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Based in Erlangen, Germany, Melanie and Shayne have spent over a decade traveling across Europe and beyond, documenting love stories with both photography and film. What started as a partnership between two creatives has grown into EMÈS Weddings—a small, dedicated team that now includes associate photographer Joana, who joined them in 2024.
Together, they’ve built something rooted in empathy, authenticity, and a quiet confidence. Joana brings her own warmth and sunshine to the team, rounding out their collaborative approach. They’re observers first—people who notice the small, unguarded moments that reveal who you really are.
What couples remember most isn’t just the imagery, though it’s timeless and elegant: true-to-color, full of life, naturally beautiful. It’s how they felt throughout the entire experience—seen, celebrated, and completely at ease. Every wedding is approached with the same thoughtful care, the same creative intention, the same belief that your story deserves to be told honestly and beautifully.
Melanie
Lead Photographer
Melanie, known to family and friends as Melli, is one of the two founding members of EMÈS and the visionary behind all things photography. Her career began in the corporate business world, where creative problem-solving was a daily challenge.
As a result, photography became her perfect outlet, building the foundation of not only her technical skillset but also developing a keen eye for well-designed spaces and objects, as well as finding and capturing the beauty in the ordinary.
In 2014, Melli joined forces with Shayne to photograph her first wedding, sparking a momentum that continues to grow to this day. Melli is an empathetic observer with a keen eye for aesthetically pleasing compositions and flattering angles.
She approaches every wedding with an open mind, capturing her couples in the most authentic and relaxed way, often leaving them speechless at how perfectly she reflects their essence in her photos.
Joana
Lead Photographer
Joana is a dedicated warrior with a heart of pure sunshine, illuminating every room she enters. Her early years were marked by a career in the commercial world, where she nurtured her creative energy through drawing, oil painting, studying interior design, and developing her photography skills on the side.
Joana’s journey has been deeply shaped by the enduring support of her family and the inspiration of her long-lasting friendships, which have played a pivotal role in her creative growth.
Her passion for wedding photography was ignited after experiencing her first weddings as a guest *with a camera, and later, celebrating her own special day. This spark evolved into a full-blown love affair with wedding photography, culminating in the successful launch of her solo business in 2019. Since then, Joana has gifted countless couples with heartfelt, beautiful documentation of their wedding days, offering an experience grounded in empathy and professionalism.
A natural team player, Joana brings great joy and talent to the EMÈS team, joining forces with Melli & Shayne in 2025. She will enhance the EMÈS experience through multi-team events and her individual work with couples, making every moment unforgettable.
Shayne
Lead videographer
Shayne, born in South Africa to UK Parents, spent most of his upbringing on the tropical island of Mauritius which fuelled his unrelenting love and admiration for the ocean. A childhood spent on a beach, amongst the waves surfing and falling asleep under the virign night skies of the tropical island has shaped his emotional development and appreciation for all things beautiful, even if not obvious.
With an early career of being a Scuba diving instructor, it was through exploring this alien world that drove him to pick up a camera and show everyone the magic that lay beneath the surface.
Photography lead him on an adventure through the world up until he found his calling in the wedding industry. As a person so inspired by genuine emotions, it didn’t take long for him to venture into the world of cinema as a means of telling not only a deeper story, but an expression.
Shayne is a man of the people. With an open mind and a warm heart, he welcomes each and every person he meets with his light-hearted, empathetic nature. This stems from his earlier life being intimately exposed to a multitude of cultures and backgrounds.
Shayne also loves Rugby.
Further information
Where are you based?
We are based in Erlangen, Germany. It’s very close to Nürnberg and <200 km from Münich.
After receiving your inquiry, we will get back to you with our availability and our detailed price list. When you’re ready, you’re welcome to schedule a call with us to go over any details and questions.
To secure your date, we ask for a 50% downpayment with the rest coming at a later point. Once your downpayment is received, you are locked in and can scratch off wedding photographers from your to do list.
After receiving your inquiry, we will get back to you with our availability and our detailed price list. When you’re ready, you’re welcome to schedule a call with us to go over any details and questions.
To secure your date, we ask for a 50% downpayment with the rest coming at a later point. Once your downpayment is received, you are locked in and can scratch off wedding photographers from your to do list.
After receiving your inquiry, we will get back to you with our availability and our detailed price list. When you’re ready, you’re welcome to schedule a call with us to go over any details and questions.
To secure your date, we ask for a 50% downpayment with the rest coming at a later point. Once your downpayment is received, you are locked in and can scratch off wedding photographers from your to do list.