Questions About Wedding Photography
What is documentary wedding photography?
Documentary wedding photography is an approach rooted in observation rather than direction. Rather than posing every moment, a documentary photographer works to capture what is genuinely unfolding — the look between two people before the ceremony, the laughter that breaks during a toast, the quiet moment a parent watches their child walk down the aisle. The goal is imagery that feels true to how the day actually felt, not how it was staged to look. At By The West, documentary storytelling forms the foundation of every wedding we photograph, combined with a cinematic, editorial sensibility that shapes how light, composition, and pacing inform each frame.
What is the difference between documentary and editorial wedding photography?
Documentary photography captures moments as they happen without interference. Editorial photography applies a more considered aesthetic lens — attention to light, composition, and visual restraint — to create imagery that feels refined and intentional rather than purely candid. Most of the strongest wedding photography exists at the intersection of both: real moments, photographed with an editorial eye. That balance is the core of how we approach every wedding we document, whether it is an elopement above the treeline in Aspen or a multi-day celebration at Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek.
How many photos will I receive from my wedding?
Most full wedding day galleries include between 500 and 800 edited images, depending on the length of coverage, the number of events across the day, and the overall timeline. Every image delivered is fully edited — we do not deliver unculled or minimally processed files. Each gallery is also reviewed for consistency of tone, light, and color across the full day so that images feel cohesive rather than varied by shooting conditions. Galleries are typically delivered within eight to twelve weeks of the wedding date.
How do I choose a wedding photography style that is right for me?
Start by looking at full galleries rather than highlight images. Any photographer can produce a strong selection of hero shots — what matters is how consistent the work feels across an entire wedding day, across different lighting conditions, across candid and formal moments alike. Look for consistency of tone, restraint in editing, and whether the images feel like they were taken or made. If you are drawn to imagery that feels timeless rather than trendy, honest rather than performative, and shaped by light and atmosphere rather than heavy post-processing, a documentary-editorial approach is likely the right fit.
Do you photograph both the wedding and engagement session?
Yes — and for couples planning destination mountain weddings, an engagement session in Colorado is something we genuinely encourage. It creates an opportunity to work together before the wedding day itself, which meaningfully changes how comfortable you feel in front of the camera when it matters most. Engagement sessions can be structured around a location meaningful to you, or around a landscape that mirrors the environment of your wedding — a mountain setting, a city neighborhood, or somewhere further afield. Reach out through our booking page to discuss availability.
What Colorado wedding venues do you regularly photograph?
We have documented weddings across a wide range of Colorado venues, with particular depth in the Vail Valley, Aspen, and Telluride. Venues we photograph regularly include Beano’s Cabin and the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek in Beaver Creek, Donovan Pavilion in Vail, Mountain Lodge Telluride, Surf Hotel in Buena Vista, and Lyons Farmette in Lyons. Our full Colorado wedding venue guide covers each region in detail from a photographer’s perspective.
Do you travel for destination weddings outside of Colorado?
Yes. While Colorado — and the Rocky Mountain West more broadly — is the primary focus of our work, we regularly document weddings and elopements across the United States and abroad. Destination work is something we approach selectively, taking on projects where the landscape, the couple, and the celebration feel genuinely aligned with how we tell stories. If you are planning a Colorado elopement, browse our dedicated elopement guide for location ideas and recent work. For destination weddings further afield, the best place to start is our booking page.