Derbyshire Wedding Photographer

Documentary Wedding Photographer Sheffield

Documentary Sheffield Wedding Photography With Soul

I’m Simon, a documentary wedding photographer working in Sheffield and around Yorkshire. I capture the real moments—the ones that matter, the ones you’ll want to remember. No awkward posing. No forced smiles. Just your wedding day as it unfolds, told through honest, natural photography.

I believe the best wedding photos happen when you’re not thinking about the camera. The quiet glance across the room. Your dad’s proud smile. Friends laughing during the speeches. These are the moments that tell your story. Sheffield has loads of great venues, Including Wortley Hall, The Chimney House and Riverlands. From intimate gatherings to grand celebrations, I’m there to document your day with a relaxed, unobtrusive approach that lets you focus on what really matters—each other.

I photograph weddings throughout the UK and beyond. Whether you’re planning a celebration in the Peak District, a city wedding in Yorkshire, or a destination ceremony, I’d love to hear about your plans.

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

I cannot begin to tell you how much I love your wedding 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.

Claire & AdamArnott Hill Park 2022
Groom Changes Brides Shoes at The Carriage Hall - Documentary Wedding Photography

I’ve been a Sheffield wedding photographer for over a decade, drawn to documentary photography because it captures weddings as they truly are—full of emotion, spontaneity, and unrepeatable moments.

My work has been featured in prominent wedding publications and recognized by industry awards, but what matters most to me is creating images that resonate with you long after the day is over. I’ve photographed hundreds of weddings across Yorkshire and the UK, each one unique, each one an honor to document.

As a documentary wedding photographer, I blend into your celebration, allowing genuine moments to unfold naturally. My approach is unobtrusive yet attentive—I’m always watching for those fleeting glances, bursts of laughter, and quiet tears that make your story yours.

When I’m not photographing weddings around Sheffield and beyond, you’ll find me exploring the Peak District, or tinkering with old film cameras and musical instruments.

Simon Dewey Documentary Wedding photographer

What is Documentary Wedding Photography?

Documentary wedding photography is a style of wedding photography that focuses on capturing candid, unposed moments as they naturally unfold throughout the wedding day. Rather than staging or directing shots, the photographer acts as an observer, documenting real emotions, interactions, and events in a journalistic or storytelling way.

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.

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

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

Amanda & DeanSt John’s Mexborough, 2022
Documentary Wedding Photographer Nottingham - Simon Dewey
I photograph weddings of all shapes and sizes across the UK so I’ve recently moved to bespoke pricing to best cater for this.

My full day prices start at £1650 though smaller packages and hourly rates are available.

I limit myself to 25 weddings a year so I am able to give my absolute best to each couple

As for availability, some couples book 2 years in advance, but some dates are still available a few weeks before, so please get in touch to check for late availability.

Please get in touch and tell me about your plans,

Same Sex Wedding Ceremony Derby
  • A second photographer 
  • Engagement/proposal shoot 
  • Extra coverage on the day
  • My unique style of Documentary Wedding Photography
  • Travel within England & Wales.
  • A pre-wedding get-together (online or on Zoom if you’re further afield) to get to know each other, talk about your day, and how your wedding photography will slot into things.
  • No questions barred support before the big day to stave off any pre-wedding photography worries – ask me anything, anytime.
  • Hand-edited, high-quality images 4-5 weeks after the wedding.
  • Downloadable online gallery so that you can share your photos with friends and family.
  • Access to professional print labs to make sure your prints are of the highest possible quality.

  • Phenomenal! Simon captured our day so beautifully. He captured all the natural moments, that when looking over the pictures following the event took me right back to the day. I... read more

    Jessica Parry
    July 2, 2025

    Simon did an excellent job with the photography for our wedding, capturing some real candid gems as well as putting across the casual nature of our wedding, I would highly... read more

    Waitr
    September 8, 2025

    Simon did a fantastic job for our microwedding, capturing some really beautiful shots throughout the morning. We couldn't have wished for more.

    Ellen O'Hara
    January 20, 2025
  • Simon is an incredible photographer. We were lucky enough to have Simon photograph our wedding for us in November and the work we got back from him is outstanding. I was... read more

    Emily Eyden
    February 6, 2026

    My husband and I are both quite shy and don’t enjoy having our photo taken, and we were clear that we didn’t want lots of posed shots. Simon completely understood... read more

    Tyrer-Jackson Family
    January 12, 2026

    We were so happy with Simon as our wedding photographer. The photos are so beautiful and capture the emotions of the day perfectly. Simon has a great eye for an... read more

    Alice Deeley
    November 11, 2024
  • 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.... read more

    Taylor Gilmour
    September 20, 2025

    Simon is a wizard with a camera. Book him. Seriously. We had a chilled, no-fuss wedding – no posing, no fake grins, and absolutely no “look lovingly into each other’s eyes... read more

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    Colleen Scott
    July 9, 2025

    We are absolutely blown away by our wedding photos. Simon captured the day so perfectly in his candid documentary style, which is exactly what we wanted. The photos are everything... read more

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    Josie Heath
    August 18, 2025

WEDDING ALBUMS

Folio Fine Art Wedding Photo Album

I’ve always used Folio Albums because their materials production values  and attention to detail are second to none.

Your Wedding Album will be designed by me in house (I have a very simple and elegant style to my albums to let each picture breathe and add to the story) and you will be able to view the design and revise until it’s perfect.

Real Sheffield Weddings

Weddings Around Sheffield and The Peak District

Wedding Proposal in The Peak District Derbyshire
Bamford Edge, Derbyshire Proposal Photography

Bamford Edge, Derbyshire Proposal Photography

was recently lucky enough to go up to Bamford Edge in the Peak District to…
Simon and Amy Microwedding
Bakewell Town Hall Documentary Wedding Photographer

Bakewell Town Hall Documentary Wedding Photographer

  A Micro Wedding at Bakewell Town Hall Simon and Amy married in a micro…
Bride and groom outside Wortley Hall Wedding Venue
Wortley Hall Documentary Wedding Photographer

Wortley Hall Documentary Wedding Photographer

If you're looking for a Documentary Wedding Photographer in Sheffield to cover your special occasion…
Derbyshire Wedding Photographer
Millfields Farm Wedding Photographer

Millfields Farm Wedding Photographer

Rebecca & Colin's stunning countryside wedding at Millfields Farm in Derbyshire. Documentary wedding photographer Simon…
Bride and Groom Wedding Ceremony Derby Wedding Photographer
Riverlands Documentary Wedding Photographer

Riverlands Documentary Wedding Photographer

A Rustic, Boho wedding at Riverland Barns in East Yorkshire. Reportage wedding photographer Simon Dewey.
Wedding Confetti Chimney House Kelham Island Sheffield
Chimney House Wedding Photographer

Chimney House Wedding Photographer

Weddings at The Chimney House The Chimney House at Kelham Island is a distinctive and…

We are incredibly lucky to have the Peak District right on our doorstep. Whether you want the wild, wind-swept gritstone edges or the quiet, wooded valleys, Derbyshire has a mood for every story.

There is nothing quite like the dramatic drop-offs at Bamford Edge or the gritstone towers of Curbar Edge at sunset. These are the spots for those big, cinematic “top of the world” moments. The ruins and waterfalls of Lumsdale Valley or the stepping stones at Dovedale offer a more intimate, fairytale feel.

From the steep limestone ridges of Winnats Pass to the old viaducts of the Monsal Trail, we can make the shoot as much of an adventure as you like.

Wedding Proposal in The Peak District Derbyshire

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 wedding photo albums here. 

Do you have any favourite venues around Sheffield and Yorkshire?

I love shooting in new and unique places, but I’m also fond of The Chimney House, Riverlands and Wortley Hall

 



Do you travel?

Although 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. But will travel around Great Britain for free. There’s also a  discount on packages if you wedding is within 25 miles of Derby. 

Documentary Wedding Photographer Derby

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 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

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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.