Oh they're off doing photos, they tell you as you enjoy the cocktail hour(s) while the couple are off doing setup after setup of photos, one of which will get hung on the wall. The average Bride, for a standard 8 hour wedding day and with a traditional timeline, often gets less than 2 hours of time with family and friends. All the time spent getting ready, the ceremony itself, of course the hours of staged photos.
Let's get you that time back. I became a documentary photographer because I believe that Weddings are not about the photographer. Weddings are about a dad's tears when he sees his daughter in her dress, they're about funny faces on the dance floor, they're about hugs. Weddings are about shared moments.
gets less than 2 hours of time with family and friends. All the time spent getting ready, the ceremony itself, of course the hours of staged photos.
Let's get you that time back. I became a documentary wedding photographer because I believe that Weddings are not about the photographer. Weddings are about a dad's tears when he sees his daughter in her dress, they're about funny faces on the dance floor, they're about hugs. Weddings are about shared moments.
h they're off doing photos, they tell you as you enjoy the cocktail hour(s) while the couple are off doing setup after setup of photos, one of which will get hung on the wall. The average Bride, for a standard 8 hour wedding day and with a traditional timeline, often
start the process now!
How many weddings have you been to where you showed up, watched a beautiful ceremony, and then the bride and groom disappeared?
I'm Ben Wagner, a Documentary Wedding photographer Based in Seattle, Washington
Let's get to know Each Other
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Weddings are not about the photographer. Weddings are not about photos. The dress hanging in the window is less important than the person in the dress.
My Guiding Principals
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Authentic photographs are better than "perfect" photographs.
Embrace imperfection.
My Guiding Principals
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Your wedding should reflect who you are, not what your photographer or planner or parents think weddings are supposed to be.
My Guiding Principals
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2021 and 2022 Thumbtack Top Pro
2022 Q4 WPJA Gold Award Winner
2022 Wedding Photojournalist Association Top 9 Wedding Photographers in Washington
Recent Awards
As a documentary style wedding photographer, my goal is to make sure you get to enjoy as much time as possible with your family and friends, because that's when the real magic happens. Yes we will make time for portraits, and yes we can do family photos. But rather than make those the center piece of your day, they enhance it. Because the best memories are out on the dance floor, in a hilarious toast, and in all the moments in between.
My passion for a candid style of photography began my senior year of high school when I received my first digital camera as a birthday gift.
Suddenly I became the guy with the camera, the one in the friend group always taking snapshots. I used that camera to document some of the best times of my life: prom, senior trip, my first years at college.
After over ten years of documenting my daily life, I began shooting professionally on the side in 2018, and in 2021 I quit my successful career in business writing to pursue my dream of becoming a full-time documentary wedding photographer.
I received my MA in English in 2016, and I continue to explore the connection between photography and the written word, and my writing and photography have been featured in Fuji X Passion Magazine.
Born and raised in South Carolina, after 15 years of living in the Salt Lake Valley I moved to the Seattle area in late 2020, where I live with my wife, dog, and daughter who I photograph constantly – to all of their annoyance.
The PNW's Documentary Wedding Photographer
Meet Ben Wagner
Besides my wedding ring, my Leica 35mm Film Camera.
03. What is your most Treasured Possession?
Haruki Murakami. Or maybe Steven Spielberg.
02. Which living person do you admire most?
Traveling the world with my wife and photographing the world's great cities.
01. what is your idea of perfect Happiness?
The Proust Quiz
Get to know me Better
Making 4 shots of espresso and editing your wedding photos.
06. what is your favorite morning routine?
Falstaff.
05. Who is your hero of fiction?
Shakespeare, Stephen King, George Orwell, Murakami.
04. Who are your favorite writers?
Industry Recognition
Yes! You may have even seen some film photos mixed in throughout this website and in my portfolio. Certain packages include film photography at no extra charge. If you are interested in a more comprehensive film package I am happy to discuss shooting more, or exclusively film, including both 35mm and 120.
We love film, can you shoot wedding photos on film?
Yes! I understand that family photos are an important part of the wedding as they are the rare opportunity for everyone to be together. I do ask my couples to keep the groupings to ten or less, that way we can get the group shots done quickly and efficiently to let you enjoy the day.
our parents will want family photos, is this ok?
While I am based in the Seattle area most of my weddings take place in the broader Pacific Northwest. I am happy to travel for your wedding photography and I have shot weddings across the Western United States.
Where are you and can you travel to our wedding?
I do not provide sneak peeks as a general rule. I have found this slows down the entire process and creates delays.
I may provide one or two sneak peek photos on request if needed for thank you notes.
Can we get a sneak peek of our wedding photography?
Each photo is meticulously edited for exposure, contrast, color, etc. In-depth retouching techniques, i.e. liquifying, removing double chins, face or body swapping, excessive skin smoothing, using AI to remove Uncle Bob's date, etc. will not be used.
Will you do retouching of our wedding photos?
Photo delivery time varies depending on workload, in my standard contract 8 weeks is the maximum time allowed. During the summer wedding season, 6-7 weeks is around average. Turnaround time is usually faster during the slower season (November - May).
HOw long does it take to get my wedding photos?
