All photography is documentary. But, not all documentary is social… There is a big difference between cutting out vacation photos and gluing them into a scrapbook/journal, and serious social documentary photography. Both have their place, but they are not the same. I’m a SOCIAL Documentary Photographer.
So many of the people that I have photographed over the years for my photo documentary projects became far more that just “subjects.” Many became my friends, and I even came to know many of their family members. Social documentary photography is deep photography. It takes you into other worlds, it goes beyond street photography, and even photojournalism. It requires an emotional investment and connection. Documentary photography requires access, which requires a certain level of trust.