nicolajay
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Documentary at heart - Editorial by design.
Wedding photography for couples who care deeply about the photographs.
Your wedding day isn't a photoshoot.
It's a day you're actually living — with the people you love, the moments you've been waiting for and plenty that you could never have planned.
My job is to photograph all of it beautifully.
I'm a storytelling wedding photographer based in Newcastle upon Tyne, photographing weddings across Northumberland, Yorkshire, London and beyond.
My approach combines documentary storytelling with an editorial eye for portraits, creating photographs that feel natural, intentional and full of feeling.
The real moments. The beautiful portraits. All the feeling in between.
yOUR WEDDING - PHOTOGRAPHED WITH INTENTION
I don't believe beautiful wedding photography means photographing everything.
It means knowing what matters.
The people. The atmosphere. The fleeting moments. The details you've spent months choosing. The expressions that last half a second.
And knowing when to step in.
I'll guide you through your portraits so you never have to wonder what to do with your hands or where to stand — but I'll never make you feel like you're performing for the camera.
The rest of the day is yours.
I'll be watching, anticipating and quietly looking for the photographs that tell the bigger story.
The result is a gallery that feels considered without feeling over-produced.
Beautiful photographs, without losing the feeling of the day.
PORTRAITS YOU'LL ACTUALLY WANT TO FRAME
Your wedding photographs shouldn't all be candid.
There should be photographs of the two of you that stop you in your tracks.
The ones where you remember exactly how you felt.
The ones where you see yourselves differently.
The ones your children will one day look at and recognise the people you were before they arrived.
That's why portraits are an important part of the way I photograph weddings.
I'll create space for them without taking you away from your celebration for hours. I'll give you enough direction to feel confident, then let the two of you be yourselves.
You don't need to know how to pose.
You just need to show up as you.
I'll take care of the rest.
FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHS
You're probably not looking for a photographer who simply turns up, works through a shot list and hands over hundreds of images.
You want someone whose work you can recognise.
Someone with an eye for light, composition and emotion.
Someone who can photograph the chaos and the quiet.
Someone who knows when a photograph needs direction — and when the most beautiful thing is to simply let the moment unfold.
And, ultimately, someone you trust enough to disappear into your day with.
That's where I come in.
MY APPROACH
INTENTIONAL, NEVER INTRUSIVE
I don't believe you need to spend your wedding day constantly aware of a camera.
I'll be there, watching and anticipating — noticing the glance across the room, the hands reaching for each other, your dad trying not to cry, the chaos on the dance floor and all the tiny details you've spent months choosing.
I'll step in when a little direction will make a photograph stronger.
I'll step back when the moment is better left alone.
The result is a gallery that feels like your wedding rather than a collection of photographs that could belong to anyone.
Nothing forced. Nothing formulaic. Just photographs with a reason to exist.
DOCUMENTARY COVERAGE
YOUR DAY, AS IT REALLY HAPPENED
The photographs you'll treasure aren't always the ones you knew were being taken.
They're the moments happening just outside the spotlight.
The look your mum gives you as you walk down the aisle.
Your friends losing themselves on the dance floor.
The person who travelled across the world to be there.
The quiet five minutes together before the next part of the day begins.
I'll photograph the big moments, but I'll also be looking for everything happening around them.
That's what makes your gallery a story rather than simply a record of events.
I want you to look through your photographs years from now and remember not just what happened, but how it felt to be there.
THE PORTRAITS
Because your wedding photographs shouldn't all be candid.
There should be photographs of the two of you that stop you in your tracks.
The ones where you feel completely yourselves.
The ones you'll frame.
The ones you'll look back at and remember exactly how you felt standing there together.
You don't need to know how to pose.
I'll guide you through the process, using movement, light and gentle direction to create portraits that feel effortless rather than staged.
We'll take enough time to make something beautiful without disappearing from your own wedding for hours.
A little direction. A little space. And plenty of room to be yourselves.
FILM
PHOTOGRAPHS THAT FEEL LIKE MEMORIES
There's something about film that makes a photograph feel nostalgic before you've even had time to miss the moment.
The softness. The grain. The imperfections. The way it holds light.
My approach to photography is influenced by that analogue feeling, creating imagery with depth and texture alongside the clarity and flexibility of digital photography.
Film, camcorder snippets and polaroid packages can also be incorporated into your wedding photography experience, let me know if you wish to add on any of these elements to your package
Modern photographs with a little bit of nostalgia woven through them.
THE EXPERIENCE
FROM OUR FIRST CONVERSATION TO YOUR FINAL GALLERY
Choosing your photographer isn't just about finding someone whose portfolio you love.
You're going to spend a significant part of one of the biggest days of your life with them.
So the experience matters.
From the moment you enquire, I'll take the time to understand you, your plans and what matters most to you.
We'll talk through your day, your timeline and anything you're unsure about.
I'll help you feel comfortable in front of the camera.
I'll be calm when things are chaotic, enthusiastic when the party gets going and quietly observant when something beautiful is unfolding.
Most importantly, I'll make sure you can enjoy your wedding without feeling like you have to perform for your photographs.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
A GALLERY WITH A REASON TO EXIST
After your wedding, I'll carefully curate your photographs into a collection that tells the story of your day from beginning to end.
You'll receive a beautifully presented online gallery of your finished images, ready to enjoy, share and return to whenever you want.
Your collection can also include additional options such as albums, prints and film, depending on the collection you choose.
I don't believe you need hundreds of photographs simply for the sake of having hundreds.
I want every image in your gallery to add something.
A feeling.
A memory.
A person.
A moment.
Quality over quantity, always.
INVESTMENT
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS WILL OUTLIVE THE FLOWERS
Your wedding photography is one of the few parts of your wedding day that becomes more valuable with time.
The flowers fade.
The cake is eaten.
The music stops.
But the photographs remain.
My wedding collections begin at £X, with bespoke coverage available for celebrations requiring something more tailored.
Every wedding is different, so I'll recommend the collection that makes the most sense for your plans rather than asking you to fit your wedding into a package that doesn't suit you.
For full collection details and availability, get in touch.
LOCATIONS
BASED IN NEWCASTLE. AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE
I'm based in Newcastle upon Tyne and photograph weddings throughout:
Newcastle · Northumberland · Durham · Yorkshire · The Lake District · London · and beyond.
I'm also available for destination weddings in the UK and overseas.
Whether you're planning an intimate celebration in the North East, a countryside wedding in Yorkshire, a city celebration in London or something completely further afield, the approach remains the same.
Beautiful photographs. Genuine connection. A gallery that feels like you.
LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR WEDDING
YOUR DAY IS UNIQUE.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS SHOULD BE TOO.
If you're looking for wedding photography that combines the honesty of documentary storytelling with beautiful, intentional portraits, I'd love to hear what you're planning.
Tell me about the two of you, where you're getting married, what matters most to you and everything you've been dreaming about.
No sales pitch.
Just a conversation about your wedding and whether we're the right fit.
THE EXPERIENCE
FROM OUR FIRST CONVERSATION TO THE FINAL GALLERY.
Choosing your wedding photographer is about much more than liking their portfolio.
You'll spend a significant part of your wedding day with them.
So I want the experience to feel just as good as the photographs.
We'll talk about your plans, your people and what matters most to you.
I'll help you feel completely at ease in front of the camera.
I'll guide you when you need it and disappear into the background when you don't.
And after your wedding, I'll carefully curate your photographs into a gallery that tells the whole story — not just the obvious parts.
YOUR PEOPLE.
YOUR STORY.
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Years from now, the flowers will be gone.
The champagne will be finished.
The dress will be carefully stored away.
But you'll still have photographs of the people who were there.
The hands you held.
The faces you love.
The way it all felt.
That's what I'm here to photograph.
LET'S CREATE SOMETHING
YOU'LL WANT TO COME BACK TO.
If you're planning a wedding where the photographs matter — and you want images that feel genuine, beautiful and completely your own — I'd love to hear about it.
