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Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby

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

Whether you’re getting married in a stately home in the Peak District, a cinema or a garden party, one thing is certain – it’s going to be a day to remember.

I focus on creating offbeat, multi-layered documentary wedding photography that comes alive with each glance.  Photos that stand on their own as pieces of art. From the excitement of the morning preparations to the energy of the dance floor and every beat in between.

Because the best photos aren’t staged. They’re the ones that take you right back to how it felt.

I’m an award winning documentary wedding photographer with recognition from This is Reportage, The Wedding Industry Awards,  Photographers Keeping it Real and The Wedding Photojournalist Association.

Please browse around the site and check out my portfolio to see if documentary style wedding photography resonates with you.

If you want to ditch the awkward poses and just be you, I’d love to tell your story.

Derby wedding photographer documenting weddings across the UK.

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In authentic moments over making the day a performance.
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It's a wedding day, not a photoshoot.
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Diversity is the spice of life.
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In colouring outside the lines.
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Life's too short for boring photos.
Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby Slideshow

The wedding photos arrived and what can I say? The amount of happy tears I shed looking through each one. The more I looked the more I spotted - the attention to detail Simon has is absolutely out of this world.

They are beyond beautiful, real and so full of love and care.
They are beyond anything we could have dreamed of.

Caris & JoshThe Malthouse, Derbyshire 2024
Wedding guests play with bow and arrow - Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby

And I’ve spent the last 15 years as a Derby Wedding Photographer, at amazing venues like The West Mill, Thornbridge Hall and Calke Abbey. I love what I do — being part of such a meaningful day and making it feel as relaxed and genuine as possible.

I care deeply about creating an inclusive experience — I’m Rainbow Alliance accredited through Derbyshire LGBT+ and have completed neurodiversity training to help everyone feel welcome and supported.

My award winning documentary wedding photography has been featured in The Derby Telegraph, Boho Weddings, The English Wedding Blog Rock N Roll Bride and more. My style is inspired by music, street photography and cinema — but most of all, by the people whose lives and events I get to photograph..

Simon Dewey Documentary Wedding Photographer
Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby

Documentary wedding photography is a natural, story-driven approach that captures real moments as they happen rather than posed shots. It focuses on genuine emotions, candid interactions and the unscripted flow of your wedding day. As a Derby documentary wedding photographer, I work quietly in the background to create authentic images that reflect the atmosphere and personality of your celebration — from the laughter and tears to the in-between moments that tell your story.

My creative take on documentary wedding photography is all about capturing the feel of your day. I see photography as a means of artistic expression and embrace imperfections and authenticity - often using blur, grain and other defects that are inherent to the medium of photography to dynamically tell your story.

Bride on bus from Arnot Hill Park to Morley Hayes - documentary wedding photography

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.

They are beyond beautiful, real and so full of love and care.
They are beyond anything we could have dreamed of.

Amanda & DeanSt John's Mexborough 2022
Dancing at Calke Abbey - Derby Wedding Photographer

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

Couple at wedding speeches - Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby

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.

Documentary wedding photography captures your day without directing, posing, or staging moments. To transport you back to the authentic, beating heart of your wedding day whenever you look through the images.

Bride and Groom First Dance at Calke Abbey Riding School Wedding Reception

Preserving the living, breathing, joy-filled story that each wedding day inherently becomes.

Derbyshire Wedding Stories

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Bride and groom walking back down aisle at Swancar Farm Country House
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There’s a reason Simon is rated five stars and called “the best wedding photographer in Derby.” He captures not only fleeting moments but also the atmosphere of the entire day. Looking back through our photos, we were able to relive the joy we felt—and the joy our guests shared with us. Simon documents it all, beautifully and authentically.

Taylor & MattWest Bridgford Hall, 2025
Gay couple portrait

Do you take any formal portraits or group photographs

I do – even as a documentary wedding photographer 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! 

Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby

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 wedding photo albums here. 



Do you do Analog / Film Photography?

Yes – I love the feel of 35mm Film Photography and Instant film, although I do charge extra for it. 

Do you travel?

As a Derby Wedding Photographer,  most weddings I shoot are around Derbyshire and the East Midlands/Peak District,  I love to go on a wedding adventure. I charge for accommodation and travel expenses as needed. 

What is a Documentary Wedding Photographer?

A documentary wedding photographer focuses on capturing real moments as they naturally unfold, rather than posing or directing the day. My goal is to tell the story of your wedding through honest, candid images that reflect your personalities and emotions.

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 wedding 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 400 photos.  



Are documentary, reportage, and photojournalism all the same style of 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

Bride Arrives at Tissington Hall Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby

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. 



Simon is an artist, each picture so beautifully composed, and he managed to capture all the moments and details that we missed as bride and groom.
It is a joy to look at the pictures, remembering our day, but also seeing it as our guests experienced it. These pictures make everyone so happy.

Annelies & LouisOdda's Chapel 2019
best man and groom hug at wedding breakfast

Simon Dewey Photography
4 Embankment Close
Derby
Derbyshire
DE22 4HF