A French Wedding Photographer,
in France and beyond
True images, strong emotions, memories that last. I tell your stories with my heart, my eyes and a great deal of attention. Based in Arras in northern France, photographing couples across the country and abroad for more than fifteen years.
Born in the North of France,
in 1982
A few grey hairs, some tattoos, and the proud father of a little girl who makes my heart beat a little faster every day. I am Stéphane Joly, a wedding photographer for more than 15 years, based in Arras in the Hauts-de-France region, in the north of the country.
What makes me tick? Photography. Music. True emotions. Three passions that feed me every day and help me feel, listen, and see what others don't always see. That is exactly what I try to translate into every image, wedding after wedding. On the road from Arras to your venue, wherever it is, I always carry the same conviction: behind every couple, a story deserves to be told with honesty.
And one more honest thing, because I'd rather you hear it from me. I have a good understanding of English and I'm learning to speak it better every day. My spoken English is still a work in progress, so to make sure nothing is ever lost between us I use Ray-Ban Meta glasses with real-time translation. During the wedding, whenever a moment needs precise words, we communicate smoothly.
Memories are all
we get to keep
A wedding is much more than a "lovely day". It is an explosion of life, a celebration of the soul, a concentration of pure emotion. And I want to help you forget none of it. I photograph so that in 10, 20, 30 years, you can relive this day as if it were yesterday. So that you find again the glances, the shivers, the details, and even everything you did not see in the moment, because everything goes too fast.
This conviction was forged over more than 300 weddings. Every couple has taught me something new about photography, about people, about the instant that turns a day into a memory. My job is a vocation, not a routine. And that flame is what gets me up every morning with the same desire as on the first day. The heart before the lens.
Three simple principles
No big speeches and no forced staging. I photograph with spontaneity and a great deal of listening, to capture what is there, what is you.
Spontaneity
I don't fabricate your images, I seize them. Your gestures, your glances, your laughter, your tears: everything that makes your day truly yours. No "do that again for the photo", ever.
Discretion
My couples often tell me they didn't notice me all day. That is my signature: being where I need to be, when I need to be there, without ever disturbing the natural flow of your day.
Listening
Before the wedding, I take the time to understand you. Your expectations, your fears, your story. That attentive listening feeds every single image I deliver to you.
Beyond beautiful images
You are looking for someone to trust. Someone real, present and committed. Here is what I promise to bring you.
A seasoned eye
More than 15 years photographing weddings, more than 300 couples accompanied in France and abroad. That experience makes all the difference when handling the unexpected, difficult light or moments heavy with emotion.
A full time photographer
Weddings are my profession, not a weekend hobby. That professional standard lets me accompany you serenely from A to Z, from our first exchange to the delivery of your gallery.
A gallery crafted with care
Between 600 and 800 photographs retouched one by one, sometimes more, delivered within 4 weeks on average via a secure private gallery accessible for one year. No image is ever left untreated.
Full guidance, before and after
Before, during, after. I am available by message, phone or video call to answer your questions, advise on your timeline or suggest photo spots. You will never be alone in the preparation.
No borders
Based in Arras, I travel throughout France and abroad. A wedding by the sea, deep in a forest or in the mountains: the place doesn't matter, as long as the love is there. For every distant wedding, I arrive the day before.
A trusted duo available
I regularly collaborate with Sylvain B, a wedding videographer whose cinematic eye complements my photography. Our duo is well practised: you share your timeline once, and we coordinate between ourselves.
My camera has
no borders
I am based in northern France, but I follow you everywhere: from the Opal Coast to the Riviera, from Normandy to Champagne, and well beyond the borders. If your story touches me, I come to wherever love takes you.
Explore my pages for international couples: Northern France & the Opal Coast · Normandy · Champagne · Oise & Chantilly · South of France · Belgium · Château weddings · and elsewhere on request.
For a destination wedding or an elopement abroad, contact me for a personalised quote: travel and accommodation costs are calculated at their real price and integrated with complete transparency.
What my couples
say about it
Wow… that's what we said when we discovered the first photos! What talent! Stéphane translated all the emotion and joy of this moment that was so important to us. And yet we didn't notice him all day! So discreet! You can trust him with your eyes closed!
We came from Switzerland and could not have dreamed of a better photographer. Stéphane made us feel at ease immediately, he was present all day without us ever noticing him, and the photos are beyond anything we hoped for. Every image brings back the emotion of the moment exactly as we lived it.
Your questions,
my answers
- Are you a full time photographer?Yes, wedding photography has been my exclusive profession for more than 15 years. I don't do this alongside another job. That professional standard lets me accompany you serenely at every stage, from our first exchange to the delivery of your gallery, without the constraints of another occupation.
- How does the first contact work?You contact me through the contact form, by email or by phone. I reply quickly, usually within 24 to 48 hours, with a first exchange by message. If the feeling is there, we schedule a call or a video meeting to get to know each other and talk about your plans, your venue and your wishes. No commitment at this stage: it is also your chance to see whether our sensibilities match.
- Do you speak English?Honestly: I understand English well and I'm learning to speak it better all the time, though I'm not fully fluent yet. To make sure nothing is ever lost, I use Ray-Ban Meta glasses with live translation for any moment that needs precise words. And with 300+ weddings behind me, I anticipate the day visually, so communication is never a barrier to great photographs.
- Do you work alone or with a second photographer?I mainly work alone, which gives your reportage total consistency of style. For very large weddings of 200 guests and more, or complex setups such as multiple venues or ceremonies over two days, I can bring in a second photographer on request. For video, I collaborate with Sylvain B, a partner videographer whose cinematic eye perfectly complements my photographic approach.
- Do you travel throughout France and abroad?Yes, I travel throughout mainland France, from the North to Provence and from Brittany to Alsace, and internationally on request, including Belgium, Italy, Spain and Iceland. For every distant wedding, I systematically arrive the day before so I am fully available and rested on the day. Travel and accommodation costs are calculated in advance at their real price and integrated transparently into your quote.
- What happens if something unexpected occurs on the day?I carry complete backup equipment: two camera bodies, several lenses, spare batteries and memory cards, to cover any technical failure. In the very rare case of a major impediment on my side, I have a trusted network of professional photographers who can take over with a style close to mine. I am also covered by professional liability insurance.
- How far in advance should we book you?For a wedding in high season, from May to October, I recommend booking 12 to 18 months ahead. Saturdays in June and September are the most requested. If your date is closer, contact me anyway: I sometimes have last minute availability. And for out of season weddings, from November to March, there is usually more flexibility.
Your story
starts here
A first call, free and without obligation. A few minutes to get to know each other, talk about your date, your venue and your wishes. And to see whether our sensibilities match.
Want to know more first? Discover my approach to wedding photography or browse my portfolio.
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