Celebrating Queer Joy: Sophie Allen on Capturing LGBTQ+ Love Stories
Wedding photographer Sophie Allen shares what queer joy means to her, how her identity shapes her work, and why authentic LGBTQ+ representation matters in the wedding world
As part of Hitched’s Celebrating Queer Joy series, we’re spotlighting LGBTQ+ wedding pros who are reshaping the wedding industry with love, authenticity, and inclusivity.
In this interview, we chat with bisexual wedding photographer Sophie Allen of Sophie Allen Photography about what queer joy means to her, the beauty of photographing LGBTQ+ love stories, and the changes she hopes to see in the wedding world.
Celebrating Queer Joy: A Wedding Photographer on Love, Visibility & Rewriting Traditions
Find out more about how documentary-style wedding photographer Sophie Allen helps to capture the raw, real and beautiful moments between couples on their wedding days. From her roots in fashion, to her passion for queer love stories, here's how she brings heart and celebrates joy at every wedding she shoots...
Finding Her Way: From Fashion to Weddings
For Sophie, her connection to wedding world began with one simple moment: photographing a friend’s wedding and falling in love with the energy.
“All that connection, emotion, and joy packed into one day,” she shares.
Having worked in the fashion industry for years, where people could be, in her words, “so rude,” she found a refreshing shift in weddings. What’s kept her here? “The people. I’ve met so many incredible couples, and I feel genuinely honoured to be let into their world for such an intimate day. I don’t take that lightly.”
Pride as Visibility, Softness & Strength
As a bisexual woman, Pride carries deep meaning both personally and professionally for Sophie.
“Pride, for me, is about visibility, softness, and strength all at once,” she explains. “Personally, it’s about being able to live and love openly, even when it hasn’t always felt safe.
"In my work, it means creating space for queer love to be seen, celebrated, and not treated as a ‘niche’ but as something beautiful, powerful, and deserving of centre stage.”
Unforgettable Moments of Queer Joy
Among her many standout memories, Sophie shares that one rises to the top: Pedro and Javi's farm wedding in Spain.
“The couple came down the aisle in the mouth of a tractor, covered in flowers and peacock feathers from the land. I loved how unconventional it all was. The whole wedding was absolutely beautiful - the love shone through.”
Navigating Bias & Staying Authentic
Like many queer professionals, Sophie has encountered bias and tokenism in the industry.
“There’s often a subtle pressure to ‘perform’ queerness in a way that fits a marketable box or to only be brought in for LGBTQ+ couples as a checkbox,” she says. Her response? Learning to say no to opportunities that don’t feel authentic and gently but firmly calling out performative gestures.
“I think calling things out, gently but clearly, is part of creating real change.”
Shaping Inclusive, Personal Celebrations
Sophie's identity as a bisexual woman has shaped how she approaches weddings, meaning she is always focused on creating a space where no one feels 'othered'.
“I see celebration as deeply personal - not about ticking boxes or doing what’s expected, but about holding space for people to show up as they truly are.”
She loves seeing couples adapt traditions to reflect who they are: walking down the aisle together, ditching gendered roles, or skipping speeches if public speaking feels daunting. “I always remind my couples: there are no rules, just stories you get to tell your way.”
Hopes for the Wedding Industry
When it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusion, Sophie is honest about what still needs to change.
“I’d love to see LGBTQ+ inclusion baked into the industry - not just during Pride Month, not just on one page of a website, and not as a trend. More inclusive language, more diverse representation, and more actual listening to queer voices - not just marketing with us, but for us and by us.”
Advice for Queer Couples Planning Their Day
Sophie's top piece of advice for queer couples planning their weddings?
“Trust your instincts, and don’t feel pressured to conform to anyone else’s idea of what a wedding ‘should’ be. Your love is valid and beautiful just as it is.
"Find suppliers who make you feel safe, seen, and excited, and hold onto the joy through the planning. You deserve every bit of it.”
What's Sparking Joy Right Now
Outside of weddings, Sophie is finding joy in simple, grounding things: sea swims, wildflowers, and couples who let their “weird, wonderful selves shine through.”
“Oh, and I’m slowly building my dream of van life - more freedom, more nature, and hopefully more dogs in weddings too!”
Want to find out more about Sophie, and her business, Sophie Allen Photography?
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