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Derbyshire Wedding Photographer

Unstaged wedding photography for unconventional couples who want to relax and enjoy their big day.

Whether you’re getting married in a cinema, art gallery, or your back garden; my photography is all about telling your unique story and recreating the atmosphere of your wedding day so you can relive it again and again.

I’m here to take offbeat, multi-layered wedding photographs that come alive when you look at them and stand alone as great pieces of art.

Unconventional, unstaged and unobtrusive wedding photography so the only thing you need to focus on is enjoying your day with your family and friends.

From the electricity of the morning preparations to the energy of the wedding dancefloor and all the beats inbetween.

Wedding At Joseph Wright Gallery Derby Museum

Authentic, Artistic & Uniquely You

As well as all the real stories and moments you’ll often want to steal away for some couple portraits (totally optional!).

I’m not usually one for stage managing and complicated lighting set-ups - I want to create portraits that reflect the real you and your relationship, not ones that win awards for their technical brilliance. This means we’ll just go for a walk, find some nice light and have some quiet time before getting you back to the party & your guests.

You’ll often see the words reportage, documentary photography, and photojournalism used interchangeably throughout the wedding photography industry.

Two Brides Holding Hands Walking Towards Tipi at Bridge House Barn Wedding

But all you really need to know is that it’s my aim to create a visual narrative of your wedding day as it unfolds before me. To watch the story that’s taking place and retell it through the medium of photography.

Ultimately, the goal of a documentary wedding photographer is to transport you back to the authentic, beating heart of your wedding day whenever you look through the images.

Bride walks down the aisle at Derby Museum Wedding Ceremony

It’s about more than just documenting; it’s about preserving the living, breathing, joy-filled story that each wedding day inherently becomes.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love your photos. You've honestly left us with the best gift ever. You capture moments, movements and most importantly, emotions. And then, you wrap them all up into gorgeous photos which tell story after story at every turn.

ClaireArnott Hill Park 2022
Bride and Groom first dance at nasty Hall Wedding

Reportage & Documentary Derbyshire Wedding Photographer

Imagine not being pulled away by your wedding photographer from the people you really want to spend the day with.

And instead, being part of all those adrenaline-fuelled and love-buoyed interactions that are truly worth remembering.

Instead of trying to orchestrate a feeling of wedding serenity and calm just for the photos, imagine choosing to embrace the nerves, the build-up, the tension in the room, the chaos, the ugly cry, and the toddler who won’t stand still and smile.

Your wedding day will be a riotous, rousing, and rollicking affair – shall we tell it like it is?

Let’s get the picture-perfect moments and the almost unnoticed bits in between.

Simon’s photos are amazing! He captures moments and emotions perfectly, and did an amazing job working in minimal light in our cinema venue. We wanted candid photography with a minimum of posed shots - Simon shoots so fast and is so unobtrusive that I have no idea how he got some of our photos! His use of colour and light is wonderful and was perfect for capturing the memories of our day.

ZoeElectric Cinema Birmingham, 2018

Hello, I’m Simon.  I’ve been shooting candid, unstaged, documentary-style wedding photos around Derbyshire and the East Midlands for well over a decade.

When I’m not being a wedding photographer or looking after the children I’m into music, cinema and street photography. I can often be found playing guitar or tinkering with ancient analogue cameras.

Simon Dewey wedding photographer

That’s a matter of opinion - but if your definition of best wedding photographer is about documentary, spontaneous creative imagery I’m probably the photographer for you.

Folio Album on Table

If your definition of best wedding photographer is about dresses hanging from trees and people posed like mannequins in a shop window, you may want to swipe left. (The words you want to google are ‘Fashion-Forward’ and ‘Editorial Wedding Photography’).

 

But don’t take my word for it – I have about 40 5 star google reviews ,  (although, yes, one is written by my mum) 14 years experience photographing weddings and am currently ranking number one photographer in Derbyshire on the Wedding Photojournalist Association website.

Well, I honestly don’t know where to start. Thank you so much for our absolutely incredible photos ♥️ You have, without doubt, captured the essence of our day. We’ve cried & laughed so much this evening. My hearts bursting! I’m so incredibly happy we found you.

AmandaSt John’s Mexborough, 2022
Bride with Bridesmaids and Flowergirls

See some real wedding stories

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Do you take any formal portraits or group photographs

I do – about half of my couples ask for group shots at their wedding. I like to do this quickly and efficiently so that it’s not too distracting from the day itself, so I ask couples to pick a maximum of 10 combinations where possible. It also helps to rope in someone loud and bossy to gather the relevant people for each photo! 

Bridal Preparations at The West Mill

Do I have to have ‘wedding preparation/getting ready’ photography?

We certainly don’t need to take a load of photographs of makeup being applied if that’s what you’re worried about. But the morning of the wedding can be a wonderfully chaotic couple of hours where emotions are running high, and feelings are apparent. It makes for some fantastic relationship-focused photography! 

Do you do Wedding Albums?

Yes – I use Folio Albums. They are beautifully crafted, locally and sustainably produced, and the people who work there are fantastic. You can read more about the albums available here. 



Do you travel?

Although most weddings I shoot are around Derbyshire and the Midlands/Peak District (Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Yorkshire), I love to go on a wedding adventure. I charge for accommodation and travel expenses as needed. But if your venue is less than a two-hour drive from Derby, it’s considered local! 

Bride and groom cut the wedding cake at the Whitworth Centre

What equipment do you use?I use small Fuji cameras. After trying out DSLRs and systems with all the bells and whistles, I fell in love with using a lighter system that replicates a film camera. I try to travel light on a wedding day and use a flash only in emergencies. I like to capture the day’s ambiance, and I believe that natural light is a big part of that. 

Do we get all the photos?

You get all the good ones! I take far more than I need to so that I can send the absolute best ones to you. The odd dud photo is a natural part of the process and one that you probably wouldn’t appreciate viewing!

For a full day’s wedding, I usually deliver a minimum of 500 photos.  



What have documentary, reportage, and photojournalism got to do with wedding photography?

Documentary wedding photography, reportage, and photojournalism are just different words for the same thing. They’re fancy ways of saying I’ll photograph the day without trying to control it or affect the natural proceedings.

How long do we have to wait until we see our photographs?

Your wedding photographs are usually ready about a month after the wedding

How do we book you?

We’ll schedule a chat (or a meeting if you’re local to Derby/Nottingham) about your wedding.

To begin with, I like understanding what you want from your day and your wedding photography.

If we get on and you’re happy with my approach to wedding photography, I’ll send out a booking form and contract and ask for a 25% deposit to secure your wedding date. 

You can book a chat or meet up with me using the form below. 



Contact Me

Simon Dewey Photography
4 Embankment Close
Derby
DE22 4HF