British Wedding Photographer in South West France
You've imagined your day a thousand times. I make sure the photographs feel like it.
You've dreamed, planned and worried about this day in endless amounts of detail. The venue, how you want it to feel, the people, the dress and the little flowers the guys have but can never remember their name. You just want someone to make sure it all gets captured the way it feels in your head and someone you'll be glad was there and the kind of person your guests will love too.
If you're anything like most of my couples, there's always a nervousness leading up to your wedding day. Not just about the flowers or the food, but whether your people will have the best time. You chose France because you wanted it to feel amazing and you want everyone you dragged here to feel that too.
The photographs you'll keep coming back to are of your people, everyone who made the trip for you, all in, fully happy, fully yours. And potentially full of wine.
Those photographs will happen because you will be present for all of it. Not pulled away for hours, not stood in a field wondering when you can get back to your friends. You will be at your wedding and I'll make sure nothing gets missed.
I'm Gavin, a British photographer based in Bordeaux, here with my wife, twin boys, and a French bulldog who is absolutely convinced he runs the house. I'm entirely obsessed with photography (ask my wife) and I've had the privilege for the last two years of photographing people on the happiest day of their lives in France. Nice guy, fab photographer and very easy to have around. Dad jokes are a WIP.
This is your wedding. It's going to be easy, brilliant and feel like YOUR wedding.
"It was such a pleasure having you as our photographer, you just made everything so easy." — Holly
My aim for my couples is simple. I want to ensure you have an amazing day with your friends and family and then get the photographs that show how it felt. Everything I do on the day is working towards achieving that and making sure that everyone feels comfortable and enjoying themselves. That's why the photographs end up looking exactly the way you hoped they would.
I make that happen by turning up early, walking the grounds, shaking hands and getting my face known before anything kicks off. I'm not the photographer standing at the back of the room saying nothing. I'm talking to people, getting down to the kids' level, having a laugh, being useful where I can. I also know when the camera just needs to be put down. Sometimes you don't need it in your face.
Every wedding, without fail, someone comes up to me during the day and says "you haven't stopped, you must be exhausted." I take real pride in that. That graft, that effort, getting everyone comfortable, that's what leads to the photographs being what they are.
You shouldn't have to choose between great photographs and a photographer who lets you actually have your wedding.
Nobody books a wedding in France to spend the afternoon being moved around for group photographs. Shot lists have their place but spending an hour working through them on your wedding day isn't fun for anyone. Photography should add to your day, not put it on pause.
We both know the photographs you'll love most aren't on any list. So I keep the structured stuff quick and fun, which means more room for the moments that actually make you cry when you look back at them. You'll get the photographs you wanted (so will your aunty!) of a wedding you were actually present for.
So, how does it work?
Step 01 — We have a proper chat and get to know each other
We'll jump on a video call and talk about you, your plans, and what you're hoping for from the day. You can ask me anything, and I can walk you through some of my galleries so you get a real sense of how I work.
Step 02 — I'm with you all the way to the day
Once you're booked I don't disappear. I'll send a planning questionnaire, we'll have at least one call closer to the day to go through timelines, and if you're over in France in the run up to the wedding I'd love to meet for a coffee or a glass of wine. A pre-wedding shoot is also a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day and this is included in the package.
Step 03 — The wedding day
I will work my absolute hardest to make sure you have the best day and the photographs to prove it. I don't take on other weddings on the same weekend so I pour everything I have into making your day incredible.
Contact me.
Gavin Chapman · Wedding Photographer in France
I’m based in Bordeaux and photograph weddings across the Dordogne, Charente, Lot-et-Garonne and throughout France.
I work mainly with English-speaking couples from the UK, US, Australia, Ireland and beyond — people who want beautiful photographs of themselves and the people who matter most, on the day that matters most.
Available across France and Europe.
I’d love to hear what you’re planning.