Jonathan Owen · Events, weddings and more
Events, weddings, portraits and one-to-one lessons, across Essex and beyond. I’m an experienced photographer who adapts my approach to each assignment, shaping the photographs around what you need while bringing my own style to the finished images.
★★★★★
“If you're looking for a party or event photographer in Essex, I’d 100% recommend him!”
Daniel Davies
★★★★★
“Jonathan was professional, friendly, and a pleasure to work with from start to finish.”
Danielle Janes · corporate event
★★★★★
“I have booked him for product shoots, promotional material and even my wedding day.”
Thomas Smith · wedding and commercial client
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.
Hi, I’m Jonathan Owen, an Essex photographer specialising in events, from private parties and company celebrations to awards, festivals and weddings. I’ve worked professionally since 2003 and photographed everything from busy end black tie events, music festivals through to intimate birthday parties.
I can provide natural photography, posed photos, or a blend of the two depending on your preferred direction.
Choose from my services below to see some examples of photographs, coverage and pricing. If you’re still working out the timings or dates, tell me what you have planned and I’ll help you choose a sensible starting point.
From
My one-hour event coverage starts at £150. From birthdays and anniversary parties to conferences, awards nights and festivals, I photograph the people, the details, and the occasion around your event timings.
From
Short & Simple coverage from £225 for your ceremony, or full wedding days from £695. Natural moments, family groups and couple portraits, planned around you.
From
A 30-minute portrait session is £75 and includes five edited photographs. On-location portraits for individuals, couples and families, I prefer to capture natural moments so no forced smiles or posing required!
From
I’ll share what 20+ years of events, clients and portraits has taught me. One-to-one lessons from £90, out and about with your own camera, working on the settings, composition and light you want to understand, whether you’re a beginner or a keen enthusiast.
A selection of events and venues from my wider photography experience
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
You deal directly with me from your first enquiry through to photography and editing. Before the booking, we’ll talk through the people, timings and photographs that matter most to you.
My experience spans busy live events and quieter family occasions. I personally select and edit your finished photographs, keeping the brief in mind throughout.
20+ years’ experience
DBS checked
Public liability insured
Where I work
I’m based near Southend-on-Sea and photograph bookings throughout Essex. Choose your area below, or send me the venue or town 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
Personal portrait sessions are for individuals, couples and families. If you need LinkedIn, branding or team photographs, see my professional headshot photography.
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
