High contrast grainy black and white image of couple walking out of wedding ceremony, whilst guests blow bubbles at a Derbyshire Garden party wedding. Documentary reportage wedding photojournalism.

Offbeat, Cinematic Documentary Wedding Photography in Derbyshire & The Peak District

Real weddings aren't perfect. They're better than that.

I treat wedding photography as an art form. So if you’re looking for the more standardised or on-trend wedding photography you see everywhere else, you can look…well, literally everywhere else. What you’ll find here hangs around the artistic, scuzzy & is inspired much more by cinema and street photography than Vogue magazine.

I’m a creative documentary wedding photographer and I truly believe that nothing I can contrive or stage is ever as interesting as real life. That shapes the way I tell stories. It means no awkward prompts, no endless group posing, and no staging. Just street inspired, honest imagery that allows you to relive the atmosphere and charged energy of your wedding day.

Non-traditional Derbyshire wedding photographer covering weddings across The Peak District, Midlands & beyond.

View my Portfolio
Award winning Documentary Wedding Photograph. Bride waves to her guests from the back of the wedding car. Reportage, wedding photojournalism

“Simon’s approach is thoughtful, focused on capturing weddings naturally — your memories will be of the atmosphere, the feelings, the emotions, and of course all the love.”

– English Wedding Blog

Ceilidh Dancing at The Whitworth Centre Wedding Reception
Same Sex Couple at Wedding Breakfast - Documentary Wedding Photographer Simon Dewey. LGBT wedding photographer.
Bride laughing in wedding bus. Champagne and flowers in her hand. Documentary, reportage, street style, wedding photojournalism.

“Captures moments, movements and most importantly, emotions.
And then wraps them all up into gorgeous photos which tell story after story at every turn.”

– Claire & Adam

Wedding Guests play with bow and arrow - Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby

Hello, I’m Simon

Raised on Kerrang, NME, photojournalism and street photography,  I love grain, blurriness, monochrome imagery and photos that make you feel like you’re living the lives of the characters in them.

I have Rainbow Accreditation from Derbyshire LGBT+ and warmly welcome couples of all identities and backgrounds. What I like to bring to every wedding is a creative eye, curiosity and a sense of playfulness.

I live in Derbyshire with my wife, three children and a constantly rotating collection of pets, musical instruments and vintage cameras.

If you want creative documentary storytelling for your wedding, please drop me a line and tell me all about your plans.

About Me

Awards

The Wedding Photojournalist Association, This is Reportage, Nine Dots, Fearless, The Wedding Industry Awards,  Photographers Keeping It Real

Features

BBC, Sky, The Derby Telegraph, Derbyshire Life, Derbyshire Magazine, Brides, English Wedding Blog, Love My Dress, Boho Weddings and Rock and Roll Bride

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“We’ve cried & laughed so much this evening. My heart’s bursting! I’m so incredibly happy we found you.”

– Amanda & Dean

Bridesmaids giving speech in wedding marquee at Derbyshire festival wedding. Documentary reportage wedding photography
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Groom Changes Brides Shoes at The Carriage Hall - Documentary Wedding Photography. Grainy, moody, shot in low light wedding photojournalism.

The Art of Being Yourself

Most of my couples say that they hate having their photograph taken. Couple portraits are entirely optional and there’s no need to do them at all if you don’t want to.

If you do want them, I’ll keep it brief and easy – a short wander, some good light, and no awkward posing. Just you two, doing you.

 

“No posing, no fake grins, and absolutely no ‘look lovingly into each other’s eyes while walking through a meadow’ nonsense.”

– Colleen & Aaron

Couple Portraits
Bride and groom couple portrait - black and white, high contrast, grainy.
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Couple portrait in the courtyard of The West Milll Wedding Venue Derby
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“Has such a talent for catching the essence of a moment and making everyone feel at ease.”

– Josie & Dan

Couple dancing in marquee wedding reception Derby. Natural dancefloor light. Documentary, reportage wedding photography

“The photos are perfect. Candid, full of personality, and totally us. We can’t stop looking at them.”

– Colleen & Aaron

Wedding First Dance at North Cadbury Court

“Not only has he captured every moment, he’s captured every feeling. Every time I look at our photos I smile.”

– Jen & Christopher

Mansfield Registry Office Wedding Ceremony. Artistic shot of couple caught in mirror whilst saying their vows. Documentary, reportage, street style wedding photography.
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Church Wedding Photos