Why I Film Quietly: A Documentary-Style Approach to Wedding Videography

Who wouldn't be nervous?? Let's face it, this day is the culmination of months if not years of planning. So many things had to come together perfectly to make this day memorable, and you made it happen. The last thing you want is to have the focus shifted. This day is YOUR day! You deserve to relax and soak up all the love and energy you poured into making it happen.

I truly believe your wedding day shouldn't be a show. It should be a memory.

Some filmmakers give a lot of direction, and while I do think this has its time and place, and I will sometimes guide you with little prompts. I don’t think being a wedding filmmaker is the same as being a Hollywood director. I've found the real magic happens when people are just... present.

Imagine waking up on your wedding day the air feels different. The energy is buzzing. You're surrounded by people who love you, wearing the outfit you picked out months ago, hearing the music you've carefully chosen. But if you're constantly performing for the camera, that's the memory that sticks. You remember holding a pose, repeating a moment, chasing an idea of "perfect."

But when you're simply allowed to be to laugh when it's real, to breathe when it's quiet, to forget the lens is even there that’s where the truth lives. And when you watch your film years later, you don’t just see how it looked. You feel how it felt. That’s what matters most.

And the beautiful thing about films? Photos capture a feeling; but video captures moments, movements, sounds, voices, presence. When you look back years from now, you get to re-experience the things you didn’t even realize you'd forget.

The way your parents hold you before you walk down the aisle. The way your partner’s voice cracks during their vows. The way the wind picks up your veil or rustles the trees as you say "I do." The way you both laugh nervously when the ceremony starts, then soften into calm as you see each other.

Films capture these intangible layers. The things you can’t stage. And when you’re allowed to be present, those moments unfold naturally. That’s what I try to preserve: not the performance, but the presence.

That’s why I always tell my clients and family: if you're going to hire a videographer, ask yourself:

• do I want to be directed? or disappear into the moment?

• do I care more about how it looks or how it feels?

• will this film feel like me?

There’s no wrong answer. Sometimes a stylized approach fits your vision beautifully. But it should align with how you want your day to unfold - not just how you want it to look.

I film quietly, using a documentary-style wedding videography approach. Not just because it's my style, but because I believe your wedding film should feel like you were truly there.. Like you're stepping back into the moment, not watching a performance, but remembering something real.

If you're planning your wedding and any of this speaks to you, I'd love to hear what matters most to you. Whether I'm the one behind the camera or not, you're always welcome to reach out and share.