ABOUT

Originally from Sydney, Matt, along with his wife and three children have been based in the Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia since 2015.

With 20+ years of experience, Matt has captured weddings for hundreds of couples all across Australia and overseas under the name ‘The Loved Ones’ - run by he and his wife, Madeline.

‘Matt Johnson Weddings’, launched in 2024 is a dedicated film photography offering for those seeking a truly timeless aesthetic.

APPROACH

I'm not the right photographer for everyone, and I think that's a good thing.

If you're looking for an editorial experience with highly styled direction, constant posing, and photographs that feel like they belong in a fashion campaign, I'm probably not your person. There are photographers who do that brilliantly, and I'm always happy to recommend them. I know where my strengths lie.

My work is rooted in documentary photography. I believe the best wedding photographs come from being fully present in your day, not from turning your day into a production. My job is to blend into the background—to be there without really feeling like I'm there at all. The less you notice me, the more honestly your story unfolds.

That doesn't mean you're left to figure everything out on your own. While I won't constantly direct or choreograph your day, I'll gently guide you whenever it's needed. During portraits, I'll help you find beautiful light, offer simple direction that never feels forced, and create space for genuine connection rather than awkward posing. You'll never be wondering what to do, but you'll also never feel like you're spending your wedding on a photoshoot.

I love photographing people who care more about being with the people they love than performing for a camera. Couples who aren't trying to recreate someone else's wedding or chase whatever happens to be trending. People who want their celebration to feel like themselves—warm, personal, imperfect, joyful, and deeply human.

I photograph almost exclusively on film because it complements the way I work. It encourages me to slow down, pay close attention and photograph with purpose. That slower pace helps me anticipate genuine moments as they unfold, rather than interrupting them or trying to manufacture them.

And then there is the look of film. The depth, texture and way it renders light, colour and skin give photographs a richness that feels natural and timeless. There is also something special about the physical process—knowing each image was carefully made on film before becoming a photograph you can hold onto for years to come. In a world of endless digital images, film offers something considered, tangible and enduring.

More than anything, I want you to look back on your photographs decades from now and remember how the day felt. I want them to feel personal rather than performative, timeless rather than trend-driven, and filled with the people and moments that mattered most.