FOR THE LOVERS
I’m a Melbourne based photographer working in both film and digital, combining an artistic eye with a documentary, calm & candid approach, observing weddings as they naturally unfold.
With a background spanning fine art and editorial photography, having photographed for publications including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, I bring an artistic sensitivity to light, composition, colour and storytelling. I am drawn to the often unnoticed ‘in-between’ moments, the quiet gestures, private moments, human interactions and fleeting exchanges that reveal real emotion, mood and connection. Alongside these, I capture relaxed, natural portraits of the two of you that feel honest and timeless, forming a collection of images uniquely yours.
I’m inspired by subtle light, colour and the qualities of film that bring depth and atmosphere to an image. Each wedding has its own rhythm & personality, and I respond to that rather than imposing a story. My approach is rooted in observation and trust. When people feel comfortable, the most authentic moments unfold naturally, allowing me to capture them unobtrusively.
Over the past fifteen years, I’ve had the privilege of photographing weddings & elopements across Australia, Europe, New Zealand & beyond. Every celebration is unique, and I focus on capturing the moments that make your day truly yours.
My aim is to create images that feel personal and true, preserving not just what happened but how it felt, so that years from now your photographs can transport you back to that day.
Whether you are planning a grand affair or an intimate elopement, I would be honoured to capture your story, a celebration of love, life, and all that is meaningful.
Lilli x
My weddings have been featured extensively in wedding magazines and blogs worldwide, including Harpers Bazaar Bride, The Lane, Bride Australia, Hello May, Ivory Tribe, Junebug Weddings (USA), The Wed, Wedded Wonderland, Together Journal, White Magazine, Bride to Be, Frankie Magazine, Nouba, Novela Bride, One Day Bridal, Hitched Magazine, Paper & Lace (NZ), Together Journal (NZ), Pure Bride Magazine, Hooray Magazine, White Edit, Bryllup Wedding Magazine (Norway) and more.
I respectfully acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and work. I pay my respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
About ME
I have a diverse photography practice spanning fine art, editorial, and commercial projects, and I exhibit my work internationally.
In my personal life, there are certain things that make my heart sing: light, arthouse films, cats, old architecture, anyone who can do a stunningly accurate Michael Caine impersonation, swimming in any body of water I can find, gardening, and conversations that awaken curiosity about the world around me. As an old-school romantic and Valentine’s baby, I’m not surprised that my career choice reflects a deep love affair with timeless beauty, creativity and authentic connection.
When I’m not capturing weddings, I’m immersed in a variety of projects that push me creatively. This energy flows back into my wedding work, allowing me to approach each couple’s day with an artistic and unique perspective.
My work has been exhibited internationally through institutions and festivals including FotoNostrum (Barcelona), California Museum of Photography, Photo Oxford Festival (UK), International Center of Photography (NYC) and Palmengarten (Frankfurt), and nationally through Sydney Contemporary, the Centre for Contemporary Photography, Ballarat International Foto Biennale, Head On Photo Festival at the State Library Victoria, and Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens.
It has been published internationally in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Marie Claire, Real Living, Belle, Art Aesthetica, Il Fotografo, FotoNostrum, Austrian Living, The Opera and Pétala Magazine. It has also appeared in the films Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed.
Recipient of the 2024 winner of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award, the 2022 second-prize winner of the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Photography Award and winner of the 2020 Du Rietz Art Awards. A multi-year finalist in the Australian Photography Awards (2020, 2022, 2023), the Du Rietz Art Awards (2020, 2022, 2025), the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize (2021, 2022, 2026), the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award (2020, 2025), the Nillumbik Prize for Contemporary Art (2021, 2022), Environmental Art & Design Prize (2022, 2026), and the Percival Photographic Portrait Prize (2020, 2022). A finalist in the National Photographic Portrait Prize (2019), Iris Award (2019, 2021), Churchie Emerging Art Prize (2025), the Naked & Nude Prize (2021), the Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize (2026), the Biennale Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize (2020), and highly commended in the Doug Moran National Contemporary Photographic Prize (2012).
www.lilliwatersphoto.com @lilliwatersphoto
www.lilliwaters.com (nsfw) @lilliwaters
