London Wedding Photographer
for couples who don’t like posing
AWARD-WINNING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Piccolino Weddings
My style is ideal for couples who:
Feel awkward being posed
Want to enjoy their wedding
Care more about moments than perfection
Love candid, emotional images
Prefer storytelling over staged portraits
I’m Francesca, an award-winning documentary London wedding photographer based in South London. I photograph unposed, natural weddings across London, Kent and Bromley, from registry offices and pubs to town halls, grand townhouses or even private houses.
I’m passionate about telling wedding day stories, capturing your day as it unfolds, without posing. I love experimenting different perspectives and angles, and I’m drawn to details, expressions and the happiness, energy, love and emotion of people.
I observe and tell your story with the things that make you unique and special. I’m drawn to everything that communicates feelings: happy tears, excitement, laughs, nervous anticipation, the craziness on the dance floor, the unexpected and all the in-between moments that often go unnoticed.
Documenting stories is my job and my passion.
I’ll tell the story of your wedding with the intention of preserving every moment of this day for years to come. That day will stay with you forever, through photographs. Later, when you look at your photographs, you’ll be transported back to those moments and re-live your story again, with the same feelings you felt in the first place. It’s so precious.
awards
I’m proud to have been recognised by WPJA, Fearless Photographers and This Is Reportage and Photographers Keeping it Real among the world’s most respected wedding photography associations. Check my awards page here.
Authentic moments never go out of style, and that’s what documentary photography is about
The booking process
You love my photos. Take your time browsing my work and see if my style feels like you.
You get in touch. Send me a message with your date and venue, and tell me a little about your day.
We chat. We get to know each other and talk through what you have in mind.
We click, and you book. When it feels right, you choose your package and secure your date
During your wedding
Enjoy your day. I’ll record everything in a documentary way, as it unfolds, so you can simply be present.
Group photos after the ceremony. We do them quickly, before the reception, so your family and friends can get on with celebrating.
Couple portraits before the wedding breakfast. We take 10 to 15 minutes just for the two of you, right before you sit down to eat.
Relax and enjoy the rest of the day. With the portraits done, you can forget about photography and enjoy the party, while I carry on capturing it
After your wedding
A sneak peek within 3 days. I’ll share a few preview photos on social media, so you can relive your day while you wait for the rest.
Your full gallery within 8 weeks. You’ll receive your photographs in colour, with some in black and white as well.it
A London wedding photographer for every kind of London wedding
From a registry office ceremony followed by a ride in a red London bus to a reception in a pub, a ceremony in a town hall, a celebration in a grand townhouse or a private home, I photograph London weddings in a natural, documentary way. I’m based in South London, so places like Brixton, Clapham, Balham, Dulwich, Herne Hill and Beckenham are part of my everyday life, and I also photograph weddings across Bromley and Kent.
Every London wedding has its own character. A ceremony at Chelsea Town Hall feels very different from a lively reception at The Rosendale or The Lordship, or a celebration by the Thames at the Trafalgar Tavern. As a London wedding photographer, I enjoy bringing out what makes each place, and each couple, unique.
If you’re planning your wedding in London, I’ll help you think about how the day will flow around your venues, from the registry office or town hall to your wedding reception.
London weddings often move between places, and knowing the city means we can make the most of the time and light we have availble.
Street photography within weddings
My wedding photography journey
My love for photography started in 2006 when I joined a photography course in Shoreditch, London. I joined for fun, not knowing what to expect, and I probably wouldn’t be a photographer if I didn’t follow that path.
Over the years, I’ve continued to develop my skills by attending numerous other courses and workshops, building the confidence to work in a wide variety of situations and lighting conditions that allowed me to experiment different styles of photography until I found the one that fits me. The documentary style. I have won several international awards within the wedding documentary/reportage style, and you can check them here.
As for today, I still have mentors who help me refine my style, and the journey keeps going towards improvement. In particular, Two Mann, Susana Barbera, Patrick, and Hollie Mateer, all contributed to my development. I’ve also studied and practised portrait photography, studio lighting (I’d like to mention Gary Hill), posing, on-camera and off-camera flash, and architectural and object photography. However, the genre that has shaped me the most is street photography, which I am still passionate about. It has profoundly influenced the way I work, requiring quick decision- making, great composition and the ability to notice the unnoticed. If I have to mention names that I admire, I particularly love the humour of Martin Parr, the layering of Alex Webb, and the class of Henri Cartier Bresson considered the master of candid photography. Also André Kertész and his clean composition, or more contemporary ones like Matt Stuart or Pau Buscato.
During the course, I learned the technical foundations of photography and how to use my camera confidently in Manual Mode. I learned basics like the exposure triangle (ISO, shutter speed and aperture), composition techniques such as the rule of thirds, and how to photograph both portraits and landscapes. It was simply love at first sight, and I soon started photographing everything around me: people passing by, children playing or interacting, architecture mixed with people, but what attracted me the most were moments where people were involved, moments of ordinary life, the ones lasting seconds and making you smile or be amazed by the simple beauty of them (people rushing for work, mums expressions while they take their kids to school, iconic compositions of London and its people, street artists, children playing freely etc . Life is full of so many moments, and most of them go unnoticed. I find it beautiful and special to be behind my camera; it kind of separates me from the world around me, and I can better observe it without being involved and capture those details that go unnoticed, as they are just part of normality and life is just too fast.
I don’t like directing moments and making the perfect frame. For me, photography is a representation of reality. Therefore, instead of staging a scene, I compose my frame looking for clean backgrounds, beautiful light, and then I patiently wait for the right moment. This requires quick decision-making and high technical skills that I have gained during years of self-study with the help of mentors and a lot of practice.
Wedding photography is art
Learning how to work in all lighting conditions is a big advantage in wedding photography, where everything happens very quickly and moments are uncountable. I consider wedding photography the most difficult type of photography within the industry: it includes detailed photography, portraiture, street photography, flash photography, landscape photography, and quick adaptation to situations where lighting conditions can change very quickly. As my current mentors, Hollie and Patrick Mateer, say: “Wedding photography is art”
Your wedding experience with me
Mostly, I want you to have fun and enjoy your wedding with your family and friends. I will capture it all. You’ll also have a beautiful natural portrait without having to pose.
My packages prices vary between £850 to £2,700 depending on the coverage you are after. Check my prices here.
How will we work together?
From our initial chat, I want you to feel like you can trust me. I’ll ask generic questions like the size of your wedding but also something specific about you as a couple. I’d like to know about your personality, how you feel being photographed, what you like and what your expectations are about your wedding photographs. Other questions might be more about you and your loved ones, the kind of relationship you have with them. Where you guys met and what you have in common. This is to get to know you as much as possible as my role within your wedding is quite intimate: Infact, I will be the only wedding supplier being with you the whole day. Creating this relationship of trust is crucial for me so that I can create tailor-made images for you and you can feel at ease with me the whole time.
I’m generally drawn to energy, dynamism, movement and the beautifully unpredictable moments that make a wedding feel truly alive. I love photographing the craziness of the dance floor, children running around, the bride having fun with her best friends, guests enjoying the day, and all the laughter, chaos and fun.
photographing in London
I love London, and I love photographing around the city in a completely unstaged way— it’s an approach that feels completely natural to both my personality and the way I see the world. I’m drawn to real moments, simple moments of life, and the small interactions that often pass unnoticed.
I am passionate about street photography, which influences and inspires me when I photograph weddings.
Weddings in London
What normally happens in a London Wedding is a combination of a London Registry Office with a London Pub surrounded by the city and its vibe.
Over the years I’ve had the privilege of photographing weddings in some of London’s most inspiring locations at places like The Rosendale and the Lordship Pub, surrounded by the charm of South London. I love the atmosphere of venues like this because they feel warm, personal or full of life. I also photographed celebrations at Chelsea Town Hall followed by the Ivy in Chelsea. Elegant and stylish or places like the Trafalgar Tavern, a historic riverside venue situated on the banks of the Thames.
London Town Halls are particularly special for wedding photography because they bring together architecture, history and emotion. I love photographing ceremonies at Islington Town Hall, with its beautiful interiors and elegance or Wandsworth Town Hall, another icon London Landmark known for its impressive architecture.
Brixton town Hall, Hackney Town Hall or Camden Registry office are other wonderful examples of London’s diversity and character. Brixton has a unique energy and offers a completely different atmosphere compared to other parts of the city, and Hackney Town Hall reflects the creative and vibrant spirit of East London.
Choosing your London wedding venue
A London wedding can take place almost anywhere: a town hall with beautiful interiors, a registry office followed by a lively pub, a riverside venue on the Thames or a private house in South London. Whatever you choose, I look for clean backgrounds, beautiful light and places where the day can unfold naturally.
If you haven’t chosen your venue yet, I’m happy to share what I’ve seen at the London venues I’ve photographed, from Chelsea Town Hall and Islington Town Hall to The Rosendale, The Lordship and the Trafalgar Tavern. I know how the light moves through these spaces and where the quiet moments tend to happen, which helps me prepare for your day.
Why are London Weddings so special
Weddings in London have a fascinating touch having the background of famous London Landmarks: Trafalgar Square (once considered the heart of the British Empire, the Chimneys of Battersea Power Station (now turned into a shopping centre with restaurants and fashion shops), and Piccadilly Circus. not to mention the House of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, Wembley Stadium, the National Gallery and the British Museum. It’s worth mentioning the South London vibe throughout my website — the energy and character of places like Brixton, Clapham, Balham, Dulwich and Herne Hill. These neighbourhoods have their own distinctive atmosphere, from the busy streets and colourful character of Brixton to the leafy streets of Dulwich and Herne Hill. This is the London I know and love, and it naturally influences the way I photograph weddings: observing real moments, the people, the streets and everything that happens around a couple on their wedding day.
London is a city that has inspired art: poets, painters, film makers, writers and, of course, photographers.
Whether it is a historic town hall, a riverside venue, a relaxed South London pub or an elegant celebration in Chelsea, I approach every wedding in the same way: with curiosity, patience, creativity and a passion for storytelling
Street photography in London
When I have time, I go around London and try to capture moments from the life of ordinary Londoners. I love photographing events of national interest in the capital. As the seat of government, the home of the Royal Family, and the financial engine of the country, London is the news.
I love photographing commuters streaming across London Bridge, traffic at Elephant and Castle, people relaxing in London parks, and workmen cleaning Big Ben.
London is full of history; the Romans built the first London Bridge, a later one was pulled down by a Norwegian King and the last one was bought by an American and now stands in the Arizona Desert. The original Elephant and Castle Tavern was used by archers from Newington Butts long before the traffic arrived. Most of London’s royal parkland was taken from the church by Henry VIII for use as hunting grounds, and the workmen are clearing not just a clock but a symbol of British Democracy whose chime is broadcast around the world.
Documentary Photography
Wedding Photography Awards
can proudly say that I have won several wedding photography awards in very prestigious contexts like This is Reportage, Fearless, Wedding Photojournalist Association and Photographers Keeping it Real. I’ve also won an award at the Street Photography Award, The Edge
In contexts like this, every few months, wedding photographers from all over the world submit their images, even to reach 10,00. These are judged, and only about 60 get selected for individual or story awards.
When you win an award, it feels really special, as your work is globally recognised and builds a strong reputation in the world of wedding photography.
Awards are also a tool to keep on working and improve, trying different things or experimenting with different angles or compositions.
Finally, in 2024, one of my photos was selected for a Women Street Photographers Exhibition in New York.
FAQ
I want to hear from you!
I hope my website has helped you know me better! If you love London and the unique atmosphere and energy of a London wedding captured in beautiful photography, I’d love to hear from you!
As your wedding photographer, I want to go beyond just taking pictures—I want to capture your day in the context of your life and your relationship with your family and friends. To do that, I’d love to know you: your story, your family, and your legacy. What brings you joy? What are the special traditions or moments you cherish? Who are the people who hold a special place in your heart?
By understanding what you like or dislike, who and what is important to you, I can prepare and create photos that truly reflect your spirit. I want the images to be tailor made for you.
Let’s chat about what makes your love story unique. We can meet online, in person with some coffee or some wine, whatever feels relaxing and friendly.
KIND WORDS
She is the most talented storyteller, every single picture she gave us was full of emotion, connection or a detail that I never want to forget.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, our day might be over but we only need to look at our album to feel we are reliving every part of it.
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Get in touch
Ensuring couples are comfortable and that they are placing their trust in me is very important. I usually like to meet my couples in person if possible (if you live in South London) or via zoom if we live too far. This is a very informal chat to understand who we are and most importantly if I’m the right fit for you
KIND WORDS
We used Francesca for our wedding in May this year. What a wonderful experience from start to finish. She was so friendly and genuine, and she asked us what we wanted.
The photos of the day were wonderful. She captured the essence of the event so well. The photos were so natural, not staged as you can often get.
I could not recommend her enough.
