Street Style Wedding Photography.

When I meet with photographer friends I’m often shocked to find that

a: They don’t own a library of photobooks.

b: That if they do, most of those photobooks aren’t street photography.

What kind of crazy world is this? I’m confounded by the fact that most wedding photographers don’t fall asleep clutching their copy of The Suffering of Light

So (I bet you’re dying to ask) – what is the influence of street photography on wedding photography – and especially my documentary style of wedding photography?

The Overlap between wedding and street photography.

The most obvious thing is most street photography is about people. It’s about the way they interact, their quirks and their stories. It’s also taking place in real time, with unpredictable actions and moments and it’s the street photographers job to bring it together in a way that makes sense (or sometimes, really doesn’t, but we’ll get to that later.)

And all this is true of weddings. Once you start looking beyond the obvious moments, it all gets a bit more interesting. A bit more chaotic and a lot more improvisational.

So bringing some of the ethos and working practices of street photography into your wedding work can make it so much more interesting.

“To me, photography is the art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” – Elliott Erwitt

Some Street photographers to check out.

The best way to engage with street photography is by going out and seeing some. Here’s a list of influential (and some newer) photographers to go and check out. (Don’t worry, I’ll wait)

1. 1. Alex Webb – Alex is a legend in the street photography world. He has such a sense of timing, composition and colour that he has a voice all of his own and is synonymous with street photography for so many photographers.
   2. Saul Leiter‘s photos often look like abstract paintings. Distortions of New York street scenes in beautiful Kodachrome.
   3. Vivian Maier – A recently unearthed treasure, Vivian was a photographer working from the 1960’s onwards, but her genius went undiscovered until after her death in the early 2000’s.
   4. Henri Cartier Bresson – The godfather of street photography.
   5. Trent Parke – One of my favourite photographers, full stop. His approach to street photography is abstract and like something half seen in a dream. His work shows just how subjective photography can can be.
   6. Fan Ho – A Chinese photographer who’s use of light and composition are just breathtaking.
   7. Martin Parr’s use of bold flash and colour are unlike anything that came before. His photos are unforgiving, often witty and show the nooks and crannies of English life that we all recognise.
   8. Harry Gruyaert – Another photographer with a wonderful colour sensibility and an eerie mastery of light and composition.
   9. Maciej Dakowicz – There is a wonderful playfulness and sense of humour to Maciej’s work. It’s well worth checking out.
   10. Gustovo Minas – Gustavo brings a detached otherworldliness that’s almost abstract to the street photography genre. His work is often distorted, abstract, inside out and mixes influences of all the above. Well worth checking out.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of what a compelling and diverse genre of photography street photography can be. But what has it got to do with wedding photography.

Anticipation & Quick reflexes

The best street photographers have a sixth sense for what’s about to happen. They anticipate gestures, eye contact, and interactions before they unfold. At a wedding, this means watching guests, predicting when the father of the bride will wipe away a tear, or sensing when a child is about to burst into laughter. Anticipation allows you to be ready, camera in hand, before the moment is lost.

Storytelling Through Composition

Street photography often tells a story in a single frame. Wedding photographers can use similar techniques, such as layering subjects, framing moments naturally, and using light creatively to add depth and narrative to their images.

“I think good street photography is a little like surfing, in that sense that you make yourself available for something to happen. And when it does happen, you have to be ready to ride the wave for as long as you can.” – Geoff Dyer

Embracing Imperfection

Street photography embraces movement, grain, and even blur to convey energy. Wedding photographers can take inspiration by focusing less on technical perfection and more on capturing emotion and atmosphere. Just look at the work of Trent Park or Gustovo Minas to see how abstract and expressive using artistic techniques can be.

Simplification of gear

Street photographers work with minimal gear to be able to move quickly and surreptitiously – with many adopting a one camera, one lens approach. This allows them to react quickly and stay immersed in the moment.

The same principle applies to wedding photography: carrying less gear helps you move freely, stay discreet, and be ready for whatever unfolds. A simple prime lens forces you to be creative with composition, rather than relying on zooming in and out.

Whilst it’s always important for a wedding photographer to carry some form of back up, it can be really freeing to take a minimalist approach to what we carry.

“The camera’s only job is to get out of the way because if it doesn’t, you’re going to be fighting with it all day long.” – David Alan Harvey

F/8 and be there – or the art of nokeh

Whilst many wedding photographers are in the practice of f/1.4 and be there. Closing down our aperture means that street photographers don’t have to worry about focus and can compose and capture moments quicker and more discreetly. Having knowledge of how to zone focus your camera so you can quickly capture a fleeting moment is priceless. Knowing how to compose a shot without relying on the background being blurry, doubly so.

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” – Aaron Siskind

Bringing street style to your wedding photography

Bringing a street photographer’s mindset to weddings means embracing spontaneity, human connections, and storytelling through subtle details. It’s about capturing the wedding as it truly is, not as it’s staged to be. By honing these observational skills, wedding photographers can create images that don’t just document the day, but also preserve the emotion and energy that made it special.

For couples looking for wedding photography that feels natural, relaxed, and full of life, this approach ensures their day is captured exactly as they remember it—beautifully unposed, just like real life.

If you’d like your day capturing in this way – please drop me a line.

Further Reading

Is this Something? -Liam & Dominque Shaw

Street Photography Now – Sophie Howarth, Stephen McLaren

Think Like A Street Photographer – Matt Stuart

Magnum Streetwise: The Ultimate Collection of Street Photography – Stephen McLaren

Reclaim The Street – Matt Stuart

How I Make Photographs – Joel Meyerowitz

Photobook inspiration

The Suffering of Light – Alex Webb

Monument – Trent Parke

Liquid Cities – Gustova Minas

All that life can afford – Matt Stuart

The Decisive Moment – Henri Cartier Bresson

Vivian Maier Street Photographer – John Malouf