At Storyteller Co our approach has always been rooted in observation, drawing from backgrounds in photojournalism while embracing the artistry of editorial composition and analog film. Whether we're photographing a full wedding weekend, a quiet city hall ceremony, or a celebration that unfolds somewhere in between, our goal is always the same: to create photographs that feel like memories rather than productions.
Like every photographer, our perspective has been shaped by artists whose work challenged us to look differently. Some pioneered modern wedding photojournalism. Others have redefined what documentary photography can become through film, design, fashion, or pure instinct. While this list isn't a definitive ranking — photography is far too personal for that — these are the photographers whose work we continue to admire and revisit - truly compiling some of our favorite and most inspiring colleagues in the industry.
Storyteller Co
Founded by former photojournalists and wives Kayla and Zoey Love, Storyteller Co approaches weddings with a documentary-first perspective rooted in observation, curiosity, and presence. Their work blends digital photography with multiple analog formats, including 35mm, medium format, Super 8, and 16mm film, creating wedding galleries that feel immersive and personal. Drawing from their photojournalism backgrounds, Kayla and Zoey focus on photographing celebrations as they naturally unfold while bringing an editorial eye to composition, light, and storytelling.
John Dolan
John Dolan is one of the most influential figures in documentary wedding photography. His background in photojournalism shaped a style built around patience, observation, and storytelling rather than traditional wedding posing. His photographs often feel like visual essays—layered with emotion, humor, and the small moments that reveal the deeper story of a wedding day.
NORWUD
NORWUD has developed a distinct visual identity within contemporary wedding photography. Their work often embraces film texture, flash photography, unconventional framing, and a more alternative perspective, creating imagery that feels bold and personal rather than traditional. Their approach reflects a strong point of view and a willingness to photograph weddings outside conventional expectations.
Samm Blake
Samm Blake has become one of the most recognized names in modern documentary and destination wedding photography. Her work moves effortlessly between expansive environmental photographs and intimate human moments, combining documentary observation with an editorial sense of composition. Her photographs are known for their emotional depth, sense of place, and ability to tell a complete story.
Michaella Jelin
Michaella Jelin creates atmospheric wedding imagery with a strong sense of mood and emotion. Her photographs often focus on light, environment, and feeling, capturing not only what a wedding looked like but the overall atmosphere of the celebration. Her work balances documentary observation with a distinct artistic perspective and feeling.
Jillian Mitchell
Jillian Mitchell is known for combining destination wedding photography with a refined editorial perspective. Her work balances expansive environments with intimate moments, creating imagery that feels elegant while remaining personal. She brings a strong sense of place into her storytelling, allowing landscapes and settings to become part of the narrative.
Aly Hansen
Aly Hansen’s work is recognized for its playful energy, vibrant film photography, and willingness to embrace the unpredictability of a wedding day. Her photographs often lean into movement, direct flash, and the spontaneous moments that happen once people stop performing for the camera. Her approach feels colorful, nostalgic, and centered around the real personality of each celebration.
Weddings by Nato
Nato Tuke & team approach weddings with a quiet, observational style that prioritizes real interactions and atmosphere. Their work feels attentive without being intrusive, allowing relationships, emotions, and the natural rhythm of a celebration to guide the story.
Gianna Leo Falcon
Gianna Leo Falcon combines documentary instincts with a strong editorial perspective. Her work often incorporates thoughtful composition, fashion influences, and an appreciation for architecture and design, creating imagery that feels elevated while still grounded in genuine moments.
Danielle Dolan
Danielle Dolan’s photography is understated and intentional, with a focus on emotion, connection, and natural moments. Her work allows weddings to unfold without excessive intervention, creating photographs that feel intimate and honest.
Gabbie Burseth
Gabbie Burseth photographs weddings with a sense of warmth, movement, and spontaneity. Her work embraces the energy of celebrations — from quiet interactions to lively dance floors — capturing moments that feel natural and full of personality.
Daniel Kim
Daniel Kim photographs weddings with an approach that's both documentary and artistic, moving naturally between candid observation, guided portraits, and expressive fine art imagery.
Katelyn Rose
Katelyn Rose’s photography focuses on bright colors, popping florals, intimacy, magical light, and meaningful connection. Her work highlights the quieter moments of a wedding day — the gestures, expressions, and interactions that often become the photographs couples return to most.
Noble Photo Co
Christian Noble combines documentary storytelling with a refined, modern approach to wedding photography. His work balances genuine emotion with thoughtful composition, creating imagery that feels both intentional and rooted in the experience of the day.
Jes Workman
Jes Workman’s photography centers around people and relationships. Her approach emphasizes emotional honesty, allowing subtle moments between couples, families, and friends to become the foundation of the story. Her work feels thoughtful and personal, with a focus on the connections that make each wedding unique.
Judson Rappaport
Judson Rappaport is a Queer wedding photographer whose work blends documentary instincts with a thoughtful editorial perspective. Her photographs often feel layered and immersive, finding unexpected moments of connection, emotion, and atmosphere within a scene. With an eye for composition, gesture, and storytelling, Judson creates imagery that feels both intentional and deeply personal.
Gabby Riggieri
Gabby Riggieri embraces the energy and spontaneity of weddings through a playful documentary approach. Her use of film, flash, and movement creates photographs that feel immediate, expressive, and connected to the atmosphere of the celebration. Her work captures the fun, personality, and unpredictability of being surrounded by people you love.
Savanna Sturkie
Savanna Sturkie photographs weddings with a warm, nostalgic approach that highlights connection and atmosphere. Her work blends thoughtful compositions with candid moments, creating galleries that feel personal, relaxed, and reflective of each couple. She has a strong appreciation for the in-between moments that often become the most meaningful memories.
Casi Yost
Casi Yost approaches wedding photography with an intentional eye for composition and storytelling. Her work allows moments to unfold naturally while creating photographs that feel considered, visually balanced, and emotionally grounded. Her images often reflect a thoughtful mix of documentary observation and artistic perspective.
Molly Peach Photo
Molly Peach’s work embraces a documentary perspective centered on honesty and natural moments. Her photographs avoid feeling overly produced, instead focusing on the relationships, environments, and experiences that make each wedding unique. Her approach values genuine storytelling and imagery that remains meaningful long after the wedding day.
Documentary wedding photography isn't a fleeting trend or a preset to slap on, it's truly an ethos and way of seeing. Every photographer on this list brings a distinct perspective to the craft, whether rooted in classic photojournalism, analog film, editorial composition, or an instinct for noticing the beautifully ordinary moments that often become the most meaningful. While their styles differ, they all share a commitment to creating photographs that feel honest, deeply personal, and true to the experience of a wedding day.
As Minneapolis documentary and editorial wedding photographers, we're endlessly grateful to be part of a community of artists who continue to shape and redefine what wedding photography can be. We hope this collection introduces you to photographers whose work inspires you and helps you better understand the kind of wedding photography experience you're looking for.
If you're planning a wedding in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, or anywhere your story takes you, we'd be honored to be part of your search. At Storyteller Co, we blend documentary observation with an editorial eye, photographing weddings on digital photography, 35mm film, medium format, & Super 8mm to create imagery that's immersive, timeless, and true to how your celebration felt. If our approach — rooted in curiosity, presence, and the joy of discovering moments rather than directing them (think an 'elevated game of I-spy') — feels like the right fit, we'd love to connect!
