all again, we would be right there with our guests.
If you feel like you have to succumb to the expected, don’t worry. More and more couples are choosing to do the exact opposite.
Zero posing. No performance.
Having more time to celebrate with your favourite people is only one of the benefits of choosing this style. For most of the day, I won’t pose or direct you at all.
(Trust me, your partner is going to love this idea!)
If I do tap you on the shoulder at sunset, it’s only to give you 15 minutes alone together to just breathe. It’s a pocket of quiet time you won't realise you needed until you're in it. But if you decide you’d rather stay at the bar? There is absolutely zero pressure.
My only agenda is to fulfil my promise to you: It’s your day, no one else’s. You shouldn’t be taken away from your wedding for a photoshoot. Your images should be something you look at over and over to relive the actual memories of the day.
I’m watching for the real stuff.
You can expect me to be watching and anticipating, ready to capture;
- The little signals you give your lover, like when you touch your nose that way, they know what it means
- Uncle Tom getting caught sneaking the sweets when he thinks no-one is watching
- The raw, blink-and-you'll-miss-it moments that simply can't be replicated or "repeated for the camera."
What about family photos?
Don't worry, if you choose, we can absolutely still do them. For family photos, I turn into an efficient, friendly coordinator.
We get them done in 15 minutes flat so everyone can get back to the party, and I promise it’s entirely painless. Getting them out of the way keeps well-meaning relatives off your back, and who knows, you might even be glad you have them!
You tell me what you want, and I do it. It’s that simple.
I shoot a limited number of weddings each year and ensure that you get the time and attention that your wedding deserves.
Thinking of an elopement or micro wedding? I'm very happy to help with these too. Click here for more info.
Click here for more info and pricing to build your own bespoke package.
My move into documentary style wedding photography
How a request for documentary style photography from a couple changed everything
What is documentary wedding photography?
Documentary style means that there is minimal to no direction given and photographs are taken of what is happening naturally. This means you are free to enjoy the day that you’ve put so much work into organising and spend time with each other and you’re family and friends.
Is a documentary style right for us?
If you are a courageous couple who value authenticity over everything else, this style of photography will work really well for capturing photos that actually reflect your wedding day. They are not the same as wedding photos where situation A = pose B and you can see this repeated in other people’s wedding photos. This makes your photos much more individual and unique.
Can we still get posed couple and some family group photos?
You sure can but you don’t have to. It’s your wedding so you can do what you like. If you choose to have some direction to make sure you have some photos that meet your need for these more posed shots, I’m more than happy to provide this. As weddings are such a big occasion, sometimes it’s the only time when a family or group will be together so it makes sense to consider this when making this decision.
Do you travel and is there an extra cost?
Yes I can travel to you destination if it fits with my schedule. If you are within an hour of Gisborne, Victoria there will not be nay travel costs. Outside of this, please enquire and I will provide a quote for your consideration.
How many photos will we receive and when will we get them?
This depends on what package you create or choose. Details about this can be found on the Wedding photography pricing page. As a guide, an 8 hour package will deliver approximately 600-800 images and these will be delivered within 4-6 weeks of your wedding. I deliver a sneak peak within 24 hours so you can share these with family and friends or make an official announcement if you like.
What is your approach to diversity?
Diversity and equity are at the core of my work, so much so that I have a statement about what you can expect from me. You can view this at the bottom of the FAQ’s.
Are you free on our wedding date?
I hope so! The only way to find this out is to shoot me a text on 0407 869 968 or send a message via my contact form.
How much of the day will you photograph and what if we don’t want all of it?
I will photograph the parts of the day that you would like. This could be all day from getting ready to leaving your wedding venue. You might choose to have less photographed and therefore reduce the size and cost of the package. I have a Build Your Own bespoke package option where you can clearly see the cost on an hourly basis and add any add ons such as prints or albums. You can find these answers on the Wedding Photography pricing page.
What if we’re awkward? Will you direct or pose us at all?
If you’re worried you will feel awkward in front of the camera, you are in good company. Most people do feel this to some extent. The good thing about documentary style photography is you can truly forget about the camera being there at all. You will be too busy enjoying your big day.
If you chose to have some couple portraits or family/group photos then I will be very happy to direct these where needed to ensure you get the photos we’ve discussed beforehand.
Will we still get detail shots of rings, flowers etc?
I prefer to photograph details with heart, meaning that getting close ups of these important aspects of your wedding is in the context of the day, rather than a still life type of image. If this isn’t possible, then I will take a more traditional image of these details to ensure you have them.
What packages are available for prints and albums?
ou will have access to a professional print lab to order a range of products ranging from high quality framed fine art prints to custom albums handmade in Australia and everything in between. One of my favourites is a folio box filled with matted prints that can be displayed and easily changed over so you get to enjoy more of your photos more often and can easily share them with friends and family. These products come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee for your peace of mind.
Do you have insurance?
I have public liability insurance and can provide a certificate of insurance to you if needed. Some venues ask for this so please check with them to see what is required.