Boho Loves: Daria Nova Photography - Soft, Relaxed and Natural Wedding Photography

This afternoon I would like to introduce you to a wonderful photographer and current advertiser and directory member, the hugely talented Daria Nova photography. Daria has been taking photos for 10 years now and has grown her style in those years. Describing her style as ‘soft, relaxed and natural with a hint of nostalgia‘ she captures those most treasured moments gently and without fuss. As a self-confessed introvert she specialises in working with the more introverted couples, ‘Being quiet by nature also allows me to blend into the background and make my couples feel at ease in front of my camera’. So take some time out of your busy day today to read more about Daria and enjoy her lovely images.

My style is soft, relaxed and natural. I produce natural documentary photography with a touch of nostalgia and quirkiness that honestly tells the story of the wedding day.

How long have you been taking photos for?
I have been taking photos for over 10 years now. I bought my first DSLR camera in 2007 and hasn’t stopped taking pictures since. When I don’t have my proper camera on me, I keep snapping away on my iphone.

When did you start your photography business?
I got into shooting weddings professionally after having captured a few of my friends’ weddings. When I started to hear that my pictures were better than the pictures by their official photographers, I realised it was time for me to take the plunge and start my own business. I have been juggling my photography business and my full-time career in trade events since 2011. However, I quit my events job in September to finally focus on my wedding photography business full-time.

Where are you based?
Surbiton, Surrey. I predominantly cover weddings in South West London and Surrey, but happy to travel anywhere in the UK and internationally. I have covered weddings in Asia and Europe.

How would you describe your style?
What I do is alternative documentary photography. My style is soft, relaxed and natural. I produce natural documentary photography with a touch of nostalgia and quirkiness that honestly tells the story of the wedding day.

What is your favorite bit of technical kit?
My 70-200mm lens. It allows me to produces stunning natural portraits melting into the background and not getting noticed or not distracting the natural flow of the day.

What makes you different to other photographers?
I specialise in working with introverts. As a professed introvert myself, I know first-hand how being photographed or experience of a wedding overall can be stressful particularly for introverts, as social interactions tend to drain us. Being quiet by nature also allows me to particularly well blend into the background and make my couples feel at ease in front of my camera. My style of photography is also quite unique. I create romantic and nostalgic documentary style wedding photography. My images are full of softness and romanticism without them feeling too vintage. They are colourful, bright and warm without the hardness of some wedding images where it’s all about focus.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
Sharing and honestly documenting the most important day in people’s lives. Capturing the raw emotions in my images for my couples to keep reliving their big day all over again.

What is your biggest achievement so far?
Becoming an “official” wedding photographer for a German family and having photographed the weddings of their all 3 siblings. One in London and two in Germany. I felt humbled by the trust that people place in me to capture the most important days in their life.

What sort of couple do you think you attract?
My couples are often creative souls themselves, preferring to do things in a non-traditional way, celebrating their wedding in a way which is meaningful and packed with personal touches. They choose me because they want their wedding captured in a way that feels like them, by someone who can quietly and gently record their day.

What would be your ideal wedding to work on?
My ideal wedding will be a small initimate affair in a cosy barn or pub with only most closed friends and family. It will be full of personal touches with all the family helping with the day and really reflecting the couple’s personalities. It will be a relaxed and non-traditional wedding of the couple who want to celebrate their love honestly and simply in a way that suits them.

Which celeb would you like to photograph?
I don’t really have anyone particular in mind as celebrity weddings is not my top of the list to photograph, but if I were to choose it will be for those celebs who want an intimate ceremony away from the eyes of thousands of guests, fans and paparazzis, who want a wedding with a soul, not for show.

Who is your favorite photographer and why?
Annie Leibovitz. I love her dramatic portraiture, effective storytelling through images and her use of the soft lighting.

If you were to get married who would take your pictures
Through my line of work I have come across many extremely talented wedding photographers, which makes it very difficult to pin point one if I’m being totally honest. What I know though, it is that it is going to be really challenging to decide on one when I actually have to choose.

What in your opinion makes the perfect photo?
It is not about being perfect technically, the perfect photo is able to engage with the viewer

What is your favorite photo that you have taken?
It is a portrait of one of the couples I worked with. I adore how it communicates the strong connection between the bride and groom sharing a few moments with each other before their wedding ceremony. It still gives me tingles when I look at it.

What advice would you give couples when choosing their wedding photographer?
Make sure you connect with your wedding photographer. They are going to be capturing you on the most important day in your life. You want to make sure you feel totally comfortable with them. Go for a photographer whose style you really love, but do check their extensive portfolio and at least one wedding story (a series of photos of the same wedding) to ensure there is a same consistency in their work throughout the entire day.

Can you give me some information on your pricing structure?
It offer 3 packages starting from £1800 for a a full day package. The full packages breakdown and pricing are available on my website: https://www.daria-nova.com/info/

What is your ideal way to spend a day off?
A day outdoors. Even better, on my road bike whizzing off to the countryside.

What can you never leave the house without?
My phone, as it is also my camera and I always take pictures

Who would be your 5 dream dinner guests dead or alive?
Patrick Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, The Queen, Harrison Ford, Ryan Gosling

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Travel, a lot

If you weren’t running your business, what would you be doing?
I adore the concept of capturing life on film, and if I wasn’t a photographer I’d probably be working in the film industry.