Rachel & Dylan wanted a day to spend with loved ones gathered in their home state, celebrating the life they’ve built together. A laid back, intimate party with good food, dancing, and time to actually enjoy. This relaxed, joyful energy could be observed throughout the entire day - from the time spent getting ready with friends and family, to a long dinner with funny, tender speeches, and good music to end the night. Some of my favorite moments included Rachels first look with her family (and friend camera entourage documenting it alongside me), post-ceremony sheep pets, a candlelit dinner with tears and laughs, and the personal tattoos that made their way onto friends and family.

couple exits after ceremony at tops'l farm in midcoast maine on black and white film

A bride does a first look with her family outside at a farm in Maine on film

A documentary approach to wedding portraits

There is no need to perform on your wedding day. Really, I just want you to show up as your are - there is no ‘kiss for the camera’ happening here. But I also get it, you want nice photographs of the two of you that are true to you. So, what does this look like? For Rachel & Dylan, we spent about 15 minutes after their ceremony walking around the farm. Stopping by the sheep, hanging out along the fence, and up on the hill as the sun set.

Documentary wedding photographer in New England

Rather than asking couples to ‘put your arm here’ and ‘move that hip’ or ‘get closer and hug,’ etc., etc. (you get the classic posing statements), I am here to create space and moments for you to just connect and be you. It sounds corny, but your love does not need to be scripted. We find the good light, I may ask you to move around or face each other, but that’s really as simple and easy as it gets. In this case, their natural ability to make each other laugh (plus the very cute sheep) helped ease any tension.

A couples rings with sheep after farm wedding in Maine

Documentary natural portraits of bride and groom on wedding day at tops'l farm in Maine

How to have your friends create their own album from their POV with Instax

You could tell Rachel & Dylan were surrounded by their own group of camera-lovers and documenters. They had several Instax cameras floating around as well as some disposables. During dinner, I saw some of the friends flipping through all the photos they had already taken. And I adored this instant photography album taken through the point of view of their friends. Moments and expressions that could only be photographed by someone close to you. What seemed to really help them create this archive was having friends dedicated to the cause. Putting the cameras out in the open, and committing to snapping photos throughout the day.

Film photography of wedding at tops'l farm of guests taking photos

Tips for creating a timeline that prioritizes quality time with your friends and family

During calls with potential wedding clients, couples mention wanting to be present during their wedding day. To create a day where they can let go of the to-do lists & timelines & worries about all the little details. This is also what I want for you on your wedding. To have space to connect with the most important people in your life. I realize this is easier said then done as you are trying to plan a wedding.

The groom looks off while someone fixes his pocket square, with his friends in the background, on black and white film

Candid portrait of the bride looking off holding flowers at fall wedding outdoors in Maine

Rachel and Dylan had so much ease and time in their day. Moments where photography didn’t even happen, and long stretches of time to spend with friends and family. When a wedding day is designed with intention and presence in mind, this is 100% doable. So here are a few tips for doing so:

Simplify the timeline - cut down on the fuss and focus on how you want to spend your time on your wedding day, not the photographs you want to create. Remember: if you don’t want your wedding day to feel like a photoshoot, you don’t need to create the photographic moments, just let them unfold.
Create buffer time in your schedules; extra time for getting ready, flexibility for a ceremony that may start a little late, and time between the ceremony and the next thing you have to go to. In these extra spaces and buffers of time you can just breathe, take moments away from the camera, and be with your people.
When it comes to family formal photographs, try to get it down to as fewest combinations as possible (I say 10 or less). Think: What photographs will I actually frame in my home and/or look at once a year? If you’re not going to look back at a formal photograph with distant cousins, you can instead spend that time with your guests and candid photographs of you and your cousins may happen on their own.
Make space to spend with your partner. While you want to soak in all the time with your guests, it’s also nice to live the day with your new spouse. Maybe this is having a long dinner or time between food and dancing so you can take a little walk or moment to yourselves away from all the party.

When in doubt, creating a day that revolves around your core values and priorities can help simplify the planning process. It will allow you to focus on what really matters to you and design your day with the intention of staying present.