HA LONG BAY WEDDING & ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER
Eric-René Penoy Wedding Photographer
French wedding photographer based in Europe during summer and Mexico during Winter. I cover small and Intimate weddings in Vietnam, and travel all over Europe and the world to cover your Wedding or Elopement in the most natural and journalistic way possible.
(Discover the website)
PHOTOGRAPHER FOR SMALL AND INTIMATE WEDDING, ELOPEMENT, COUPLE STORIES
Welcome to my website
I am so delighted to see you on my website, let’s talk about your wedding and create a small but deep connection
Ha Long Bay Wedding Photographer,
Thank you so much for your visit to my website. If you are looking for a wedding photographer with an alternative approach in a journalistic way, fine art and storytelling, you are definitely on the page you were looking for.
I am a French destination wedding photographer and love to travel all around the world.
I am so passionate about this place that I want to have more opportunities to show what I am able to do for your D-day.
It will be my great pleasure to have a minute of your attention to have a look at my work, have a look at my previous weddings abroad.
I am based in Europe but it is always a pleasure to go to Ha Long Bay, and be able to do my passion and have a wonderful time with creative people.
If you wish to join me, it will be my pleasure to hear from you. May I ask you to send me a message and I will answer you right away (usually within 24 hours) and see if there is a potential way to work for the most important day of your life.
If you want to visit my latest stories, my portfolio, know more about my testimonials from my couples, about me, about my vision, my latest obsession, my journey for the coming season, or simply contact me.
Thank you so much and Welcome.
I cover
Couple Sessions - Weddings - Elopements - Portraitures - Engagements and Proposals
differently.
FREE GUIDES FOR COUPLES
Photographer
ERIC-RENÉ PENOY
(ˈɛrɪk rˈneɪ)
I am the guy behind the lens. I am a full time dreamer, documenter, film lover, traveller and definitely not a traditional wedding photographer.
ABOUT ME
MY MANIFESTO and VISION ARE
SOUL - MIND - HEART
I want to document Real Stories on the most natural, relaxed and journalistic way possible.
ABOUT MY VISION
VISUAL STORYTELLER
SINCE 2014
AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE
Ha Long Bay Wedding and Elopement Photography Service.
Are you searching for a Wedding or Event photographer in Ha Long Bay?
I have been covering over 170 Weddings since July 2014, I can say that I am full of advice and help for your big day.
My couples are similar and so different at the same time. I would say that they have certain similar characteristics, they prefer to spend time with their families and friends rather than spending an hour taking the couple photos, they are usually shy, they don’t feel at ease to be the center of the attention, they have a certain knowledge about art, sometimes photography and painting.
Do you want to have an intimate wedding in Ha Long Bay that reflects your journey as a couple, your passions, and your spirit of adventure?
This is elopement photography for couples who want to ignore tradition and get married in a way that feels authentic to them. As a photographer, my purpose is to discreetly capture the story of your day in an honest and heartfelt way, without posing or intruding. I will record every aspect, from the raw emotions and poignant moments as they unfold, to the details you won’t want to forget.
I care deeply about creating meaningful connections with every couple who invites me to be a part of their journey. My approach is to innovate, not to conform to conventions. Your elopement experience should be as personal, genuine, and unique as you are.
Emotional Photographer documenting emotional Weddings.
Since July 2014, I document your intimate wedding, your Minimony, Sequel Wedding, Micro wedding or Adventurous Elopement, proposal, and engagement and I have seen a lot of love stories, full of joy and emotions. It has a lot of different names but only the story matters. I am moved by telling the story of your day in the most natural and genuine way possible. No need to spend one hour behind the church with me to take the couple photographs, I will always value letting you spend time with family and friends. This is your day, not mine.
Most of my couples define themselves as shy in front of the camera, I believe simply they don’t know how easy it is to spend a few simple moments with their partner in front of my camera. I will follow you from getting ready to the dance floor in the most natural way possible. To deliver a poetic and unique vision of the most important day of your life.
I have a lot of experience and expertise in traveling around Europe mostly. For the last 6 years, I have covered most of my weddings abroad and overseas.
I believe I can help you with my experience and advice for a perfect wedding day. I have prepared some articles to help you to find the right place to get married or to be inspired in some places like Spain, The Balearic Islands such as Ibiza, Mallorca,… Mexico, Morocco and of course Portugal. I have also written an article about the most underrated locations in Europe to have your small and intimate wedding with friends.
Specialised in Wedding and Elopement Coverage since 2014.
My Philosophy in Few Words :
Real Stories - Intimate - Journalistic - Real Stories - Poetic - Cinematic - Discreet - Non Traditional - Simplicity.
My Visual Experience :
With years of experience photographing my couples in beautiful locations across the world, I have brought together some valuable ideas and tips to help with elopement planning as well as for those planning larger weddings.I have covered over 150 Weddings on the last 5 years and they are all different. I have prepared a Succession of Articles dedicated to you. Please click on the article of your choice to learn more about it:
Top Outfit Ideas for your Intimate Couple Session HERE
Top 10 Tips to Plan your Intimate Wedding. HERE
What is an Elopement? HERE
Top 8 Tips to plan your Elopement. HERE
Top 5 Reasons to Elope. HERE
Eloping : With or Without guests and family? HERE
Top 10 Activities to do on your Elopement Day. HERE
What is the difference between an Elopement, a Minimony and a Microwedding? How to choose what is the best for you? HERE
What is a Virtual / Online Wedding? HERE
Where to organize your Wedding or Elopement in Ha Long Bay?
If you have always dreamed of traveling within Ha Long Bay, Vietnam is one of the top destinations you should consider for your elopement, due to its magnificent countryside and coastline. As an experienced elopement photographer, I have photographed many beautiful elopements here for couples forgoing traditional weddings and embracing their spirit of adventure.
Ha Long Bay is one of the top elopement destinations in Vietnam; a country with a lot of history, great weather/cuisine, and amazing traditions. You’ll be overwhelmed with choice for beautiful places to elope in this place, from the big cities full of character and atmosphere to the magical forests. The possibilities for breath-taking locations are endless.
You can find some of the best wedding venues for your Wedding Or Elopement.
Looking for more Inspiration and Locations for your Wedding or Elopement?
If you are still considering other options in Europe, check out [link to the article ‘the top underrated wedding locations in Europe you should definitely consider.
Where to Elope (30+ Best European Locations for your Elopement & Top Underrated Wedding Locations in Europe you should consider. HERE
What About COVID 19?
Learn about how the Covid 19 Corona Virus have changed the face of the wedding industry but not only HERE
What is next? Simply contact me to create a simple but deep connection
At ericrenepenoy@gmail.com
Awards and announcements :
RANGEFINDER RISING STAR OF THE WEDDING INDUSTRY 2019 WORLDWIDE
BODAF NEW TALENT EUROPE WINNER 2017.
JUNEBUG BEST OF THE BEST 2016 & 2017.
TOP 50 BEST UK PHOTOGRAPHER 2019 GOHEN.
BEST ELOPEMENT OF THE YEAR (SECOND PLACE).
MEMBER OF THE WEDDING COLLECTIVE FROM 2015 TO 2018 (BEFORE MOVING TO PORTUGAL).
WRITER AT BACKSTAGE MAGAZINE
CREATOR OF RESONANCE INSPIRATION
CREATOR OF MY BIG WORKSHOP
Published on :
JUNEBUG. RANGEFINDER. VSCO. RESONANCE. DEVIANT ART. MY WED. LE BLOG DE MADAME C. LA MARIEE AUX PIEDS NUS. WAY OUT WEDDING. QUEEN FOR A DAY. FEMME ACTUELLE. ELLE. LE JOURNAL DU MARIE. BIPPITY MAG. MINHA FILHA VAI. TRIBE RED LEAF. BRAW BRIDES. WELLWED. MAGAZINE NEW YORK. PORTRAIT OU PAYSAGE. WE FELL IN LOVE. PRISMPHOTOGRAPHY. WELLWED USA. LOOKS LIKE FILM. WHIMSICAL WONDERLAND WEDDINGS. WEDDBOOK. 20MINUTOS. THE KNOT. PINTEREST.
A bit of History about Ha Long Bay.
Hạ Long Bay (Vietnamese: Vịnh Hạ Long, IPA: [vînˀ hâːˀ lawŋm] ) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and popular travel destination in Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam. The name Hạ Long means "descending dragon". Administratively, the bay belongs to Hạ Long city, Cẩm Phả city, and is a part of Vân Đồn District. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bai Tu Long Bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà Island to the southwest. These larger zones share a similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.
Hạ Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2 (600 sq mi), including 1,960–2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 (129 sq mi) with a high density of 775 islets. The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate. The geo-diversity of the environment in the area has created biodiversity, including a tropical evergreen biosystem, oceanic and sea shore biosystem. Hạ Long Bay is home to 14 endemic floral species and 60 endemic faunal species.
Historical research surveys have shown the presence of prehistoric human beings in this area tens of thousands years ago. The successive ancient cultures are the Soi Nhu culture around 18,000–7000 BC, the Cai Beo culture 7000–5000 BC and the Hạ Long culture 5,000–3,500 years ago. Hạ Long Bay also marked important events in the history of Vietnam with many artifacts found in Bai Tho Mountain, Dau Go Cave, Bai Chay.
500 years ago, Nguyễn Trãi praised the beauty of Ha Long Bay in his verse Lộ nhập Vân Đồn, in which he called it "rock wonder in the sky". In 1962, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of North Vietnam listed Ha Long Bay in the National Relics and Landscapes publication. In 1994, the core zone of Ha Long Bay was listed as a World Heritage Site according to Criterion VII, and listed for a second time according to Criterion VIII.
The bay consists of a dense cluster of some 1,600 limestone monolithic islands each topped with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Dau Go (Wooden Stakes cave) is the largest grotto in the Ha Long area. French tourists visited in the late 19th century, and named the cave Grotte des Merveilles. Its three large chambers contain large numerous stalactites and stalagmites (as well as 19th-century French graffiti). There are two bigger islands, Tuần Châu and Cát Bà, that have permanent inhabitants, as well as tourist facilities including hotels and beaches. There are a number of beautiful beaches on the smaller islands.
A community of around 1,600 people live on Hạ Long Bay in four fishing villages: Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Tau and Vong Vieng in Hung Thang ward, Ha Long city. They live on floating houses and are sustained through fishing and marine aquaculture (cultivating marine biota), plying the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Many of the islands have acquired their names as a result of interpretation of their unusual shapes. Such names include Voi Islet (elephant), Ga Choi Islet (fighting cock), Khi Islet (monkey), and Mai Nha Islet (roof). 989 of the islands have been given names. Birds and animals including bantams, antelopes, monkeys, and lizard also live on some of the islands.
Almost all these islands are as individual towers in a classic fenglin landscape with heights from 50–100 metres (160–330 ft), and height/width ratios of up to about six.
Another specific feature of Hạ Long Bay is the abundance of lakes inside the limestone islands. For example, Dau Be island has six enclosed lakes. All these island lakes occupy drowned dolines within fengcong karst.
Of the 1,969 islands in Ha Long, only approximately 40 are inhabited. These islands range from tens to thousands of hectares in size, mainly in the East and Southeast of Hạ Long Bay. In recent decades, thousands of villagers have been starting to settle down on the pristine islands and build new communities such as Sa Tô Island (Hạ Long City), Thắng Lợi Island (Vân Đồn district).
The population of Hạ Long Bay is about 1,540, mainly in Cửa Vạn, Ba Hang and Cặp Dè fishing villages (Hùng Thắng Ward, Hạ Long City). Residents of the bay mostly live on boats and rafts buoyed by tires and plastic jugs to facilitate the fishing, cultivating and breeding of aquatic and marine species. Fish require feeding every other day for up to three years, when they are eventually sold to local seafood restaurants for up to 300,000 Vietnamese dong per kilogram. Today the life of Hạ Long Bay inhabitants has much improved due to new travel businesses. Residents of the floating villages around the Ha Long bay now offer bedrooms for rent, boat tours, and fresh seafood meals to tourists. While this is an isolating, back-breaking lifestyle, floating village residents are considered wealthy to residents of other Hạ Long Bay islands.
At present ((clarify)), the Quảng Ninh provincial government has a policy to relocate the households living in the bay to resettle, in order to stabilize their life and to protect the landscape of the heritage zone. More than 300 households living in fishing villages in Hạ Long Bay have been relocated ashore in Khe Cá Resettlement Area, now known as Zone 8 (Hà Phong Ward, Hạ Long City) since May 2014. This project will continue to be implemented. The province will only retain a number of fishing villages for sightseeing tours.
Contact Eric.
ericrenepenoy@gmail.com
Based in Europe from March to October.
Based in Mexico from October to March.
Any Questions ?
FAQ
THE COLLECTION STARTS AT 1400 EUROS.
I offer 3 different wedding packages which come with variable hours, prints, or albums.
I can sometimes offer discounts for midweek weddings.
Please contact me and you will receive a lot of informations regarding the packages.
Please fill out your details and I will get in touch with you shortly. Thanks to let me know your wedding dates and your names, phone number and email address. If your event concerns Wedding, Engagement, Honeymoon, Trash the dress or Portrait. I would love to read your comments if you wish.
You can also contact me on Instagram @ericrene.penoy