It’s a question I’ve been getting a lot lately from curious clients who want to understand the difference between the session styles I offer. While both cinematic and documentary photography capture real emotion and honest connection, they each tell your story in a distinct way, Often described as posed vs. unposed photography.

So if you’ve ever wondered which is right for you, or what exactly sets them apart, let’s explore the differences.

Before we dive into the details, you may be wondering, what exactly is cinematic photography? So let’s take a moment to define what cinematic photography really means.

Cinematic photography is deeply rooted in movement, atmosphere, and emotion. It’s about creating a visual experience that feels like it belongs in a film—where every frame carries intention, and every gesture holds meaning. Think of it as setting the stage for a scene—not to script it, but to let something honest unfold within it.

---

Cinematic Photography Sessions: Emotion, Movement, and Gentle Guidance

A cinematic session is what many people imagine when they think of a “regular” photo session with me. But it’s far from traditional. These sessions are filled with intention, movement, and a little creative direction to help you feel relaxed and connected in front of the camera.

You won’t find a lot of poses or forced smiles during your session. Instead, I’ll gently guide you with prompts and things to do that invite natural interaction. Like walking toward one another with an outstretched hand, brushing wind-blown hair out of your child’s face, or wrapping up in a blanket as the waves roll in behind you.

These sessions are meant to feel like you’re living inside a memory. Cinematic in style, but rooted in real moments. Think of it as a blend of authenticity and artistry.

For those who prefer some gentle guidance and curated direction, cinematic sessions fall on the more posed side of the posed vs. unposed photography spectrum while still leaving room for natural emotion to lead the way.

📍 Planning Your Session

Every cinematic session begins with thoughtful planning. We’ll choose a location that reflects the mood you’re envisioning. It could be a local beach or a wooded path. We’ll also talk about wardrobe styling that complements your environment and helps everything flow together beautifully.

To make sure you feel fully comfortable, I also offer an optional Zoom meeting before your session. It’s a chance for us to connect, talk through your vision, and get to know each other a bit. That way, when the session day arrives, it feels more like spending time with a friend than standing in front of a camera.

✨ Behind the Scenes: The Editing Process

Cinematic sessions also involve a more in-depth editing process. After your session, I spend time enhancing the images with an artistic eye:

• Distractions like beachgoers, trash cans, or stray signs might be removed
• Skies may be subtly enhanced for a more dramatic or dreamy effect
• Tones are carefully adjusted to reflect the emotion of the moment. Warm, moody, glowing, or soft
• I focus on details like skin tones, texture, and overall mood to match the story we captured

The final result is a gallery that feels like it could live inside a film reel. Elevated, emotive, and deeply personal.

---

Documentary Photography Sessions: Unscripted, Honest, and Deeply Personal

Where cinematic sessions offer a gentle hand in crafting a scene, documentary sessions are rooted in quiet observation. This is often the key difference when families are deciding between lifestyle vs. documentary photography and whether they want soft, guided moments or real life, unfiltered.

I step back and let your life unfold just as it is. I don’t pose, I don’t prompt or direct. My role is simply to notice. To follow the light, the emotion, the details that might otherwise slip by unnoticed.

These sessions are perfect for the moments that matter most but don’t need to be dressed up. A walk to your favorite ice cream shop, a visit to the petting zoo, a morning making pancakes in your kitchen, an afternoon at the beach, a courthouse adoption, or even just reading books in the living room. The kinds of things that feel ordinary now but one day, you’ll look back and realize they were the heart of everything.

You won’t need to perform or prepare. There’s no need to clean the house or coordinate outfits. You just live your life, and I’ll be there to quietly document your moments. The glances, the gestures, the way your child holds your hand or leans into your lap.

This kind of photography is less about perfect conditions and more about presence.

🎥 Your Story in Motion

Included with every documentary session is a short documentary-style film. A moving piece that pairs snippets of real audio and video with the natural rhythm of your time together. It’s more than just a highlight reel; it’s a way to preserve the sound of laughter, the shuffle of feet, the quiet hum of your real life.

So often, we remember how something looked but forget how it felt. This little film helps you hold onto both.

🧭 A Natural, Unstructured Flow

There’s no script, timeline, or shot list. Sessions usually follow the rhythm of whatever activity we’ve planned. Whether that’s visiting your favorite local spot or simply staying home together. I might shift positions or change lenses, but I’ll never interrupt what’s happening to direct or adjust.

Because of that, the emotions captured in documentary sessions tend to run deep: the soft kind of connection that comes from feeling safe, seen, and unobserved.

🎞 Editing That Honors Real Life

Documentary photography embraces everything unfiltered and unscripted. It’s the unposed side of the posed vs. unposed photography experience where nothing is polished and everything is true.

Unlike cinematic sessions, documentary photos are edited with a light and respectful hand. The goal is not to enhance or perfect the scene. The purpose is to preserve it:

• I adjust exposure, white balance, and tone to reflect how the moment truly felt
• Minor cropping or straightening may be done
• But elements of the scene like background people, messes, or imperfections are never removed

Life is rarely perfect, but it’s beautiful exactly as it is. That’s the heartbeat of documentary photography: staying true to the story.

---

At a Glance: Cinematic vs. Documentary

	Cinematic Photography	Documentary Photography
Approach	Light direction & movement-based prompts	100% unposed, no direction or interference
Experience	A guided session with cinematic flow	Real life as it unfolds, without interruption
Planning	Includes location & wardrobe planning + optional Zoom call	Minimal planning, just pick a place or meaningful activity
Editing	Artistic enhancements, distraction removal, mood-driven tones	Light editing only (exposure, tone, white balance)
Session Vibe	Poetic and romantic, like living inside a film	Honest, raw, nostalgic snapshots of real life
What’s Included	Full gallery of artfully curated images	Full gallery + short documentary-style film

---

Which Storytelling Style Speaks to You?

Whether you’re drawn to the artful rhythm of a cinematic session or the honest simplicity of a documentary one, both are rooted in the same desire: to preserve your story with care and intention.

One gives you the feeling of stepping into a dream where light wraps around movement and every detail is lovingly composed.

The other lets you stay fully in your moment. Letting life unfold just as it is, without needing to perform or prepare.

There’s no right or wrong. Just what feels most like you.

If you’re still not sure which session fits your season of life, I’d love to help you figure that out. We can talk through your vision, what matters most to you, and how you want to remember this time.

Because in the end, the most meaningful photos are the ones that feel like home.

---

See the Difference for Yourself

Words can only do so much. Sometimes you need to see the difference to feel it.

Take a peek inside a full gallery from each session style:

➡️ View a Cinematic Session Gallery »

A guided, emotive session filled with movement, artistry, and light.

➡️ View a Documentary Session Gallery »

A real-life, unposed session capturing honest moments and everyday magic. Each session type has its own unique structure and its own pricing. You can explore both options in more detail over on my Details & Pricing Page.

Whichever path you choose, I’ll be there to witness it with intention and preserve it with heart.