Jonathan Owen · Events, weddings and more
Events, weddings, portraits and one-to-one lessons across Essex. Experienced photography, a relaxed approach and proper attention to the people who matter.
★★★★★
“If you're looking for a party or event photographer in Essex, I’d 100% recommend him!”
Daniel Davies
★★★★★
“Jonathan has attended several of our Essex Roller Derby games and taken outstanding photos every time.”
Jennifer A
★★★★★
“Jonathan recently took photos for Essex Roller Derby and he did an incredible job.”
Hayley Wells
Jonathan Owen · Events, weddings and more
Events, weddings, portraits and one-to-one lessons across Essex. Experienced photography, a relaxed approach and proper attention to the people who matter.
A room full of friends, an awards ceremony, a wedding celebration. Each has its own pace, and the photographs should reflect that. I follow what’s happening, looking for the reactions, conversations and details that tell you something about the day.
I’m Jonathan Owen, an Essex photographer specialising in events. I photograph private parties, corporate celebrations, gala dinners, charity fundraisers, proms and live music, alongside weddings, portraits and photography lessons.
Most of my event and wedding coverage is documentary-led. There’s room for family groups, team photographs and a little direction where it helps, with the balance guided by what you want. Start with event photography or corporate event photography, or explore the services below.
A selection of events and venues from my wider photography experience
Choose a service to see photographs, coverage and prices. If you’re still working out the timings, tell me what you have planned and I’ll help you choose a sensible starting point.
From
One-hour event coverage starts at £150. From birthdays and anniversary parties to conferences, awards nights and festivals, I photograph the people and the occasion around your schedule.
From
Short wedding coverage starts at £225 for one hour. Choose a straightforward ceremony-focused booking or longer coverage with more planning for the rest of your day. Family groups and couple portraits fit around your preferences.
From
A 30-minute session is £75 and includes five edited photographs. On-location portraits for individuals, couples and families, with guidance on positioning and posing so you can settle into the session.
From
A one-hour lesson is £90. Practical, one-to-one tuition for beginners and enthusiasts, using your own camera and concentrating on the settings, composition and shooting skills you want to develop.
A charity gala at Hatfield Place bringing local tradespeople and developers together, with arrival portraits, fundraising, live music and plenty of laughter around the tables.
Explore this story: Redrow Eastern’s charity gala at Hatfield Place
Photographs from Lazydays Festival 2026 in Southend’s Priory Park, bringing together live performances, festivalgoers, fairground rides and the crowd after dark.
Explore this story: Lazydays Festival 2026 photography at Priory Park, Southend
Elaine and Denis’s wedding on 23 May 2026 at Leigh Community Centre, with the ceremony in the Lower Hall and reception drinks at The Ironworks.
Explore this story: Wedding at Leigh Community Centre — Elaine and Denis
Your photographer
I’ve photographed professionally since 2003, working with everything from busy live events to quieter family celebrations. That variety helps me read a room, work around changing schedules and recognise when to step in for a photograph and when to let things unfold.
For your booking, I’ll find out which people and moments matter most, then shape the coverage around them. You can keep things largely unposed, include organised photographs, or combine the two. I personally select and edit the finished images, and you deal with me from your first enquiry to delivery.
20+ years’ experience
DBS checked
Public liability insured
Where I work
I’m based in Leigh-on-Sea and photograph bookings throughout Essex. Whether you’re planning a local party, a wedding elsewhere in the county or a business event, send me the venue or town and the coverage you have in mind.
Explore my work in Southend-on-Sea and Leigh-on-Sea, including events, weddings, portrait sessions and practical photography lessons.
Find local information for Chelmsford, Colchester, Brentwood, Basildon and Rayleigh, or explore photography across Essex.
I also take bookings in London and beyond. Tell me where you’re planning your occasion and we can discuss the photography you need.
Your date, location and approximate timings are enough to start a conversation. You can enquire before every detail is settled.
Some starting points to help you choose a service. Follow the links in each section for photographs and fuller details.
01
Private parties, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, awards nights, school events, proms, charity occasions, live music and festivals. If you’re organising something different, send me a few details and I can discuss what you need.
Yes. Groups can be planned in advance, requested on the day or suggested when there’s a good opportunity. You decide how much organised photography to include alongside coverage of the occasion as it happens.
Event photography starts at £150 for one hour, with longer coverage available. See the event photography prices to compare durations, or ask for a quote based on your plans.
02
Yes. Short & Simple wedding photography offers one-hour, 90-minute and two-hour options for straightforward coverage. Longer wedding photography is available when you want more of the day photographed.
Yes. My approach is documentary-led, and the balance is yours to choose. Family groups and lightly directed couple portraits can be included without turning the day into a long photo session.
Think about the parts of your day you’d like photographed and when they take place. A short booking can cover a ceremony-focused occasion; longer coverage gives more time for the celebrations around it. Send me your plans if you’d like help deciding.
03
Individuals, couples and families, as well as people who need personal-branding or professional portraits. Sessions take place on location and are shaped around the photographs you want.
Yes. I’ll guide you with positioning and posing, so you don’t need to know what to do in front of the camera. We can take time to find an approach that suits you.
The 30-minute session is £75 with five edited images. One hour is £150 with ten images, and two hours is £230 with twenty. See the portrait options for session details.
04
Yes. I offer one-to-one tuition for beginners and enthusiasts. We start with your experience and what you want to learn, then concentrate on practical skills you can use with your own camera.
Camera settings, composition and making more deliberate choices when you take a photograph. Digital photography lessons around Southend and street-photography tuition in Leigh-on-Sea offer practical ways to learn.
A one-hour lesson is £90, or a three-hour tuition block is £185. DSLR, mirrorless, bridge and compact cameras can all be suitable; bring the camera you want to learn to use.
★★★★★
“I’ve worked with Jonathan on many projects, mainly in the live event space, he’s incredibly professional, with a great eye, creative approach and excellent turnaround times. Will continue to work with him for a long time to come!”
Sam Bromfield · Google review
