Documentary Wedding Photography
HONEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT THAT STIFF, POSED FEELING
Your wedding day doesn’t have to feel like one giant photoshoot.
If we’ve learned anything from the hundreds of weddings we’ve photographed, it’s that every couple has an intricately unique story. Each family member and friend present on a wedding day ties into that story in some wildly special way. If you haven’t considered this yet, let’s chat through something huge— this is probably the only day in your life when every single one of the people you treasure dearly will be surrounding you. And not only that, but this is the very day that marks the beginning of your next chapter with the one person you love most in this world.
You shouldn’t spend every second of this day posing for photos. We believe you should be genuinely living it.
This is where Joseph and I come in. We have deep passion for photographing wedding days in a way that authentically reflects the connection you share with each other and with your loved ones. Our biggest goal is to create an experience that allows you to look back on the day itself fondly: there was no stress, no rigid shot list, you got to be exactly where YOU wanted to be, and you’ve left it with memories of being able to totally enjoy committing your lives to one another, and celebrating your marriage alongside your favorite people! Our documentary style, and our knack for *tastefully* becoming part of your party, ensures you’ll walk away with these timeless moments captured forever, too.
If you are more excited about the idea of getting married than the wedding itself, if your dream wedding gallery includes mostly candid, core-memory moments with a healthy mix of those sweet and treasured portraits of you and your loved ones, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to learn more about the Poppy and Vine experience!
How We Accomplish This—
Before Your Wedding
We believe our job really starts the day you inquire with us. We see it as an honor to walk through this season of engagement with you and to help you as you plan your wedding day.
We plan on investing in a relationship with you so that we aren’t absolute strangers on your wedding day, and in an effort to take every ounce of stress that wedding planning can bring off your shoulders during this season. Expect organized, non-overwhelming touch points throughout your engagement to ensure that you are getting a unique experience that is tailored to you and your specific needs as a couple!
At Your Wedding
Most couples end up describing us as “the chillest photographers ever.” (We’re not making that up)
We’ll make sure you get all the dream photos you’re looking for, while also making sure you’re able to *actually* enjoy your wedding day. Two of us are there to ensure we capture all that is important: all the candid, in between moments, as well as those important photos that require a little more direction! Ultimately, we want you both to feel comfortable, and free to make the most of your day and the people you’re surrounded by (while ending up with a gallery full of beautiful, raw moments)!
Expect us to consistently check in with you to ensure you’re where you want to be and making the most of your time with each other and your people. Oh, and most importantly, you WILL find us dancing with you at the reception.
After Your Wedding
The second we get home, your photos are safely & securely stored. We spend hours of focused time making sure you have a gallery which tells the story of your day, with every detail, emotion, & moment included (check out some of our past wedding galleries here!!). Your photos are edited by us, as we believe this step in the process is vital to conveying the beautiful story that unfolded before our very eyes!
Meet your new favorite husband and wife, Phoenix-based wedding photography team!
We’re Katie and Joseph, the dynamic duo behind Poppy and Vine! We are so excited to be living here in the gorgeous desert landscape that is Arizona, and photographing weddings full time.
Our passion for what we do comes from living out our own wedding day. After feeling like we were being ushered around from photo op to photo op, we put our heads together and decided there just had to be a better way to do this.
We studied and worked to refine our craft, resulting in the experience we offer now, a very documentary, candid wedding photography style that allows you to feel like you can make the most of your day.
Our couples feel comfortable with us because we are just like them in so many ways— we are in love, have been through a wedding day ourselves, and our husband and wife team dynamic offers both of you a steady shoulder to lean on throughout the process of working together.
Oh, and we’re known to be found on the dance floor too ;)
Away from weddings, we love Jesus, football, wine, making friends, hiking, being outside, and exploring everything our desert home has to offer!
What does “documentary” wedding photography mean?
Our approach to wedding photography is somewhat unique.
We truly believe your wedding day is not about the pictures, rather, your photos are about your wedding day.
We understand the deep importance of these photographs, they are the only physical thing you’ll take with you from your wedding day after all. What we don’t believe in is delivering you a gallery full of beautiful photos that lack the memories you hope to have of your dream day accompanying them, because you spent so much of that day taking the photos themselves.
We like to think of ourselves as flies on the wall, observing and capturing everything in an honest way, while maintaining good lighting and composition to match photo quality with your investment. In any scenario in which we don’t need to be offering direction to the people involved in the photograph, we stand back and simply allow it to play out naturally.
Fabricating anything for the purpose of a photograph doesn’t sit well with us.
We consider ourselves “professional party people.” We like to immerse ourselves in the party right alongside you and your guests, in the most professional way possible. This helps us to truly blend in, and make everyone feel comfortable with the fact that they are being photographed. A dear couple recently called us “ninjas” because we blended in so well, and we end up coming away from most weddings with at least a few more friends; that’s just the way we are.
There are certain parts of your wedding day that will require a little more professional direction (think family photos or your newlywed bridal portraits!), and, have no fear, we are there to provide it. You won’t feel pressured to know what to do with your hands, or be told to “just act natural.”
We’ll send you some full, real wedding galleries with your inquiry so you can see how this plays out on a real wedding day and, ideally, envision yourself in our photos too!
“So So So Wonderful.
We had the absolute best experience working with Katie and Joseph for our engagement and wedding photos! Throughout the entire experience, they were intentional in their communication and planning with us. They helped us put together a wedding timeline based on photography needs, which really helped us from a logistical standpoint. On the day of, their presence was calm and supportive. I appreciated their "fly on the wall" approach to the reception and we never felt uncomfortable or pressured by the photography aspect of our wedding day. Rather, we felt seen, known, and celebrated by them!
I would highly recommend reaching out to Katie for your wedding or elopement. They captured our special day with such beauty. Words can not describe how much we love our photos, they are so special to us and always will be.”
A Few Recent Wedding Galleries—
Pricing
Our average couple will spend between $3500 and $7500 on their wedding photography, depending on package length, location, and add-ons.
Wedding Planning Resources—
From a happily married couple who has been through the wedding planning experience before. Here is our best advice for just about every aspect of this exciting process!
SO, HOW DO WE BOOK YOU FOR OUR WEDDING?
Our process begins with a simple inquiry form. Fill it out so we can get to know you & start planning your dream day!
We’ll reach out with our pricing guide & an invite for a Zoom to make sure we’re the best fit for you, and to answer all your questions!
