Sophie Dunleavy Photography

Hi, I’m Sophie, a wedding photographer based in Whitley Bay on the North East coast. I cover the North East, Northumberland and County Durham, and I’m always happy to travel further if your wedding is somewhere a bit more exciting.

I went full time with photography last July and haven’t looked back. Alongside weddings I photograph families, newborns and maternity, events and a bit of commercial work, which means I spend a lot of time with people who aren’t totally sure about being in front of a camera. It’s made me really good at helping them relax, and that carries straight into my weddings.

My style is candid and documentary. I’m not here to boss you around or force stiff poses. I’d rather catch the real stuff: the nervous laugh before the ceremony, your nan welling up, your mate pulling a face behind you, the chaos and the quiet bits in between. That’s what you’ll want to look back on in years to come, not a perfectly staged photo where nobody looks like themselves.

My favourite weddings are the relaxed ones. Elopements, intimate ceremonies and couples who just want a brilliant day with their favourite people. You don’t need a rigid timeline or a hundred formal group shots (unless you want them, in which case we’ll absolutely do them). It’s your day, and I’ll work around you, not the other way round.

I’m a normal girl from the North East, so I’m easy to chat to and I’ll fit in with whatever’s going on. A lot of people tell me they hate having their photo taken, and honestly, most people do. I’ll chat, keep things light, and give you a bit of direction if you want it, but mostly I’ll just let you get on with enjoying your day. By the end, you’ll probably have forgotten I’m there, which is exactly the point.

I’m used to working alongside videographers, planners, venues and other suppliers, so I know how to share a space, stay out of the way and keep things running smoothly. I’d rather be part of the team than the person everyone’s waiting on.

Afterwards, your photos are delivered in an online gallery that’s easy to share with family and friends, so nobody’s left asking where the pictures are. Contracts and booking are all done online too, so there’s no mountain of admin to deal with.

If that sounds like your kind of wedding, get in touch. Tell me about your day, where it is, who’s coming and what you’re hoping for, and we’ll take it from there. I’d love to hear all about it.