Hollie Mateer is an accomplished wedding photographer based in Leeds, UK, and is known for her natural and heartfelt approach to capturing weddings. Her work features a style that blends documentary wedding photography and fine art. She focuses on authentic moments, genuine emotions, and the unique details that tell the story of each couple’s special day.
If you’ve ever tried this type of reportage photography, you’ll know that while it looks effortless, it’s actually incredibly difficult. Hollie’s talent has earned her prestigious awards, including This Is Reportage Wedding Photographer of the Year, 2024 Photographer of the Year, and Family Photographer of the Year. DIYP caught up with Hollie to find out more about her unique approach to documenting weddings.
DIYP: Can you tell us a bit about your journey into wedding photography? What inspired you to specialise in this field?
Hollie: I started with a creative background, initially studying fashion and later training as a florist. Around 2015, my husband Patrick, already a professional photographer, inspired me to pick up a camera. He lent me an old Nikon, and I took it everywhere with me.
Before long, I started accompanying Patrick to weddings, learning my craft, and discovering a way of capturing moments naturally—one that suited me as a person. I quickly fell in love with wedding photography and realised it was what I wanted to do full-time.
DIYP: Your style leans more towards documentary or reportage. Can you explain what that means to you?
Hollie: For me, documentary photography is about telling a visual story without interference or direction – no staging, no setting things up. It’s about capturing emotions and moments as they naturally unfold – often the ones that go unnoticed in the rush of a wedding day. There’s no posing – just an honest reflection of the day, I can show couples their wedding day from a whole new perspective.
I photograph weddings with Patrick and sometimes individually, but whether we’re working as a duo or solo, the approach remains the same. I absolutely love my job and have so much fun immersing myself in each unique wedding day.
DIYP: Some of the images in your portfolio are delightfully unconventional. Are these moments that just unfold, or is there any kind of directing involved?
Hollie: Thank you! Couples book us for that very style. Those unconventional shots happen because we are present, observant, and in the right place at the right time. It’s not about creating moments but about being ready to capture them. I also strive to photograph these moments in an individual way, seeking out moments and details that other photographers might overlook. Composition plays a big role, too – I frame and layer shots in ways that make each moment feel unique and immersive within the wedding story.
DIYP: Do you have a signature technique or approach that sets your work apart from other wedding photographers?
Hollie: Our signature approach is a combination of documentary storytelling and dynamic composition, elevating wedding photography beyond mere documentation – it becomes art. The most powerful images come from real, unscripted moments, so we immerse ourselves in the wedding day, observing rather than directing. At the same time, we apply a deep understanding of composition, light, and colour to transform natural moments into visually striking images.
We treat every location, whether a grand vista in the countryside or a tucked-away city street, as a blank canvas. Instead of relying on conventional posing, we use creative layering, reflections, framing, and bold use of colour and contrast to create images that feel both spontaneous and intentional. I also work as a documentary family photographer, bringing the same natural, artistic approach to family storytelling.
DIYP: What’s in your camera bag on a typical wedding day?
Hollie: On a wedding day, I always carry two Nikon Z8 cameras paired with a range of lenses for flexibility. I typically shoot with a 35mm f/1.8 and a 50mm f/1.2, but I also carry a 24mm f/1.8 for wider shots and an 85mm for moments where I need to step back. My Holdfast MoneyMaker harness keeps everything within reach, allowing me to move freely, switch between two cameras, and capture the best angles as the moments dictate.
DIYP: Let’s talk about destination weddings. What have been your favourite places, and how does it differ from shooting a regular wedding?
Hollie: We love to travel for work, documenting weddings all over the UK and abroad. But no matter the location, the most important thing remains the same: capturing the authentic connection between two people, their friends, and their families. I don’t really have a favourite location – it’s the people and the moments that I really remember.
DIYP: Can you walk us through your post-wedding workflow? How do you go about culling and editing such a vast number of images?
Hollie: The first step after a wedding is sorting through and culling thousands of images. I focus on selecting the moments that stand out the most. The images that best tell the story of the day. Editing is a meticulous process; it takes time to perfect each image. My editing style is naturalistic yet artistic – warm colours reflecting the energy of a wedding day. Consistency is key, so while Patrick and I both shoot, I handle all the editing to ensure our signature style remains cohesive throughout every gallery.
DIYP: What’s the most challenging wedding you’ve photographed, and how did you handle it? Has anything gone badly wrong?
Hollie: Nothing has ever gone badly wrong, we’re happy to say! We always expect the unexpected and stay calm under pressure. The most important thing is to document the day authentically, no matter what happens. Challenges only push us creatively and make us work harder.
DIYP: What’s your approach to working with couples who might feel awkward or nervous in front of the camera?
Hollie: We give our couples the freedom to be themselves. We want them to relax, forget about the camera, and truly enjoy the day. When people feel at ease, the moments we capture are more genuine and authentic.
DIYP: How do you handle difficult lighting situations during a long wedding day with multiple locations?
Hollie: We make the most of natural and ambient light whenever possible — it complements our documentary approach. Overusing flash can feel intrusive. Our Nikon Z8 cameras handle low light well without compromising image quality, which is crucial for capturing authentic moments. We do use Godox flash, but mainly for dancing later in the evening when it enhances the atmosphere.
DIYP: You’ve won some big international prizes for your wedding photography. What did that mean to you, and how has it impacted your client work?
Hollie: Winning awards has been incredibly rewarding. It’s recognition from peers in the photography world and has helped us raise our profile and attract our ideal client, those people who appreciate our documentary approach. But for us, it’s not about collecting trophies; it’s about creating work that resonates with our couples and connects with them on a deeper level.
DIYP: What’s next on the horizon? Any exciting plans or projects?
Hollie: We’re really excited about the future, especially our upcoming workshop, Wedding Photography is Art, in Leeds on 12th June 2025. It’s an opportunity to share our approach with other photographers. We have two fantastic guest speakers, Chelsea Cannar and David Scholes – both incredible documentary photographers – and we can’t wait.
We’re also speaking at several international conferences this year, including the Fearless Conference in Belgium, Rise Up in Chamonix in France, and Weddcamp in Romania. These events allow us to connect with other creatives from all over the world. On a personal level, speaking at these events challenges me to overcome my natural introversion and pushes me to keep growing as both an artist and a person.
For me, photography is more than just taking pictures – it’s about creating a legacy. We document real, unscripted moments that make each wedding unique, and those images become something our couples will treasure for years. It’s an honour and a responsibility, but we also have a lot of fun while doing it. I feel very lucky to call this my job, something I’m truly passionate about.
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