Founder of MonnaMay Photography | Wedding + Lifestyle Photographer | Wife, Mama, Sentimental Softie
ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Monique Smith, but you can call me Monna — just like my family did when I was a little girl. That sweet nickname stuck, and when it came time to name my business, MonnaMay just felt right. It’s soft, nostalgic, and flows like a love story — kind of like my photography.
I’m a wedding and lifestyle photographer based in East London, Eastern Cape, and I travel all over South Africa to tell stories through my lens.
My love for photography started when I was pregnant with my second child. I wanted better photos of my kids growing up — something real and lasting. I picked up a cheap little Canon 2000D with a 50mm lens and started capturing everything. I was working in admin at a timber company and studying to be a chartered accountant, but life had other plans. After posting some of my kids' photos, people began asking me if I would be willing to photograph their families... I charged a whole R150 per shoot.
R150 photoshoots turned into real bookings, and soon, I was second-shooting weddings with my biggest role models. That's when I truly fell in love — not just with the art of photography, but with weddings. The magic. The emotions. The tears (yes, I cry at every first look, father-daughter dance, and groom’s speech). I live for the real stuff.
What I Do
Today, I specialise in weddings and couples, while also offering maternity and family sessions. I use a Canon EOS RP with my trusty Canon 24-70mm 2.8 and Canon 50mm 1.2 lenses, and my style is natural, candid, romantic, and full of movement. I’m not here to pose you like a statue — I’m here to help you feel something, move freely, laugh deeply, and live inside your moment.
I’m entirely self-taught, with lots of guidance and love from other photographers who believed in me. And while I’m a total introvert at heart, something switches on during a shoot — I become your biggest hype girl, storyteller, cheerleader, and emotional support human with a camera.
What It’s Like To Work With Me
I love easygoing couples, insanely in-love partners, and present, kind families. If that’s you — we’re probably a match.
You’ll message me (IG, email, WhatsApp — anything goes), and we’ll set up a coffee date to make sure we click, especially for weddings. I often recommend an engagement session so we can hang out and loosen up in front of the lens. I use funny, moving prompts that create real reactions, real giggles, real connection. Most people say, “That was actually so fun!” — and grooms, who usually hate being in front of a camera, have literally thanked me in their speeches stating that they wil willingly do another shoot in the near future.
My goal is to make it all feel effortless. You’ll get a few sneak peeks the night of your wedding, a bigger preview about a month later, and your full online gallery via Pixieset in around 12 weeks. My premium wedding package includes printed gifts and a photo book — because photos deserve to be held.
Why I Do This
I’m a wife, mama, daughter, sister, granddaughter... so trust me, I know the value of a photo. I know what it means to freeze a moment — one that will outlive us. The truth is, 50 years from now, no one will remember the photographer’s name... but they will be so deeply grateful for the images.
I’ve captured the final photos of grandparents, and I’ve seen how families hold onto those moments like treasure. That’s what I care about. Legacy. Emotion. Story.
A Few Things You Might Not Guess:
🐔 I’m obsessed with my chickens
🚛 I co-own a superlink trucking company with my fiancé (photos are my creative escape!)
😻 I’m a cat and dog person but my dogs won't allow me the honour of having a cat
☕ I survive on coffee and ocean air
🧠 I have ADHD — it keeps things creative, chaotic, and fun
🎨 I love pencil sketching and doom scrolling when I’m stressed
Yourself — I’ll Handle the Rest
Every client tells me, “I’m awkward. I’m not photogenic. I don’t know what to do.”
But by the end of the session? They’re glowing, laughing, and looking absolutely flawlessly beautiful. So just show up. Be you. I’ll take care of the magic.
📩 Ready to book your wedding or session? Pop me a message on WhatApp: 065 846 1361 — I can’t wait to meet you.
