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Quick Capture Cheat Sheets
What is photojournalism and why is it different from documentary photography? Maybe you’re interested in both. If so, you might have already asked yourself the same question.
Visual Storytelling Education
Quick Capture Cheat Sheets
Take your photojournalism and documentary photography to the next level with these easy-to-follow cheat sheets.
What is Photojournalism and What is Documentary Photography?
There are similarities between the two. But there are also differences. Let’s find out what they are.
Similarities
I’ve completed a few photo documentaries in my career. Some people call me a photojournalist because of that. I don’t mind. They also look very similar when you’re not into either one of the photography genres.
So, before we go into the differences, let me explain the similarities first.
Capture Facts and Reality
Both photojournalism and documentary photography are about capturing events and facts. Every photo should tell the truth and show reality.
The goal for both genres is to inform the viewer about certain events or topics.
Be Invisible
There’s another important similarity. The photographer has to be almost invisible when working and taking photos. This is necessary to capture the moment.
You don’t want to interrupt what’s happening. If you do, it would change the course of events. People act differently when they’re aware of you taking photos.
Ethics
Both photojournalists and documentary photographers should respect certain ethics. Your photos have to be accurate, fair, and thorough. Like journalists, photographers should act with integrity.
It’s one of the most important aspects of both genres. It has caused the downfall of more than one photographer.
Differences
The main difference between photojournalism and documentary is time. It takes more time to create a documentary than photojournalism-related work.
Documentary photographers can take anywhere between a few weeks to several years. But I’ll say it again. There’s a very thin line between the two genres in modern photography.
What Is Photojournalism
Being a photojournalist is not as great as it used to be. The great times are over and everybody with a phone can provide news-related images these days. You don’t have to be a specialist to be a photographer.
Does that mean photojournalism is dead? No, but photojournalists must do a lot more than take photos these days. More on that later.
The Purpose of Photojournalism
What is photojournalism? It’s all about informing the audience about events as quickly as possible. That’s one of the biggest differences with documentaries.
If something happens today, it has to be in the newspaper or online by tomorrow at the latest.
Topics
Photojournalists cover anything from breaking news to famous people and sports. And they happen on a scale from local news to global events.
These are some common topics:
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Economics
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Politics
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Important people
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Sports
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Events
Capture the Truth
Being truthful and acting with integrity is one of the most important things for a photojournalist. Media companies’ reputations rely on what they show the public.
They demand only photos that show the truth, no matter what the subject is.
A photojournalist captures events exactly as they happened. There is no room for personal touches or agendas.
The problem here is that a photographer has the power of altering reality by framing a photo differently. But that’s another and very difficult discussion.
The Modern Photojournalist
The great times for photojournalists are long gone. Newspapers and media companies are getting rid of staff photographers. The fact that everyone owns a smartphone doesn’t help either.
The good news is that you can still be a photojournalist even if it’s not like the old days. If you want to do the job well, you need to do more than take photos. Writing is an important skill for a photojournalist these days.
You even have to know how to run a website and know your way around computers. It’s not a trade for specialists anymore. You’ll have to work hard to stand out and be successful.
What Is Documentary Photography
The Purpose of a Documentary
Many photo documentaries want to raise awareness and go deeper than photojournalism. An idea starts with the interest of the photographer themself. The photographer wants to answer certain questions.
This takes more time than photojournalism. It’s the main difference between the two genres.
A documentary photographer is also often involved with their subject for a longer time. This is necessary to be able to tell a truthful story, answer all questions, and see different angles.
Topics
Documentaries capture events and facts that are relevant to humans and society. Common topics for documentaries are:
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Environment
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People (especially minorities)
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Social issues
People almost always play an important role in documentary photography.
Research
Documentaries often tell a complex story. That’s why there’s always a lot of research that happens before actually starting to take photos. This research phase can last for months depending on the topic.
It’s one of the reasons why creating a documentary takes more time.
Personal Project
Documentary photographers have more freedom. A personal interest often triggers the start of a project. The photographer will be more deeply involved in his subject than a photojournalist.
That’s why the result is often very personal. It depends on what the photographer wants to show and tell about the topic. Especially independent documentaries funded by the photographer often have a personal angle. And the artistic vision is as important as showing the facts.
Some photographers spend their whole life on one documentary work.
Modern Documentary Photography
Documentary photography is becoming very popular. It’s a true art form these days. The combination of aesthetics, ethics, and long-term dedication makes it a difficult genre. But it’s also very rewarding to make a documentary.
The good thing is that you can start your own documentary on the street where you live. You don’t have to travel all over the world to make it interesting and worthwhile.
Conclusion
There are definitely differences and similarities. But both genres are important in the world of photography. Most photographers that practice one of the two genres also explore the other.
If you want to start with one of the two genres, you’ll have to ask yourself, “What do I want?”
Do you want to act fast and show the truth about what’s happening today? Or do you want to take your time and tell a complex story?
Both genres are very rewarding and highly regarded by society as well as art lovers. Don’t hesitate to jump into either one of the genres.
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Visual Storytelling Education
Quick Capture Cheat Sheets
Take your photojournalism and documentary photography to the next level with these easy-to-follow cheat sheets.
