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. After photographing hundreds of weddings I can confirm the photo quality has improved 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 -legal brain activated), 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 means different things to different photographers. For me, it’s really quite simple. I photograph what actually happens.
No staging moments for the camera, no asking you to repeat something because I missed it and no creating interactions just to photograph them. I observe, anticipate and photograph all the emotion, joy, chaos and brilliant human interactions that naturally happen on a wedding day.
Every wedding photographer will take documentary photographs at some point during a wedding. But I believe almost the entire day can be photographed in a genuinely candid, documentary and creative way without your photographer needing to constantly step in and direct what happens.
Weddings should be about you as a couple and all the people who have come to celebrate with you. I want you to look back at your photographs years from now and remember what actually happened and how it felt, rather than how your photographer told you to act for the photograph.
That’s why I love documentary photography. It lets you be yourselves, gives you time to actually spend with the people you love and leaves you with photographs of all the beautiful, funny, emotional and sometimes messy things that made your wedding yours.
How I Work
Seeing Your Day Differently
While You’re busy Living it
The beauty of documentary wedding photography is that it gives you a completely different perspective on your day. While you’re busy enjoying it with your family and friends, I’m constantly moving, watching and looking for different angles, interesting light and all the little things happening around you.
I’m not standing at the back photographing everything from the same spot. I’m looking for the photograph within what’s happening. That means your gallery isn’t just a record of the obvious moments, but all the funny, emotional and unexpected things happening around them too.
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 over 100 weddings, I know the moments you’ll treasure most are rarely the posed ones. My couples often tell me that the moments they 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 doesn’t suddenly stop when it’s just the two of you. I really believe less is more. I won’t whisk you away for ages. Usually I’ll suggest a little wander around your venue as the sun starts to set. It’s a chance to take it all in together, have a breather towards the end of the day and quietly say, we actually did this.
I’m not going to give you a list of poses or make you perform for the camera. I’ll find the good light and give you space to be together. If you need a little help, I’ll give it, but mostly I’ll let you walk, talk, laugh or do absolutely nothing at all. The aim isn’t to turn your wedding into a photoshoot. It’s ten minutes together that happens to leave you with some lovely photographs.
NOT JUST ANOTHER SUPPLIER
More friendly face, less stranger with a camera
One of the reason why I love being a wedding photographer is getting to know my couples before I even step foot at their venue. Wherever we can I love to meet up for a coffee in France and really get to know the people behind the wedding day. And if we are too far apart there will always be time for a zoom call.
So when your wedding day arrives, hopefully I don’t feel like another supplier you’ve just met that morning. I’m the person you already know who’s turning up with two cameras, a slightly ridiculous amount of enthusiasm and a very good idea of where the snacks are..
I also love getting to know the people around you. I’ll chat to your parents, get introduced to your friends, and probably end up as part of the friendship group all day. Not because I’m trying to be everyone’s new best friend, but because it helps me understand your favourite people, to get the best photos of everyone just being themselves.
And really, that’s what it’s all about for me. Getting to know your people, finding the good stuff as it happens and being in the right place when something brilliant unfolds. The result is a gallery that feels less like a collection of wedding photos and more like being dropped straight back into the day.
“On the wedding itself, she had this incredible energy that put everyone at ease. The photos were stunning. Emma has a real eye for capturing the moments you didn’t even know were happening. Every shot feels natural and candid, and nothing felt overly posed.”
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|
