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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 · 75+ sessions photographed since 2023

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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.

Not sure which is right for you? Take the two-minute quiz →

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.

Start the quiz

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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Joanna, the photographer

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.

Your private space

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.

Today

Hello, Sarah.

The day's almost here. Let's get you ready.

Bump to baby

Sarah & Tom's bump session.

Late June · 10:00am
Roath Park, Cardiff
Contract signedQuestionnaire sentPaid in full

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.

Kind words

What my clients say.

75+sessions photographed
Since 2023across South Wales
205-star reviews from clients
When you think of a photographer, you think of someone who is there to capture some lovely moments, however, Jo has captured some of the best, biggest, most precious moments of our life. From the very beginning, she has been there for some of the most meaningful milestones in our journey. She photographed our gender reveal, our baby shower, and the first precious photos of our son in his nursery. She even knew the gender of our baby before we did and somehow managed to keep that secret while sharing in all of our excitement and anticipation, that, combined with using blue smoke bombs! What started as hiring a photographer quickly turned into something so much more to us. Her warmth, kindness, and genuine investment in our little family have made her feel like one of us. She’s celebrated alongside us, puts everyone at ease, and somehow captures not just beautiful images, but the emotions behind them. We are so, so grateful to have these memories captured so beautifully, but even more grateful for the relationship we’ve built with her along the way. She is incredibly talented, and if you’re looking for someone to document your family’s most important moments, look no further. We couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else. She started as our photographer, but somewhere along the way, she became family. Thank you, Jo!
LS

Lucy S.

Bump to Baby Package

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. 💗
C

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!
L

Laura

Bump to Baby Package

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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