Joanna May Photography
Storytelling photography, across South Wales and beyond
Every story deserves to be told with honesty and warmth. Cardiff-based, shooting across Newport, Swansea, Bridgend, and the rest of South Wales — and a little further afield when invited.
documentary style · 100+ sessions photographed since 2024
The work I offer
Photography rooted in connection.
Whether it's the quiet emotion of a wedding day, the tender early days of motherhood, or the quiet confidence of seeing yourself differently.

Weddings
Relaxed, documentary coverage of your day as it unfolds.

Motherhood
Gentle photography for the early days, from bump to baby.

Family
Unhurried family sessions — wherever feels most like you.

Empowerment
A calm, confidence-building experience rooted in connection.
Not sure where to start?
Take the two-minute session quiz.
A handful of gentle questions and I'll point you toward the session that fits your story best — wedding, motherhood, family, or something more personal. No commitment, no inbox follow-ups unless you ask.
The experience
How we'll work together.
A calm, guided process from our first message to a year after your gallery lands — flexible payment, a private planning space, and small, thoughtful touches that come long after the shoot itself.
A personal quote, ready to go
Tell me a little about what you're imagining and a tailored quote lands in your inbox — your price, a single Book Now button, no PDFs and no waiting around.
Pay the way that suits you
Pay in full, take a retainer + balance split, spread the cost across 3 to 12 gentle monthly instalments, or use Klarna or Clearpay. Your balance settles itself from a saved card when it's due.
Your private planning space
A mood board we'll build together, a guide written for your kind of shoot, the weather forecast for your venue, and gentle reminders two weeks then three days out. Everything in one calm place.
Your gallery, with little touches that come later
A private gallery delivered within a few weeks, with image bundles and a vertical share reel if you'd like one. A year on, a quiet anniversary email arrives with a handful of your favourites.


The person behind the lens
Hello, I'm Joanna.
I'm a South Wales photographer specialising in weddings and the early days of motherhood, with an empowered boudoir offering rooted in confidence and connection.
I photograph people as they are — calm, documentary-led, centred around connection. The quiet pauses, the in-between glances, and the moments you don't always realise you'll want to remember.
A client portal that feels personal.
Gallery, mood board, contract, invoices, and the planning details for your shoot — all in one calm place with your name on it.
A peek at the planning portal every client gets — their real version is personalised end-to-end.
Limited availability
Seasonal sessions.
Short, joyful mini sessions in beautiful seasonal locations. Limited slots so everyone gets a relaxed, unhurried experience.

Mum & Me Paint & Play
Rogerstone, Newport, Cymru / Wales, United Kingdom
This is a session just for mum and the kids - a chance to slow down, get stuck in, and play together while I quietly capture it all. Easels, canvases, paints, and brushes are all provided.

Milk & Motherhood Sessions
Cardiff — location confirmed on booking
A quiet, gentle session for mums with babies, held in a calm, light-filled indoor space. Whether you're breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or somewhere in between, these sessions…

In Bloom Sessions
Cardiff — location confirmed on booking
A summer empowerment session for women who want to feel seen. Shot in a relaxed, unhurried way, these sessions are about confidence and connection with yourself — nothing forced,…
Kind words
What my clients say.
“I wanted to create a boudoir photo album for my husband to be. I fell in love with Joanna's style and she made me feel at ease from her first message. Our pre-meet was a great way for me to understand the process and get to know Joanna more. I loved how she was just as excited as me for the shoot, and had already prepared a mood board of ideas which were completely in line with my own. The shoot itself was one of my favourite days in the lead up to my wedding. It felt like having a friend behind the camera who wanted you to not only look amazing, but to feel it... And I did feel amazing. I had sneak peeks of the photos a day later and within 3 weeks had the full set. I loved every single picture, as well as how all the photos came together with different contrasts and colours. I would recommend Joanna's boudoir shoot to anyone - the confidence and self-empowerment I feel looking back at my pictures is priceless. 💗”
Carrie
Bridal Boudoir
“Just want to say a huge thank you for such an incredible experience. You've photographed my journey from pregnancy to a few weeks after the birth of my beautiful baby boy River and captured some stunning moments that I will cherish forever. Being photographed is not something I usually feel comfortable with but you helped me feel so relaxed and confident during my beautiful maternity shoot which is such a vulnerable time for Mums to be. You also helped my partner and mum feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera for our newborn shoot with River. You've captured his innocent gorgeous facial features so well. I can't wait to book you again for future shoots!”
Laura
Bump to Baby Package
“We had the most wonderful experience during our beach photoshoot. From start to finish, it felt so natural and relaxed - just us being ourselves as a family, rather than stiffly posing for the camera. It was such a refreshing change! When we received our gallery, we were genuinely blown away. The photos were not only beautifully captured, but they looked like they belonged in a magazine... so stunning! Joanna was absolutely lovely. She was warm, professional, and incredibly talented. She made us feel completely at ease, was fantastic with our dog, and captured the most precious moments. If you’re someone who feels a bit awkward in front of the camera or prefers natural shots over traditional posing, I HIGHLY recommend booking with Joanna. She has a real gift for capturing special moments just as they are. Thank you again for such a magical experience, we’ll treasure these photos forever ❤️”
Sian
Beach Sessions
From the blog
Stories & inspiration.
Get in touch
Let's create something beautiful.
Whether you're planning a wedding, expecting a new arrival, or simply want to celebrate who you are — I'd love to hear from you.
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