42 Trending Documentary Photographer Businesses [2024]

Updated: January 18th, 2023
Become A Documentary Photographer

Documentary photographers capture images that portray people, places, and events and offer their audience an accurate visual recording.

To start a documentary photography business, you need a camera, a DSLR, or a regular point-and-shoot device. Proper photo editing skills will help you present quality results to your customers.

Looking for some examples of a documentary photographer?

Interested in case studies of a successful documentary photographer? Check out our full list of success stories.

1. Shutterbug

Photo Tips, How-Tos, News & Reviews

Where they're located: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Website traffic: 260K/month

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2. Freestyle Photographic Supplies

Specializing in Traditional Photographic Black and White Film, Black and White Paper, Chemicals, Holga Cameras and Inkjet Paper.

Where they're located: Los Angeles, California, USA
Website traffic: 120K/month

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Learn more about starting a documentary photographer:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a documentary photographer?
-> Pros and cons of a documentary photographer

Need inspiration?

-> Other documentary photographer success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a documentary photographer

Other resources

-> Email templates for a documentary photographer

4. Hunt's Photo and Video

Hunt's Photo & Video is New England's Imaging Equipment Leader. Call our Knowledgeable and friendly staff today to get help with all of your photo & filmmaking needs.

Where they're located: Portland, Oregon, USA

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5. Hire, find, locate a Drone pilot, pro, or business

Where they're located: Phoenix, Arizona, USA

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6. Vivian Maier Photographer

Website traffic: 60K/month

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7. Geoffrey Hiller :: Documentary Photographer in Portland, Oregon

Where they're located: Portland, Oregon, USA

8. Louisville Photo Biennial – Louisville's Premier Photographic Festival

Where they're located: Louisville, Kentucky, USA

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9. Ana Palacios Documentary Photographer

10. Best Documentary Family Photographer Kirsten Lewis

Where they're located: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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11. Black Women Photographers

Black Women Photographers, a new community and database of Black women photographers worldwide. Donate to our COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Where they're located: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

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12. Wedding Documentary Photo + Cinema

Wedding Documentary Photo + Cinema Bay Area Indian Wedding Photographer and Videographer

Where they're located: San Jose, California, USA

13. ED BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY

Documentary Relaxed and Alternative Wedding Photographer based in the heart of the Midlands. Shooting Creative Honest images with Soul all over the U.K and Internationally

Where they're located: San Diego, California, USA

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14. Joseph Rodríguez Photography

Where they're located: Manhattan Community Board 1, New York, USA

15. Nick Briggs Film Stills Photographer

Where they're located: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

16. Victoria BC Wedding Photographer Lara Eichhorn

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17. Portland Family Photographer

Amy Thelen is a Portland, OR family and child photographer specializing in authentic, emotive and timeless documentary storytelling. Serving Portland Metro and surrounding cities.

Where they're located: Portland, Oregon, USA

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18. Larry Sultan

Larry Sultan's work blends documentary and staged photography to create images of the psychological as well as physical landscape of suburban family life.

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19. Annie Hall Photography

Where they're located: San Francisco, California, USA

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20. Chicago Wedding Photographer and Storyteller Peter Gubernat

Chicago Wedding Photographers, Wedding Photojournalism, and Chicago Engagement Photography by Wedding Photographer Peter Gubernat

Where they're located: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

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21. "Best Documentary Photographer in UK"

Best Documentary Photographer: Edoardo Santangelo is the most creative Documentary Photographer, Documentary photographer in UK, Humanitarian photographer, Hire Freelance photographer in UK, Who is oriented towards the investigation of social contemporary issues.

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22. unknown

Bryan Regan Photography - Raleigh NC. Commercial,advertising,editorial and portrait photographer working with national and local advertising agencies and magazines.

Where they're located: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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23. Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia Photographer

Maryland, Virginia Washington DC wedding and headshot photographer serving K Street and Center City DC.

Where they're located: Washington D.C., Washington, D.C., USA

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24. Catherine Bauknight

Where they're located: Los Angeles, California, USA

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25. Abie Livesay Photography

Local Telluride Photographer Abie Livesay | Telluride Wedding Photographer | Telluride Documentary Wedding Photographer | Local Telluride Photographer | Telluride Family Photographer | Telluride Wedding Photography | Telluride Photographer | Top Telluride Photographer | Best Rated Telluride Photographer

Where they're located: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

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26. Seattle Wedding Photographer

Anna Peters Photography is an award-winning Seattle wedding photography studio specializing in heartfelt celebrations and lifestyle portraiture in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Where they're located: Seattle, Washington, USA

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27. Andrea Bruce • Documentary Photographer

28. STORYTELLERS & CO // Wedding Photographers //

Philadelphia Wedding Photographer, Catskills Wedding PHotographers, Upstate Weddings, Wedding Photography PA, Destination Wedding Photographer, Fine Art Wedding Photography, Documentary Wedding Photographers Pennsylvania

Where they're located: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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29. Twenty-One Films

Twenty-One Films is a small production company located in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Where they're located: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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30. Charlotte Wotton

Charlotte Wotton is an experienced Suffolk Wedding Photographer, capturing beautiful Suffolk weddings with a natural + documentary approach.

Where they're located: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

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31. Ray Anthony Photography

Luxury documentary wedding photographers in Michigan, Metro Detroit captures the unfolding and genuine story of the wedding day, resulting in stunning photographs. Call us for an appointment to discuss your upcoming Michigan wedding!

Where they're located: Detroit, Michigan, USA

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32. Tony Santo Photography

Where they're located: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

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33. Jason Keen + Co / Detroit Architectural Photographer / Stills + Motion

Where they're located: Detroit, Michigan, USA

34. Meg Brock Photography

Philadelphia documentary wedding photographer, family photographer, and commercial photographer. Specializing in authentic, documentary storytelling.

Where they're located: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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35. International Center for Documentary Arts

Conference photographer trade show photographer, convention photographer, congress photographer, photojournalist, expo photographer, event photographer, exhibition photographer, Chicago photographer, Orlando photographer, Washington DC photographer, Las Vegas photographer, San Diego photographer, New Orleans photographer, Healthcare photographer, medical photographer

Where they're located: San Antonio, Texas, USA

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36. The Studio

Where they're located: Los Angeles, California, USA

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37. Best Seattle Wedding Photographers

Jennifer Tai Photo Artistry are wedding photographers in Seattle specializing in heartfelt, candid, beautifully interesting wedding photography.

Where they're located: Seattle, Washington, USA

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38. FOCUSED JOURNEY MEDIA

We are wedding videographers and photographers based in San Jose and the San Francisco Bay Area. We capture artistic and authentic moments paired with storytelling to produce cinematic, emotional, timeless wedding photography and films.

Where they're located: San Jose, California, USA

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39. Emry Photography

Award winning wedding photographers in San Diego, Emily and Ryan Burhop have been photographing San Diego weddings and engagements since 2012. At Emry Photography we love nothing more than looking through the lens and documenting the moments that make human relationships so rich.

Where they're located: San Diego, California, USA

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40. LangdonRoad.com

Alphabetical listing of Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Century American, photographers and information to help document and date old family photos

Where they're located: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

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41. Glenna Gordon