A documentary-led approach to modern wedding photography.
Sam of Your Alternative Wedding is known for photography that balances considered portraiture with natural, instinctive moments. Working across digital and film stills, hand-printed photographs, and Super 8mm and digital video, Sam’s approach feels tactile, cinematic, and quietly refined. In this Q&A, we speak about his creative beginnings, ongoing inspiration, future plans, and thoughtful advice for couples seeking a wedding day that feels personal, confident, and visually distinct.
How would you describe your visual style, and what first drew you to photographing weddings as a form of storytelling?
My visual style sits between editorial & documentary, instinctive, atmospheric, and composed, all the while having fun at the heart of it. I’m interested in how a moment feels rather than how it’s traditionally meant to look. I love the moments between the moments, the interaction of laughter & smiles, those perfectly raw moments which match so beautifully next to editorial portraits.
Weddings drew me in for a number of reasons. I love the production of it all, they are fun, organised chaos, intimate & magic ! The characters that are the guests, the colours, the beautiful honesty that embodies the day & the couples you work with.
I had also been seeing so many weddings that I felt just didn’t do the day justice. I wanted to treat them how I would want my big day to be captured, stylish, professional, with a refined touch and chicness that showcased the day on alternative formats such as super 8mm, medium format film and editorial style flash.
How does your background in photographing and working with fashion brands influence the way you compose images and approach a wedding day?
It honestly has had the biggest effect, fashion taught me to see light, shape, and body language quickly, and to value restraint. I bring that same awareness into weddings, strong composition, considered portraiture, and confidence. Working with models helped me with direction, how to direct and make people feel comfortable. It’s not about over-directing, but knowing when to step in and when to step back. That background allows me to elevate moments without interrupting them. Fashion is also where I learnt to mood board for inspiration, use medium format cameras, flash and on/off camera, handprinting as well as lens choice. I want every wedding to feel like a magazine cover, every couple to feel like stars.
In post production, my knowledge of editing software such as capture one enables me to edit with purpose instead of just applying one saved filter in lightroom. This means you can diversify your edits for your clients.
Fashion has defined, refined and elevated my style, approach and delivery to every wedding 🙂
What excites you most about bringing a contemporary, fashion-aware perspective into the wedding space?
What excites me is showing that wedding photography can feel modern, tactile, and emotionally grounded without losing elegance. I love creating work that feels timeless but wouldn’t feel out of place in a fashion editorial, all the while still holding deep personal meaning for the couple. I like bringing the sense of technical ability, professionalism and calmness to the wedding space.
For me as a photographer in both worlds, having weddings that have this huge production, stunning outfits & incredible locations all whilst this beautiful love story is unfolding in front of me, it’s so fun. I feel so grateful.
How do you navigate the balance between strong visual direction and allowing moments to unfold naturally?
I’m always observing first. Most of the day unfolds naturally, and that’s where the real emotion lives. When direction is needed, usually during portraits, it’s minimal and intuitive. I guide rather than pose, creating space for people to be themselves, to have fun and be silly, all the while still crafting images that feel intentional and refined.
What moments or details do you find yourself instinctively drawn to when photographing a wedding?
For me I am drawn to all the moments of the day, I love interaction, quiet moments, the small details. I love creating fun between couples & guests and helping create memorable moments between everyone. For me having those strong, iconic portraits are what really makes a wedding.
What has surprised you most since working more closely in the wedding industry?
How deeply personal the work becomes. No two weddings ever feel the same, even in similar settings. I am always humbled & grateful for how much trust couples place in me not just to document their day, but to see them honestly & be such a big part of their day. That responsibility never feels routine.
The love stories I get to witness don’t surprise me, but the way they uplift you & how they bring you so close to the definition of what it means to be human, constantly amazes me. To see that connection between couples, friends, family, its incredible.
How do you hope couples feel when they see their photographs for the first time, and then revisit them years later?
I hope they feel seen & fabulous. I want the pictures to feel timeless. I want them to feel like that was THEIR day. The day they felt the most beautiful. I want them to remember me not just as a photographer, but as someone who helped bring them out of their shell, who gave them an experience.
What kinds of stories, settings or destinations are you hoping to capture more of in the coming years?
I’d love to continue photographing weddings across Europe and further afield, particularly where the setting becomes part of the story rather than just a backdrop. I have a wedding coming up in Sri Lanka which I can’t wait for. I want to capture the country & setting, not just the day. Think Vogue meets Conde Nast. I want it to feel like a full magazine spread & documentary feature. Their very own Wes Anderson film or picture book.
Honestly though all love all weddings, from big multi day destination weddings to small weddings that end up in a pub, they all have heart, stories and moments to capture.
I’d love to shoot a wedding that feels like a Jacquemus campaign or a cool & chic celebrity wedding & also maybe a New Zealand based or Swiss mountain wedding.
What advice would you give to couples looking for a photographer whose work feels both considered and deeply personal?
Choose someone whose work resonates emotionally, not just visually. The best photographs come when you feel comfortable enough to be yourselves. Ask questions, find out how they operate, how they edit. Whilst it is a profession, I am a firm believer of giving 110% of myself to each couple and always going above & beyond, make sure your photographer does too. Oh & remember just because some say they shoot film, doesn’t mean they actually can haha.
Discover more by visiting youralternativewedding.com and @youralternativewedding. Explore Your Alternative Wedding on the Together Journal Online Directory.
