A LITTLE
ABOUT ME
An about me page by someone who doesn’t like writing about me pages…
I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in France (surprise!) living near Montpellier with my partner Julien, our two boys, and Percy the Springer Spaniel who is very much the boss of the house. Originally from the UK, I studied law at Cardiff University… which obviously led to a completely sensible career in photography. I first fell in love with photography taking truly awful photos while cycling around the hills of Wales, and somehow that spiralled into this beautiful career. This year I’ll be photographing my 100th wedding, and I can confirm the photo quality has improved slightly since those early days.
I’m also a serial sport trier and occasional disaster. I was apparently too small to row (although they put me in a boat after I signed a petition), nearly broke my jaw playing softball, and once came in second place in a cross country race despite going the wrong way. For six wonderful months I was a very proud plant parent. That was until I was reliably told that the plant was indeed a fake. Devastating. I don’t take myself too seriously, I love a good laugh, and I truly believe the best photos happen when you feel relaxed, comfortable, and free to just be yourself.
What is a documentary Wedding photographer?
And Why I Love It….
Documentary wedding photography is hard to define because it looks different to so many different people. Like all photography, documentary wedding photography is an art. But instead of being refined and perfect, documentary photography focuses on real moments capturing them in a natural, unposed way. No staging or recreating moments for the camera. Just quietly observing and documenting all the emotions, joy and beautiful human interactions that happen on a wedding day. It is perfect for couples planning a beautifully relaxed wedding in France and wanting it captured honestly.
Every photographer will for some part of the day take documentary photos. However, I believe that all parts of the wedding day can be taken in a purely candid, documentary and creative way. Weddings should be all about you as a couple as well as your loved ones who surround and celebrate you on your wedding day. I want couples to look back at their wedding photographs over the years and remember the moments that matter. Rather than how your photographer told you to act and feel in those moments. This is why I love documentary photography, it allows you to be yourselves, it affords you time to spend with your loved ones and gives you memories that are beautiful and messy but completely authentic and real.
How I Work
Seeing Your Day Differently
While You’re busy Living it
The beauty of documentary wedding photography is that it can give you a completely unique perspective of your day. While you are with your family and friends enjoying your day I’m not just standing at the back snapping the same photos as your guests with a phone. I’m always moving looking for fun and different angles, incredible light and interesting ways to tell your story. That way, your gallery isn’t full of repeated shots from the same spot, but a collection of real, thoughtful moments that truly reflect how it felt to be there. This, together with a documentary style is what will turn your gallery into more than just photos but memories that you will genuinely love to look back upon again and again.
THE GIFT OF TIME
More Party, Less Posing
Your wedding day in France will fly by so quickly, faster than you can imagine. One of the greatest gifts of documentary wedding photography is Time. Time to be with your family and friends. Time to soak in the atmosphere you spent so much effort in trying to create. And time to actually enjoy your day rather than being pulled away for photo after photo.
When you are constantly stepping out of the moment to pose for photos the day can easily feel so fragmented and physically draining. After photographing nearly 100 weddings, I know the moments you’ll treasure most are rarely the posed ones. My couples often tell me that the moments the remember most vividly are the ones where they were simply embracing the day. Laughing during cocktail hour. Hugging friends they hadn’t seen for years. Sneaking five minutes together to take it all in. As a documentary wedding photographer my approach is designed to protect that time for you.
A MOMENT TOGETHER
Not a Photoshoot (Promise)
My relaxed approach to a wedding day doesn’t stop when it comes to couple’s photos. When it comes to just the two of you, I really believe that less is more. I won’t be whisking you away for ages, I usually suggest a relaxed wander around your venue as the sun begins to set. It’s a little breather towards the end of the day. A chance to soak it all in together and quietly say, we actually did this.
There will be no forced posing or awkward laughter. Instead I will gently guide you towards the gorgeous evening light with natural movement and connection. But mostly I’ll give you some space for you to be yourselves. Because the goal is not to pull you away from your wedding but instead have it feel like a natural part of the day, a short reset before you get back to your guests and the dancefloor!
NOT JUST ANOTHER SUPPLIER
More friendly face, less stranger with a camera
On your wedding day, I never want to feel like just another supplier ticking off a checklist. Planning a destination wedding can feel daunting. As a wedding photographer already based in France, I’m in a wonderful position to help ease any concerns and guide you through the process.
In the lead up to the wedding, I love meeting with my couples in person whenever possible. It gives us the chance to properly chat, have a coffee and get to know each other. But in reality, for you it means there’s a friendly face arriving on the morning of your wedding, not a stranger with a camera.
On your wedding day, my goal is simple: to make sure you feel completely at ease while I capture it all. I love getting to know your guests on the day or even the night before. This lets me see your story through their eyes and truly understand the people who matter most to you. I might even sneak in for a bite at your wedding breakfast if you’ll have me. These little moments allow me to create a gallery of timeless, natural photos that feel effortlessly like you, relaxed, joyful, and completely yourself.
“”Emma captured every moment so beautifully… The photos are incredible — truly beyond what we imagined. Each one feels full of life and love, and we’ll treasure them forever.”
LET’S CHAT
Every wedding is unique, and yours deserves to be captured exactly as it feels; effortless, joyful, and completely you. If you are planning a wedding in France or even beyond and are looking for a relaxed documentary wedding photographer based in France then I would love to hear about all your plans.
Documentary Wedding Photographer in the South of France
Occitanie | Provence | Paris | Bordeaux | Dordogne | Côte-D’Azur|
