Your web browser is out of date. Update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on this site.
Find out more
Become a member
Reference Books
CREDIT: Mark A Phillips FRPS

Documentary

Documentary photography communicates a clear narrative through visual literacy. It can be applied to social, cultural, historical and political events.

Welcome to the Documentary Group

We want to help documentary photographers tell their stories. We provide resources to guide you, inspiration from suggested books and talks, and opportunities to show your work via our Decisive Moment magazine or our Documentary Awards.  We also offer occasional workshops and one-to-one mentoring.

We are interested in work ranging from photojournalism, social documentary and newer forms of documentary mixing 'fiction and fact' to develop the story. 

Documentary photographers’ work always has an intent; whether that is to represent daily life, explore a specific subject, deepen our thinking, or influence opinions and provide a 'catalyst to thinking'.

The Traveller
CREDIT: Simon Revington
News
51982877706 9C15fda8cb K
CREDIT: Evan Dawson
Events

Documentary Event Search

Liz Vaz Tattoo Project
CREDIT: Liz Vaz ARPS
Resources for documentary photographers

This page will provide links to useful information to support documentary photographers and development of their projects:

Online picture archives - a useful source of inspiration and research material

Useful text and resource books on conducting documentary projects - to follow

 

11881 20778 9 1690490904
CREDIT: Michael Knapstein

Documentary Photography Awards

The Documentary Photography Awards (DPA)  in various formats have been running for over a decade. The expanded format aims to showcase more work from documentary photographers and create a touring UK exhibition.  It is organised by the RPS Documentary Group.  The current edition of the Awards is currently in the selection process. We plan to announce the shortlist in mid-October and the final selections in late October or early November. 

This year we have Open, Student and RPS Member categories.

For more details click on the link below. 

Learn more
The Decisive Moment November 2025 Edition 34; Maria Tomas Rodriguez
CREDIT: Maria Tomas-Rodriguez

Read our digital magazine

The Decisive Moment is a quarterly journal that showcases the work of the Documentary Group members, shares insights and reviews about exhibitions related to the field of documentary photography and contains articles and interviews with prominent members of the photographic community.

 

 

Browse our archive
Andrewmaxted 10. MG 1422Abc 700Px
CREDIT: Andrew Maxted

Regional Activities

Regional teams

As well as centrally organised events, our Regional teams put on local events. These include talks and presentations (currently online), local workshops or exhibitions (of members work), a group project, visits and photo walks, feedback and critique sessions and online Zoom meetings. We currently have teams in:

Northern
Yorkshire
East Anglia
Thames Valley
Southern
South East
and joint teams with Contemporary in Central, North West and Scotland.

These teams are generally aligned with the RPS Regional structure, but events are generally open to documentary members from other regions.