wedding
photography
here's everything you need to know about Booking your
I graduated from Rhodes University in Grahamstown at the end of 2005 with a degree in Fine Art and my practical major in Photography. I'm inspired by art history and love to travel - and when it comes to editing, I'm fuelled by Lindt chocolate, and strong, sweet Five Roses tea.
Couples are special, each with their own unique dynamics, traditions and quirks. It's why I'm not a "cookie-cutter" photographer - because you aren't a "cookie-cutter" couple.
I'll guide you through your poses so you never have to feel awkward. I have a relaxed and documentary-style approach to my photography to help you feel at ease in front of the camera.
Let's get to it!
Your Johannesburg Wedding and Engagement Photographer
I'm LEIGH
am a professional photographer based in Johannesburg with more than a decade of experience photographing portraits and weddings, and I'm so excited you are here!
I
real couples • real life
The #leighbensonphotography
Experience
When it comes to something as important as your photographs, it's not just about the investment. It's looking back on your wedding day and remembering how those moments felt, not just how they looked.
I'm here to photograph you and your wedding in a way that is authentic and a genuine representation of your day. I'll be guiding you through the day and photographing all those candid and in-between moments that really tell your story.
YOU DO YOU!
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THE FINE PRINT
An exact number of images cannot be guaranteed. Typically, wedding coverage includes ±65 images per hour of coverage. Two photographers are standard at all my weddings to ensure that all your key moments are covered from multiple angles.
Travel fees apply to locations outside of a 100km radius from Craighall, Johannesburg.
A signed contract and 30% deposit are required to secure your booking, no dates are held without a deposit.
R2 200 per additional hour
±additional 65 images per hour
add an engagement shoot
add an engagement shoot
Choosing to do an engagement shoot is a great way for us to take the pressure off and get to know each other before your wedding day, plus use your images for Save The Dates and your wedding website.
Engagement sessions are up to 2 hours, and include ±50-60 images.
The decision to purchase products is 100% optional. You can order albums for yourself and family and/or purchase wall art in the form of canvasses, frames, block-mounts or acrylic mounts.
Add a highlights reel of the day, or go all out will full coverage of your ceremony and reception speeches. Video is custom-quoted according to your requirements.
Q: So, What's the Investment?
A: Totally Your Call!
You may want to look at adding more time if there is travel required between your ceremony and reception venues.
Let's chat through your day and I can advise on additional hours that may be required.
I offer one standard collection called The Classic. The Classic gives you 9 hours of photography, which in my experience is the perfect sweet spot of time to photograph all those special getting ready moments, plus the fun of the reception and dance floor.
You can then choose to add on additional hours if needed, plus an engagement shoot and printed artwork like albums or print-boxes.
First, start with the
classic collection
First, start with the
classic collection
9 Hours
2 Photographers
±600-700 Images
Online Gallery with Download Access + keepsake USB
9 Hours
2 Photographers
±600-700 Images
Online Gallery with Download Access + keepsake USB
R19 800
R19 800
R3 500
R3 500
Optionally, Add More Hours of Coverage
Optionally, Add More Hours of Coverage
Prints, wall Art & albums
Prints, wall Art & albums
see the products menu below for pricing
pre-purchase albums or a print-box when booking and receive a 10% discount
see the products menu below for pricing
pre-purchase albums or a print-box when booking and receive a 10% discount
videography
videography
from R9 500
from R9 500
printed artwork
Choose your finish:
Canvas
Block Mount
Framed Print
Acrylic Mount
10% discount when purchasing more than one item in the same size
R1 500
R2 500
R4 500
R7 500
R6 250
20x30cm
30x40cm
40x60cm
60x90cm
Panoramic 30x90cm
wall art
albums
Choose either 30x30cm or 20x20cm
Choice of cover options (printed, linen, soft-touch leather)
20 spreads / 40 pages
Lay-flat pages
Fine Art matte archival paper
Select a minimum of 100 images for your album
Pricing includes design and layout, printing, and shipping
30x30cm
R6 000
20x20cm
R4 000
print-box
Choose your favourite 50 to 100 photos.
Printed as 10x15cm prints with a white border and packaged in a wooden display box,
with a space for your wedding USB.
The prints make great thank you gifts!
R1 800
Engagement and couple shoot highlights gallery
Engagements
Weddings
wedding and elopement highlights gallery
Client Reviews
& Kind Words
SIMONDIUMS COUNTRY LODGE | PAARL
Caitlin & Simon
I don’t know where to begin... Leigh, you are so talented and we have the most beautiful memories of our wedding I could ever have wished for. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful work. And it’s an absolute bonus that you are such a beautiful soul!! What an awesome combo! Thank you for everything, I will never forget it.
morningside | Johannesburg
Fiona & Robbie
We were DELIGHTED with each and every photograph! Leigh was able to capture every hilarious, special and unique moment from our event. She has an eye for detail, and ensured each photograph we hoped to capture on the day, was captured beautifully! Leigh is so kind, approachable and professional... 10/10!
kloofzicht lodge & spa | muldersdrift
Alison & Dalan
"You were incredible and your whole team were truly amazing. We were saying today how professional and awesome you were and how grateful we are that we found you! Despite the gale force winds ... Thank you for making it such a special day for us, we could not have chosen a better photographer for our day. We’re very grateful to have had you."
clico boutique hotel | rosebank
inet & nathan
We used Leigh for both our engagement shoot and wedding day. It was really great to do the initial session for us to meet her and for her to get to know us and our styles. On the wedding day, she and her second photographer was extremely professional, on time and just overall made the day flow very nicely. The edited pictures came out exactly how I wanted, so gorgeous and captured the day's feeling!
gabriella's tea room | parktown north
Daniela & Byron
We had the pleasure of working with Leigh for our wedding in May 2025, and it was such a fantastic experience. We had an engagement shoot ahead of the wedding, so we were very comfortable with her on the big day. She put us at ease, and gave easy-to-follow instructions. She also took our feedback from the engagement shoot photos, and tailored the wedding pics to our liking. If you're looking for a wedding photographer, please do not hesitate to book with Leigh! You will not regret it!
Common FAQs
Q: How long have you been a photographer?
A: I first picked up a camera when I was about 4 years old - my grandpa had given me an old Kodak Instamatic that no longer worked. I use to wander around the house taking "photos" of anything and everything. When I went to study Fine Art in 2002 I fell in love with film photography (yes, I learnt my craft in an actual darkroom!). After I graduated, in 2006 I starting working in a family portrait studio and haven't looked back since. I have been actively photographing weddings since 2017.
Q: WHAT'S YOUR shooting and EDITING PROCESS?
A: During the wedding day I take a mix of posed photos (with everyone looking at the camera - you know, those ones that Grandma will love!) and candid images (with you looking at each other, laughing, just being you). Although I am more of a "documentary-style" photographer, I'll guide you through the posing so that you don't have to worry about what to do with your hands, while still helping you to feel comfortable in front of the camera. I shoot a mix of wide angles to capture the location, and close up portraits. The candid images and wide angles are typical of my style.
My images are best described as bright and vibrant. My standard editing process includes cropping and colour-grading, so that your images are in line with my current portfolio. I also apply basic skin retouching to remove any non-permanent blemishes.
The colours in your images are influenced by the ambient light (time of day, whether the sky is overcast or clear etc) and surrounding location (forest, open field etc). This means that colours may differ slightly between sets of images in your shoot. It is not always possible to capture the exact colours as seen by the human eye.
Any advanced retouching e.g. head swaps, altering of body shape, scar/tattoo/tan-line removal etc may be subject to an additional editing fee.
Q: we're not getting married just yet. can we book a stand-alone engagement shoot?
A: Yes absolutely! My full engagement shoot sessions including surprise engagements are R3 500. This covers a 1 to 2 hour shoot and ±60-80 images.
I have a list of suggested locations around Johannesburg and Centurion. These are the venues that I love shooting at for their variety as well as ease of access and safety. In 99% of cases, the venue / location fees are covered by your booking, so you don't have to worry about booking the locations yourself. If you would prefer a studio shoot, I use a shared space in Parktown North in Joburg. Availability is subject to existing studio bookings on a chosen day.
Prior to the shoot you'll receive a styling guide with helpful ideas and references - or you can check out my blog for additional resources on planning your shoot.
Q: we're eloping - can you customise a package for us with less hours?
A: Yes, I will happily put together a custom quote for you based on your specific requirements for your wedding day. Best is to schedule a call so we can chat through exactly what your needs are so we make sure none of the important moments are missed.
Q: where are you based? Do you travel?
A: I'm based in Craighall, Randburg. I mainly shoot weddings across Gauteng - from Muldersdrift in the West to the South of Johannesburg as well as Centurion and Pretoria. If you're getting married outside of Gauteng let's chat as I do travel country-wide. For weddings outside of a 1h30min radius travel and/or accommodation fees will apply.
Q: does your collection include 2 photographers?
A: Yes - I always work with a second photographer!
Having two of us at your wedding is great for three reasons:
1. We can capture your key moments from multiple angles.
2. We can maximise time on the day (typically we split the "getting ready" portion of the day with one of us photographing you, and one of us photographing your partner.
3. Two of us means we can include more images of your guests.
Q: can i print my images myself?
A: Yes you can, although I do recommend ordering your prints and artwork through me.
The labs I work with are professional labs, and I take care to ensure that the printed artwork you receive is in line with the highest standard of quality. Self-service printers (the ones that you can use to print directly from your phone or USB) at consumer labs may not always have colour calibration in place, which means the images you print can differ greatly in colour and sharpness from the images you see on your screen. If you are going to print your own images, please do keep this in mind.
Q: how does payment work? Do you offer payment plans?
A: To confirm your booking, I require a 30% deposit and signed contract within 7 days of accepting the quotation. 55% of the balance is due 90 days before the wedding and the remaining 15% is due 21 days before the wedding. No dates will be held without a deposit.
Custom payment plans are available, with the proviso that all payment is received no later than 21 days prior to the wedding.
Q: how long does it take to receive our images?
A: I take great care in ensuring that you receive the best quality images, so the standard delivery on your wedding gallery is 6 to 8 weeks from the wedding date.
If you just can't wait for your images and would like to receive them sooner, I do offer a "priority editing" service for delivery 3-4 weeks from the wedding date, at an additional R5 000. Please note, priority editing is not available for weddings that fall between 15th November and 31st December in any given year.
Q: How do we book you?
A: Just let me know 1) What date you are looking at 2) Your wedding venue (if known) 3) If you'd like to add any extras.
Once I've got those details, I'll send over your formal quote and contract for review.
Email is my preferred method of communication to keep everything in one place for myself and my assistant and wherever possible we'll respond within 1 business day. Office hours are 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and weekends are reserved for shoots and time with family.
Q: help - i'm still not sure!
A: Booking a photographer is one of the most important parts of wedding planning and you need to be sure that the person you book is the right fit. We can schedule a no-obligation call, or better yet meet up over a coffee and chat about the ideas you have for your wedding.
https://calendly.com/leighbensonphotography/pre-shoot-consultation-phonecall
