Based in the UK, Sarah Joy Landon often captures weddings in Italy, as she spent her childhood in Rome. Using both analogue and digital formats for her photography, she merges documentary storytelling with a compelling narrative in her creative approach. Sarah Joy Landon is especially passionate about destination weddings and has travelled worldwide, including to remote towns in South America, Sub-Saharan African and South East Asia.
Tell us about your business!Â
I’ve been a wedding photographer full-time since 2021, after years of working in corporate and doing photography on the side. I’m based in the UK however, I grew up in Italy and this mixed background has led me to specialise in capturing weddings in both countries, although I’m happy to travel pretty much anywhere! I’ve been slowly incorporating more and more analogue photography since 2022 and I’m now offering a mix of digital and 35mm/medium format film photography with room for personalisation, including film only if that’s your thing!
What would you like couples to know about you?Â
There is no doubt that a lot of my clients are booking me because I’m bilingual and I fit very well within multicultural weddings where both English and Italian are spoken, but I also speak Spanish! I’m a very easy-going person and I love to chat and genuinely get to know couples and their guests. You can expect me to be more of an unobtrusive presence at weddings, ready to step in and help or direct when needed but definitely not loud and drawing attention to myself. I prefer to observe and capture the moments that naturally unfold before my eyes rather than try and dictate what happens on the day.
Where are you based?Â
I’m based in Yorkshire, UK but I rarely work near home. Most of the time you will find me in or around London, Cheshire or anywhere across Italy from Lake Como to Sicily. My family lives in Rome, so I also use the Italian capital as a base in between jobs and I’m very grateful that my career facilitates having some family time.
Do you travel for weddings?Â
All the time. For the past three years I’ve been constantly traveling back and forth between the UK and Italy. I’ve been to most parts of both countries and this familiarity really helps me to advise my clients and help them out with information and recommendations about local vendors and amenities. I offer all inclusive pricing for Europe so you can book me for any country on the continent at the same rate.
How would you describe your style?Â
I usually describe it as documentary photography but I learnt that the term can be interpreted in wildly different ways. I like this analogy: think about travel documentation, like the National Geographic magazine or some of the street photographers from the 60s like Vivian Maier. What you see is a documentation of lands, cultures and individuals just the way they are, because they are interesting in their own respect. Yet, this photography mixes what is fundamentally capturing unscripted situations with some posed portraits to highlight the details of a person’s expression, attire, accessories etc. I apply a similar approach to wedding photography: my priority is storytelling and I achieve this through observation and capturing moments as they unfold naturally, paired with a few directed shots that aim to make people and things look their best, in the best light.
What is your most memorable career moment?
It’s very difficult to pinpoint a single moment however, I suppose that the first time I booked a wedding in Italy I felt extremely happy. It was a confirmation that my business model was working. It was an enormous confidence boost and it opened up an ocean of opportunities that led me to where I am today.
What inspires you?Â
I like to look at vintage photography, including my own family photos. It may sound cliché but I think everyone forgets that digital only arrived a couple of decades ago. Since then, thanks to social media, it has become more and more refined and amazing but sometimes also overwhelming. I think it doesn’t hurt to go back to the simplicity of how photography used to be, when there was no necessity and obsession for enormous amounts of perfectly edited photos, just meaningful ones to keep and look back on.
What motivates you to do what you do?Â
First of all a love for photography that started when I was really young. My father, who sadly passed away when I was 16, would always carry with him an Olympus SLR and he taught me how to use it when I was still in elementary school. I think that in a way his passion lives through me and he’d be proud if he could see me.
How would you describe your working style?Â
I’ve been told by many clients that I’m very well organised and good at communication. I think that having worked for a big company in the past has helped me become good at that. I have a very simple but well structured workflow when it comes to managing bookings and I make sure to gather all the information I need from my couples ahead of their big day. It’s really important for me to not treat every couple in the same way but learn about them and what they like and dislike, so that their wedding photos are exactly what they want. I like to work on vision boards with my clients and understand how they like to see themselves and what vibe they envision.
Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?Â
As a starting point I offer 1/3 of your wedding captured on film and the rest (or a little more sometimes!) on digital. I’m constantly experimenting and trying to see how clients respond and what the demand is. Personally I feel ready to shoot a whole wedding day on film only and I’m flexible when it comes to film / digital ratio.
Do you have custom packages according to individual needs?Â
Yes. I only offer a full day and half day option (the latter is aimed at smaller weddings and elopements), and they are both completely customisable. There are many add-ons couples can choose from to build their perfect coverage for the day or more than one day.
What is a favourite product or service that you offer and why?
I’ve added medium format film this year and I adore it!
Where would you love to travel to for work?
I should mention that I’ve been traveling the world (including solo travel!) since I was 18, including remote places in South America, Sub-Saharan African and South East Asia so I’m very comfortable with that and I’m waiting for a dream booking in Bali, Thailand or Mexico. I have a soft spot for tropical destinations due to having undertaken scuba diving as one of my main hobbies!
Who is your dream client?Â
I’m a really good match for couples of any cultural background, who are laid-back, love to travel and have a deeper appreciation for the art of photography. Many of my clients are of mixed heritage and nationalities, they live or have lived abroad or they are avid travellers. They also work or have backgrounds in the arts, design, fashion, publishing or not for profit industries. More and more of them are photographers themselves (including wedding photographers!) or they use a film camera for fun.
What is your advice to couples getting married?Â
The greatest advice I can give to couples getting married is to make sure they love their vendors before booking them. Don’t get influenced by recommendations and discounts if their work isn’t exactly what you want. I’ve seen far too many cases of couples not happy with a vendor because someone else convinced them to book them or they overlooked some tell-tale signs (bad portfolios, bad reviews). Don’t book a vendor hoping that despite the fact they’re not a great fit, they will somehow magically perform differently for you. It will only cause stress later on and make your wedding day less enjoyable.
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