I’m so glad you asked! Documentary photography is a style of photography that focuses on unposed, unscripted moments as an art form and way to document life in photography. “Candid” photography is all anyone is talking about lately, and candid is just another word for documentary. Documentary photography is all about photographing what’s really happening. Emotions, interactions, movement, color, light. It’s less “picture perfect” and more “picture real.” As a documentary photographer, I will still give direction as needed, but my focus is to help you forget my presence and focus on creating a memory with those you love most. Then, I document those memories in a meaningful way you’ll treasure forever.

I provide beautiful, joyful documentary (read: candid) wedding and portrait photography for present-over-perfect people in Kansas City and beyond.

I do have a decidedly documentary photography style, which means that while I do deliver some posed images (think family photos, wedding party photos and some bride and groom portraits) the majority of your photos will be candid and largely photographed from behind the scenes. This frees you to enjoy turning the moments of your special day into memories…without any intrusive photography tactics or methods.

My goal is to document your day with integrity and beautiful images…without interfering with your memories.

Every wedding and photo session includes:

*personal, custom timeline planning assistance

*location scouting

*professional editing for white balance, color correction, clarity and density

*attire guidance

*final images delivered as digital files in high resolution for large format printing

You can expect custom, personalized guidance every step of the way. From choosing the optimum date and time for your photo session, to location scouting, attire guidance, session preparation tips and more, I’m your wedding (or portrait session) BFF, here and ready to guide you to your best possible experience.

With over 100 weddings and countless portrait sessions under my belt, I’m happy and willing to provide creative ideas and tips upon request to help you make your wedding your own, or to provide valuable feedback if there are items which could present a challenge for you down the road.

I do my best to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively, which helps eliminate any overwhelm and keeps you focused on what matters most.

My process is clean, clear and everything is communicated in easy-to-understand, step-by-step instructions. Scroll a little further down to learn more about my process!

Yes, I do! Contact me today to inquire about your specific date!

“I honestly cannot explain how much of a blessing you have been to us. Thank you so much for being apart of such a special day and several special moments. We had so much fun with you! We appreciate you and know this will not be the last time we will see each other. Your professionalism and patience was very evident during the process. You were such a joy to be around and made everyone feel so comfortable. Our families definitely enjoyed you. Thank you again for taking a chance on us and being there for our special day!” - Ashton & Ricky

“We LOVE our photos and had so much fun looking through them together!! Thank you for making it so easy. I really appreciate your work and bedside manner, so to speak. I struggle with having my photograph taken, and I'm not very photogenic, but you managed to help me feel comfortable and get some really beautiful shots. We felt that our wedding day was absolutely perfect for us, and we're so happy to have these photos to document it all! Thank you again for everything!” - Alayna & David

“Thank you for the beautiful wedding photos you provided us with. They captured the essence of our special day and we are very happy with the results!” - Melissa & Joey

“Working with Merry was amazing. We hired her to photograph our wedding, and we are so in love with how our beautiful, priceless photos turned out. Merry helped us logistically by talking through the order of family photos, and the general timeline of the day with us over coffee a few weeks before. She is also so attentive to the style of photography you want. We wanted more documentary-style candids for our day, and boy did we get what we asked for!!! Taking photos did not interrupt the flow of our wedding day or encroach on the memories being made on the day, and the joy shines through in the photos. They are stunning. Additionally, despite the 90 degree weather at our outdoor ceremony, you cannot tell that it was hot and sticky in our photos! They are edited beautifully, and were delivered to us quickly - a much shorter turnaround time than I was expecting. Everything about the process was great. Merry Ohler is the bomb!!! We are so thankful!!!” - Deanna & Ian

“Merry is an amazing photographer. She knows what she is doing and will help to make the process very easy and enjoyable. I would recommend her to anyone needing any type of photos!” - Megan & Josh

“Merry is such an amazing wedding photographer! She really focuses on telling a story and capturing genuine moments. She the sweetest and takes so much time to get to know you as a couple. She pours so much time and energy into making your day special and capturing it in the most beautiful way!” - Chloe & Ethan

“I cannot put into words what an amazing person Merry is! Not only is her work beautiful, but she takes the time to get to know you on a personal level. She always manages to capture the feeling of the moment. She’s documented my growing family from the beginning and will always, she’s an amazing photographer!” - Maddison & Chris

“I had the pleasure of Merry taking our engagement and wedding photos. She did an incredible job and was able to capture and preserve the memories that will last a lifetime. She is an amazing person and extremely talented. Brava! Thank you for your amazing work! I have a photographer for all of my life events now and future.” - Emily & Dom

Yes, I do! Most wedding packages include an engagement session, but I also offer engagement sessions a la carte. Contact me today for more information!

That’s such a great question. For me, it’s documenting all the little in between moments you don’t realize are happening on your special day. The sweet silent exchanges between your parents and grandparents. The way your mom straightens your veil when you aren’t looking. The way your dad wipes a tear as you share your first married dance. The way your niece can’t take her eyes off you because she’s convinced you are a real fairy tale princess. All these moments tell the whole story of your day, and I love to be able to document the big and small moments for you. All of these go hand in hand to craft a story that is so uniquely you. It means so much to me that I get to document all those moments and weave them together seamlessly to tell your story in a way you can be proud to share for generations to come.