Joanna May Photography
The bits in between the posed ones.
The giggle mid-chaos, the split second a little one reaches up to be carried, the way a newborn's fingers curl round yours. I photograph families, mothers and weddings across Cardiff and South Wales, and almost never the frame where everybody's looking at me.
documentary style · 100+ sessions photographed since 2023
What I photograph.
Whether it's the quiet emotion of a wedding day, the tender early days of motherhood, or the quiet confidence of seeing yourself differently.
Motherhood
You and them, close, the way they climb on you without asking. Bump, newborn, or an ordinary Tuesday three years in.
From £275
Family
An hour somewhere you already go. Nobody arranged into a line, nobody told to mind the cyclists.
From £295
Seasonal
Twenty minutes, a handful of dates a year, in a spot worth driving to.
From £95
Weddings
The whole day as it actually goes, from the nervous bit in the morning to the last dance.
From £1,150I've never liked having my photograph taken either.
Not once, not in my whole life. That stiffness the second a camera comes out, the not knowing what to do with your hands, the way your face stops working properly. I know all of it, and it's exactly why I work the way I do.
I photograph quietly, from the side, while you're looking at them. There's no say cheese and no chin down. Most of the session you'll be busy with somebody small who's climbing on you, and you'll forget I'm there. That's when the photographs happen. 🤍
Twenty minutes, a few times a year.
Short, joyful mini sessions in beautiful seasonal locations. Limited slots so everyone gets a relaxed, unhurried experience.
In the Last of the Summer
Jackson's Bay, Barry
An evening at Jackson's Bay, the quiet cove round the headland from Barry Island. Twenty minutes of your family by the water, nobody posing, nobody rushed.
In the Autumn Fields
Pontcanna Fields, Pontcanna, Cardiff, Cymru / Wales, United Kingdom
A blanket, a few pumpkins, and the last golden Saturday before the clocks go back. Twenty minutes of your family in Pontcanna Fields, exactly as they are.
The Cosy Christmas Sessions
Teddy's Place Studio, Cardiff
A real tree, wool blankets and warm lights in a Cardiff studio. Twenty minutes of your family, warm and unhurried, in the cosiest week of the year.
What happens after you say yes.
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 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 a reminder two weeks out, and another three days before. 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.
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.
Everything in one place, with your name on it.
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.
What people say afterwards.
“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…”Read the whole thing
…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!”
Lucy S.
Bump to Baby
“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…”Read the whole thing
…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…”Read the whole thing
…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
Things worth reading.
August 2026
Motherhood sessions in Cardiff: what they are, and who they're for
It's the question I'm asked most, usually followed by "is that just a family photoshoot with a different name?" It isn't, and here's the difference.
July 2026 · Motherhood
Strong as a Mother
A morning photographing Kelly’s Mum & Baby class at Santé Fitness. A room full of women being extraordinary, and pretending it was nothing.
July 2026 · Weddings · Venues
Insole Court, Cardiff: The Venue Most People Drive Past
A gothic mansion in the middle of Llandaff. The trees do half the work for you.
Lately
One family photographed this week. One session booked.
Say hello.
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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