Six ways to shoot… Documentary images

1 Find an interesting story to shoot

Good documentary images have a narrative about the subject you are photographing. You won’t necessarily capture this all in one shot so build up your story with images that are varied and reveal something interesting viewed as a collection.

2 Use your own family

Possibly the toughest project would be to capture the daily lives of those around you without influencing the way they behave or want to be presented. Some of the most powerful documentary imagery possible can be found within family life, but you and your subjects have to be prepared for a wartsand-all portrayal.

3 Keep it honest

The whole point of documentary photography is that you shoot what you see. You don’t try to influence a scene – or worse, create something that isn’t truthful to the theme. Don’t try to change what you see to fit a photographic ideal.

4 Process in mono for a classic feel

You don’t have to shoot or process the images in black and white – many great projects have been shot in colour – but sometimes the simple, uncomplicated presentation of blackand-white can carry more emotion.

5 Be an observer, but not totally remote

Taking photos in a documentary style doesn’t mean you need to be an invisible and silent observer. Actually spending some time to get to know your subjects well means that they may become more relaxed in your presence, allowing you to work more freely.

6 Take your time

There is no hurry with documentary-style photography. You can choose to shoot your subject for one day, for a week, or over years. The passage of time itself can actually be very revealing, and become part of the story you want to tell.