Documentary Wedding Photographer
A Natural & Candid Wedding Photographer in Cardiff & South Wales
Hello, my name is Sacha Miller and I am an award winning documentary wedding photographer based in Cardiff, South Wales.
Since 2004, I have specialised in documentary wedding photography (you can read more about this approach below), pioneering an approach where bride and grooms could enjoy the company of their friends and family and not spend the bulk of their wedding day posing for the camera. I am proud to say I have won a few awards along the way, such as Professional Photographer magazine’s ‘Wedding Photographer of the Year’.
I discovered the medium of photography whilst attending art school. Paintbrushes eventually gave way to cellulose acetate, I built a rudimentary darkroom in the attic, where I learnt to develop film and hand print photographs through a seemingly magical process that allowed images to emerge out of tray of chemicals.
I have always earned my living as a professional photographer. My career of over twenty years began with the local newspaper, before working as a ship’s photographer, sailing around the Caribbean. On my return to the UK and eventually settling in South Wales I began producing work for national newspapers and magazines. This resulted in several front page photographs and picture led stories published in titles such as The Guardian, Daily Telegraph and The Independent.
I am in the fortunate position of having gained an enviable reputation for my discrete method of capturing timeless wedding photography, that the majority of new commissions come from past client recommendations. I have had the pleasure of photographing hundreds of weddings, each one captured with a unique set of images as I allow the day to flow naturally. I continue to commit myself to providing the best wedding photography I can, without turning the wedding into a controlled photoshoot. You can take advantage from my experience of photographing of over 400 weddings, through this wedding planning advice page where I have shared a few thoughts and ideas.
When I am not photographing weddings I also have a commercial photography business, where I help corporations and sole traders with their branding and event imagery requirements. In my spare time you can usually find me on the tennis court where the perpetual quest for the perfect backhand continues. Alternatively I enjoy spending time with my two grown up daughters, cycling and hiking around the picturesque mountainous, coastal and woodland areas that South Wales has to offer. Like many photographers, I also have a passion for travel, and I am always excited to capture new and inspiring city and landscapes with my camera.
“We photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing, and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth can make them come back again.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson
DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY APPROACH & STYLE
Photographic reportage, photojournalism or documentary wedding photography is simply telling the story of the day using a sequence of emotive pictures. Weddings are beautiful to photograph with so many different emotions but they have to be treated with a delicate touch. After all fleeting moments can not be recreated and you can not print a memory. So an ability to respond quickly and quietly is paramount to provide images that perfectly capture the essence of your wedding day with the integrity it deserves.
As with natural and candid wedding photography there is no standard plan to follow, each wedding is unique but a good documentary wedding photographer will tiptoe through a scene. Avoiding intrusion but constantly looking out for the perfect shot. Many scenes must unfold naturally before a photographer’s eye, but they must also engage both mind and heart to fully utilise their camera’s ability to record the moment and emotion. It can be a simple scene, but small differences such as the angle of view and the direction of light can make drastic changes to the vigour and richness of an image. You can see further examples of my documentary wedding photography in my portfolio and also I am very proud of the feedback I hear from previous couples through these client reviews.
“Sacha was amazing in understanding what we wanted out of our photo’s – we didn’t want staged shots and wanted everyone to feel comfortable and this is exactly what he did! Lots of people commented on the photo’s how they didn’t even know there was a photographer around majority of the time, which for us was exactly what we wanted. His communication before was great and we’re so pleased with the results!”
Fran & Tom
An experienced documentary wedding photographer will be able to capture most of the day using the ambient light. Though this does take some investment in professional cameras together with the highest quality lenses but they will allow most scenes to be captured without the need to impose artificial light. The is nothing like a flash of fabricated illumination to destroy the sanctuary of a moment. Not only does it destroy the delicate atmosphere created by candles or dimmed lighting, but the subject matter and those in the surrounding area become instantly aware of the presence of a photographer. The natural behaviour of people enjoying themselves will change as self consciousness sets in. So a good documentary photographer will possess empathy to communicate the emotion of a scene. They must also have technical ability to have the skill to capture a fleeting moment and lastly they must also have the artistic vision to create an interesting and aesthetically pleasing picture.
However I also believe in the importance of some formal photography, especially a few group shots of close family and friends. The trick is to get the balance right, so I normally advise five or six sets to avoid this part of the day taking too much time. This will allow you to return to the party and have a drink and chat with your guests, which is after all why you invited them. I have a little saying I often repeat to clients, “The photographs should be about the day and not the day about the photography”. I feel if you keep true to this statement the documentary ethos will withstand the slight detour. At your discretion you can also choose to have a few pictures of just the two of you, this will allow me to select the background and utilise your chosen venue. This normally only takes a few minutes but will provide you with a few nice images to anchor the natural documentary imagery. Documentary wedding photography, when done well, possess an honesty and truth, properties which are often under estimated. It provides images which have the ability to transcend fashion and time. Concentrating on the beauty of human interaction at its most fundamental level, of love and friendship.
As a documentary wedding photographer, I have no standard plan to follow. I treat each wedding as unique, allowing events to unfold as I discreetly capture the emotions, laughs and moments with my cameras. My advice to anyone getting married, is to relax and enjoy yourself on the day, chat and laugh with friends and family and the photography will take care of itself. If this sounds like it might suit you and you would like to discuss your wedding photography requirements any further, or just wish to check on my availability and fee, then please do get in touch.