Nina Wernicke is an editorial wedding photographer based in London whose signature style is cinematic and soulful, the perfect match for the discerning couple, the perpetually chic, and the modern romantic. Nina Wernicke's frames spill with emotion, and in a hypnotic collision of drama and quiet intimacy, she tells stories that deeply imprint.
What would you like couples to know about you?
I started my business in 2017 practically overnight after being made redundant from my corporate job when returning from maternity leave. It took me less than 24 hours to register my photography business and I can honestly and truthfully say this has been the best thing that has ever happened to me, because I would have never had the courage to resign myself and follow my passion. Having now photographed exceptional celebrations across the UK, Europe, Africa, and the US for six years, my intuition, knowledge, and anticipation of the day’s events is a time-honed skill and one which I impart at planner-led destination weddings and intimate London elopements alike.
Where are you based?
I am originally from Germany, but most of the year I’m based in London. Over the summer months I use my base near Barcelona, Spain.
Do you travel for weddings?
Absolutely - about 50% of my weddings are abroad and I have shot weddings from Sweden to South Africa, and from NYC to Morocco.
How would you describe your style?
I bring an artistic and luxurious approach to wedding photography, focusing on capturing editorial portraits and beautiful candids throughout the wedding day, whilst still infusing each and every frame with the emotion of the day. My signature style attracts couples looking for refined, timeless imagery that carries a romantic sense of cinematic beauty.
What is your most memorable career moment?
I don’t think I can pinpoint a single most memorable moment but will always remember assisting at my first wedding at Villa d’Este on Lake Como within a month of starting my photography business. It was a pivotal moment for me as it made me fall in love head over heels with weddings and I haven’t looked back since.
What inspires you?
My love for the arts, and in particular fashion, music, and cinema, is something I have in common with my clients. I always have a soundtrack in mind when photographing a couple, and sometimes a whole story develops in my head as I work with them – without them necessarily being aware of it.
What motivates you to do what you do?
For me wedding photography perfectly combines everything I love about photography: fashion, emotions, people, landscapes, interiors, and details. But most importantly, I know that I am contributing in a significant way to the way the couple will remember one of the most important days of their life.
Wedding photography is not only an art form, it’s also history, a contribution to a family’s visual legacy, and something that will be cherished for generations to come. This is what’s constantly in the back of my mind when I take pictures on a wedding day.
How would you describe your working style?
I’m not an imposing presence and I certainly don’t like to direct my subjects too strictly, instead I aim to capture the true essence of the atmosphere and my couples’ profound love for one another through timeless portraiture and cinematic frames. This artistic, intuitive approach requires me to pivot from one subject to the next but it’s a truly heady mix which results in emotionally evocative imagery, alive with authenticity, movement and depth.
Being in the right place at the right time means being unwaveringly intuitive and observational, with an acute awareness of light, form and detail. There’s a skill in knowing when to step in and when to step back, allowing each beautiful and unique moment to present itself naturally. Whether that’s sympathetically observing beloved friends and family, finding perfectly diffused light in the most intimate of moments or simply capturing the day’s distinctive details, it’s often these sweet but simple instances that provide the real magic.
Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?
Mainly digital, but I also offer 35mm as an optional add-on which is something I find more and more of my clients want. I have just invested in a new Leica M6 which is something I very much am looking forward to bringing into my 2024 weddings.
Do you have custom packages according to individual needs?
Absolutely – almost all my quotes are customized based on date, venue, country, etc although I do have a fixed starting rate.
What is a favourite product or service that you offer and why?
In 2024 I will be introducing a bespoke Fine Art photo albums which I am currently in the process of designing. I’m very much looking forward to that.
Where would you love to travel to for work?
At the beginning of my career I was based in South Africa for 18 months. To me this is the most beautiful country in the world, and I would absolutely love to shoot another wedding there with all the experience I now have and with the distinct style I have developed over the last years. Furthermore, I am keen to shoot more in Spain, especially over the summer months when I am based out of Barcelona.
Who is your dream client?
My signature style attracts couples looking for refined modern imagery that carries a romantic sense of cinematic beauty. They have a passionate love for fashion and cinema, which they incorporate into their wedding – they are true to themselves, deeply in love, and don’t take themselves too seriously.
What is your advice to couples getting married?
Firstly: don’t follow trends. Stay true to yourself and don’t worry about what your guests think about the style and design of your celebration. Look at the work of your photographer, and ask yourself: will these images still look beautiful in 10, 50, 100 years from now?
Secondly: make sure you actually like the photographer. You will be spending a significant amount of time with them on your wedding day, and they will be with you during the most intimate moments (getting ready, first look, couple portraits) – so you really want that to be a person you feel comfortable around.
