Steph & Elaine have spent the last eight years travelling South Africa and abroad to photograph love, life and everything in between. They are passionate about producing photographs and art that feel organic and real. When not on the road with their cameras capturing weddings, fine art projects, editorials or life as they see it, Steph & Elaine spend their days living a quiet life, close to nature in an old farmhouse in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Steph

Dust & Dreams

We are dreamers, wanderers, creative souls, magicians and above all we are mirrors of life.

Elaine

a note from steph & elaine

“As photographers we approach your celebration with the mindset of explorers; tuned to unearth hidden gems, capture what is in front of us and coax out what lies beneath. On the day, we are after all tasked with the responsibility to be the poets that artistically paint a picture of your wedding.

Our wedding imagery is a mixture of timeless portraiture, emotive editorial images and reportage style photography. Our photos are a testament to the extraordinary mystery that lies beneath everything. Our goal; to make everyone feel unique and exceptional even if we’ve only known them for as long as it took to take their photograph.

We are visual authors… and creating treasured heirlooms for you is our calling.”

– Steph & Elaine

Steph

"I have honed my photography skills over many years in the wilderness of Botswana and whilst photographing numerous weddings, couples and tales of love in South Africa and abroad.

I am a quiet perfectionist constantly aiming to provide you, our clients with the best possible experience, to exceed your expectations and deliver photographs that will become precious keepsakes. I am often the silent observer who will photograph emotions that were there for a split second only…

I am a coffee aficionado, that perfect shot seeker, husband to a concrete blond and custodian of two boisterous spaniels and a caracal."

Steph Louwrens from Dust and Dreams Photography in Nyhaven harbour, Copenhagen Denmark

Elaine

“I came to cherish black and white fine art prints – the lack of colour removing any distractions from the photograph, making you focus on just that one person that makes your heart beat a few seconds faster.

I look for curious details, am against Photoshop perfection and believe there is no such thing as an ugly duckling, only a shy swan…

I am the matriarch to a furry family and wife to an adventurer. And I am forever enchanted by the magic of Turkey.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Our career highlights include photographing two magazine covers for the world renowned film-and hybrid photography magazine Belle Lumiere Magazine.

Another highlight: having our photograph of the iconic Yves Saint Laurent Mansion in the Jardin Majorelle Garden in Morocco grace the cover of the coveted B.E Away travel publication in the USA.

A woman swimming in an aqua blue pool while wearing a floral swim cap made with real flowers. Cover of Belle Lumiere Mag

BELLE LUMIERE MAGAZINE XXII

Cover of issue XXII

Yves Saint Laurent Mansion in Marrakech with it's signature blue walls.

B.E Away Magazine

Cover & The Magic of Morocco Article

A model hiding amongst layers of nude tulle fabric with a floral wrapped body and intricate facial paintings.

BELLE LUMIERE MAGAZINE XXVII

Cover of Issue XXVII

PRINT PUBLICATIONS

*Belle Lumiere Magazine

*B.E Away Magazine Cover

*Lowveld Living Magazine

*OSSMA Europe

*AGAR!MO Spain

*Goyi Magazine

*Moveux Magazine

*Sainteight

*Artells Magazine

*Wedding Album

*Mad Love Wedding Inspirations Magazine

*Troukoors Magazine

*MOB Journal

*Bows & Chic International Wedding Magazine - Winter, Spring & Summer 2022

*Quadro Magazine January 2023

*SELIN Magazine February 2023

*Swanky Wedding Magazine June 2023

*VOUS Magazine Spain Spring 2023

*Borderline Press Common Ground Issue 02 2024

AWARDS

* Most Innovative Award 2022/23 Bows & Chic International Wedding Magazine

* Bruxelles Art Vue Foundation Special Mention Award Winter 2023, Belgium

ONLINE FEATURES, articles & INTERVIEWS

*Mooi Troues

*Mooi Leefstyl

*Bajan Wed

*Bows & Chic

*Vivacious Wedding Blog

*BLOVED Blog

*Grey Likes Weddings

*Top Wedding Vendor Blog

*Want that Wedding, UK

*Unearthing the Creative

*Lovilee

*The Pretty Blog

*Pink Book Weddings

*Aisle Society

*Rebecca Lily

EXHIBITIONS

* OPEN: A Group Exhibition at Decode Gallery, Tucson Arizona USA February 2023

CURIOUS FACT: THIRTEEN COFFEE COMPANY

We have a small artisan coffee roastery in Mpumalanga: THIRTEEN Coffee Company.Specializing in procuring and hand roasting some of the most sought after single origin coffee beans in the world.

Can the most special day of your life (your wedding day) ever be more special??? Yes! Thanks to Dust and Dreams Photography.

Elaine and Steph are the most wonderful people to work with and besides the amazing time we had taking photos, the photos are out of this world beautiful. When looking for wedding photographers, Jaco and I were very specific that we wanted photos with a lot of natural light and we wanted photographers that understood that neither of us is particularly fond of having our picture taken, also that this was our day and didn’t want to feel like there were strangers among us during our day (we are difficult clients).

So when our wedding day came we were over the moon that Elaine and Steph saw our vision in the kind of photos they took and handled our “particularness” with professionalism, caringly and they became part of us and our day. I mean only when we saw all of our beautiful photos did we realise Dust and Dreams was everywhere! And believe me, it never felt like they were in our faces.