MARLI KOEN

Wedding aisle decorated with blue flowers at Boschendal Olive Press while a guest waits quietly before the ceremony.
Bride and groom surrounded by their parents as the priest blesses their marriage during their ceremony at Olijvenkraal Olive & Wine Estate.
A bride standing next to her mother in a green patterned dress, who is handing her the bouquet. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.
A bride sitting on a bed holding a large bouquet of white and pale pink roses and daisies, with her mother, touching her face gently. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.
A bride and groom running on a grassy field with mountains in the background during sunset.

Documentary
wedding photography rooted in presence.

Black and white photo of a wedding scene outdoors with bridesmaids in dresses and heels, a bride in a white gown holding a bouquet of flowers, and smiling. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.
A bride and groom standing side by side, holding a bouquet of various flowers.
A woman in a wedding dress and veil walking outdoors at sunset, with two men in suits following behind her.
A bride and groom standing outdoors, holding each other, with lush greenery and trees in the background. The bride is wearing a white wedding gown and veil, and the groom is in a gray suit with a tie.
A woman in a wedding dress hugging a man at an outdoor celebration, with other guests observing in the background.

I photograph weddings through movement, light, and quiet in-between moments.

No directing. No interrupting.
Just attention.

  • As a documentary wedding photographer based in Cape Town, South Africa, my approach is entirely hands-off. I believe the most beautiful images are born from presence, not orchestration. Choosing a documentary style means you won't spend your day posing, checking a shot list, or repeating moments for the camera. Instead, I move quietly through your celebration, documenting the genuine energy, the emotional weight, and the unscripted interactions as they are naturally presented.

    Working seamlessly across digital formats, nostalgic analogue film, and motion film, I tailor my medium to capture the unique atmosphere of your venue; whether it is a historic wine estate in Stellenbosch, a coastal celebration along the Atlantic Seaboard, or a destination wedding further abroad. You are free to be entirely immersed in your day, confident that every quiet, fleeting moment is being preserved with the utmost care.

A newlywed couple in wedding attire sharing a kiss in front of a modern church in Cape Town with a mountain backdrop. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.
A black and white photo of a man in a tuxedo and a woman in a wedding dress, with the man touching the woman's waist and the woman resting her hand on his chest. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.

VIEW
CAPE TOWN WEDDINGS

A woman in a wedding dress looking out a window in a black and white photograph. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.
A black-and-white photo of a bride and groom holding hands during their wedding ceremony, sitting at a table with candles, flowers, and documents. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.
A woman wearing a white off-the-shoulder wedding gown walking up stairs surrounded by green foliage.
A wedding ceremony where a groom is handing the bride a wedding ring.
A happy bride and groom sharing a joyful moment indoors. The bride is in a white off-the-shoulder dress holding a bouquet of white flowers, and the groom is in a white tuxedo with a black bow tie. They are smiling and leaning close to each other against a background of greenery and framed landscape paintings.
A bride helps put on her shoe, sitting on a couch, with a bouquet of flowers in front of her. She is wearing a white wedding dress and matching heels. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.
A couple is walking through a dirt path surrounded by trees, with the woman in a white wedding dress and the man in a light-colored suit holding a bouquet, during sunset.

I work across digital, analogue film, and motion film.

Each medium carries atmosphere differently.

DIGITAL & ANALOGUE WORK

A woman in a wedding dress holding a bouquet of flowers, standing indoors near a window.
A wedding scene with a bride in a white dress holding a bouquet, smiling and touching hands with an elderly man in a gray suit, while a groom in a tuxedo looks on smiling. They are outdoors on a grassy area with trees in the background.
Person in a white dress and another person in a black suit sitting outdoors, with one holding a glass of champagne and the other holding a black jewelry box with a large, sparkly bow.
A bride in a lace wedding gown standing on outdoor stairs, holding hands with her father during a wedding ceremony. Wedding in Cape Town, South Africa captured by wedding photographer Marli Koen.
Two young girls in floral dresses sitting on a window ledge, looking out the window during daytime. Inside a house, a couch is visible in the foreground, and outside there are trees and a fence.
Black and white photo of a wedding celebration with people walking down stone steps outside a large white building with a tiled roof. The building has the year 1786 displayed above the entrance.
Bride in white wedding dress holding a bouquet of white roses, lilies, and greenery while sitting indoors.
A woman in a white dress smiling and standing, and another woman in a dark green dress sitting on a tan armchair, looking up at her, in a room with beige curtains.
A decorative floral arrangement in a tall, white vase with a fluted design, featuring various dried and fresh flowers and greenery, placed on a pedestal against a dark background.
A person in mid-air performing a backflip into a river with other swimmers and a scenic mountain landscape in the background.

Some moments can’t be recreated.

They are lived once, in passing.

That is where I work.

A bride and groom standing near a pond with lush greenery and mountains in the background during sunset.