Bowler Images LBGTQ+ Photographer Logo featuring line drawing of dad with daughters dancing
Queer couple hug in vineyard wedding photo session in Shenandoah valley with Blue Ridge mountains in background

 

New England & Virginia Wedding Photography

 

Revel in your Moment

 

 

wedding photography for those who want

 

Groomsmen carry the groom in fun documentary style wedding party photo during sunset of a wedding in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

to spend hours with friends, not at a photoshoot

LGBTQ bride laughs with her wedding party during cocktail hour documentary style photograph at garden party wedding in Maryland

to ACtually eat the Hors d'oeuvres you picked out

Bride salutes her wedding guests with hookem horns in timeless black and white documentary style photo at Hotel Washington wedding reception

to focus on the party,

not the Favors

Landscape photo by Dan Bowler of children running during cozy barn wedding in Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia

transparency in business, not "industry speak"

photos that reflect your tastes, not trends

Bride and groom walk an evening ridge in sunset portrait in the blue ridge mountains of Virginia

a collaborator that's both Ambitious and Trustworthy

Timeless bride laughs with her sisters in black bridesmaid dress on the rocks of Mill at Fine Creek for winter wedding outside Richmond

genuine communication & Care, Not A.i. slop

A Tidewater Virginia bride beams a smile while her bridesmaid's wreath her head in flowers

Make your Big day one worth remembering

When you've already spent tens (if not hundreds) of hours planning your wedding, you shouldn't have to then spend hours away from your guests just to get incredible photos. You deserve photography that naturally fits into your wedding day, no matter what it looks like!

New England documentary style wedding photographer Dan Bowler

 

Hi! I'm Dan.

 

 

So what's my Deal?

 

I'm your friendly neighborhood documentary photographer! Though weddings aren't my only niche, they're my bread & butter. I've been working in the industry since 2018, and I'm at my best when schedules are tight, wires are crossed, and plans aren't working out as intended. I'm known by my clients as a calm, warm presence they took comfort in knowing would handle their photography without missing a beat.

Wanna hear me yap?



The best way to avoid scams in this industry is to meet face-to-face, so here's my best attempt at a remote first impression! If any of it is cringe-inducing, that part was a joke, actually.

 

Hold Up.

 

 

What does "Documentary-Style" actually Mean?

 

 

Images that capture Raw emotions of the day

 

Two lgbtq brides take a deep breath after their modern wedding ceremony at Science Museum in Richmond Virginia

An image is truly exceptional when it works as a time capsule for emotions. I want you, your family, and anyone that comes into your life to feel what you felt on your wedding day just by looking through an album - and for that to work through generations.

 

Compositions that make simple moments extraordinary

Bride swings around her niece on the dancefloor of her modern chic wedding at the Hotel Washington in Washington DC

Composition (the way in which an image draws attention to the subject) takes practice. Composing shots in a lively, uncontrolled environment is even more challenging. A documentary approach means having the eye for sweet moments in the making and the quick thinking to find a composition that fits the scene, all in a matter of seconds.

 

Exposures that embrace the beauty of natural light & shadow

Life isn't lit like a movie, and neither is your wedding venue! While flash is often my best friend, modern cameras allow us to see significant details in shadow that previously would have been lost. My kit is built around the same tools AP photographers use to never miss a shot, even in uncontrolled lighting.

 

Visually striking techniques that enhance your experience, not distract from it

Bride and groom sway in editorial style black and white photo by Dan Bowler at Avonlea Farms outside of Richmond Virginia

Dedicating myself to documentary-style work doesn't mean I'm without an artistic bag of tricks to pull from. Different lighting tools are perfect for different atmospheres, so I've invested time in multiple techniques! That being said, I'm a sucker for using a studio flash to give even the most candid days a bit of editorial flair; it's perfect for the moments you captured to look like a fine art piece when it's on your wall.

 

 

Galleries which highlight your unique connection to each other - and your loved ones

Son of the groom rides his dad's shoulders in documentary portrait photo at Central Virginia wedding
Father of bride laughs with her in a flowing timeless wedding dress at a breezy wedding on Avonlea Farms outside Richmond Virginia
Bride in timeless wedding dress crouches to greet her granddaughter in classic black and white documentary style photograph
Bride holds her best friend close in documentary photograph taken at Mill at Fine Creek outside Richmond Virginia
Portrait of queer bride's father holding up a drink at cocktail hour towards the camera of documentary wedding photographer in Maryland
Bride and bridesmaids laugh in Bryan park with colorful bouquets in Richmond Virginia during romantic downtown wedding
Son of the groom rides his dad's shoulders in documentary portrait photo at Central Virginia wedding
Father of bride laughs with her in a flowing timeless wedding dress at a breezy wedding on Avonlea Farms outside Richmond Virginia
Bride in timeless wedding dress crouches to greet her granddaughter in classic black and white documentary style photograph
Bride holds her best friend close in documentary photograph taken at Mill at Fine Creek outside Richmond Virginia
Portrait of queer bride's father holding up a drink at cocktail hour towards the camera of documentary wedding photographer in Maryland
Bride and bridesmaids laugh in Bryan park with colorful bouquets in Richmond Virginia during romantic downtown wedding

Your gallery won't (and shouldn't) be one big collection of you and your love. If you've planned a wedding, or even an elopement with guests, the folks around you are there for a reason. I'll spend my time grabbing their laughs at the silly accidents of the day, the tears they can't hold back during your vows, and the way they get down on the dancefloor. All the while, I'll be watching for the little looks you exchange and the stories they tell; the eyes are the window to the soul, after all.

Goofy documentary style wedding photo of wedding guests laughing at bride's brother's ripped pants from having too much dancefloor fun

 

"Ceremonies are great, but you're also gonna want to remember your friend ripping his pants on the dancefloor"

 

-Me,
just now

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