Meet Steff (she/they) & Ells (They/Them): Rebel Love Collective Founders

It’s no secret that the wedding industry is drenched in hetero-normative stereotypes and outdated traditions. When it comes to LGBTQ+ couples getting married, what should be one of the most exciting times of their life is often tainted by discrimination and misrepresentation. 

Wedding photographer and videographer duo, Steff (She/They) & Ells (They/Them) would often hear how their clients and friends felt unseen, unheard and misunderstood during their wedding journey. In 2024, they decided enough was enough and Rebel Love Directory was born. Fast forward to today and Rebel Love Collective continues to disrupt and educate the wedding industry with unapologetically inclusive and authentic representation. 

Grab a cuppa and join us as we chit chat to founders, Steff & Ells to dig deeper into the inspiration behind Rebel Love Collective, why it's needed and their journey.

When did you first start working together? 

We first started working together in 2022. Steff left her job in March to dive headfirst into wedding photography, and Ells followed by handing in their notice and joining full-time in September. We can honestly say - we’ve never looked back.

Where did the name Rebel Love Collective come from?

It all started with needing a name that actually felt like us. We originally launched as Steff & Ells Photo and Film - which didn’t quite capture the energy, purpose, or rebellious heart of what we were building.

On a weekend away (which we totally gatecrashed - sorry Jazz & Elle), we brainstormed with our best friends and came up with Rebel Love Club - a name that finally aligned with our vision: capturing weddings that celebrate love in all its forms, especially for those often left out of the wedding narrative. From there, things took off. We launched the Rebel Love Directory in January 2024 after years of being asked for inclusive supplier recommendations by our LGBTQ+ clients. We realised the need was huge, and urgent.

Then came the Rebel Love Wedding Fair, a way to bring those inclusive suppliers together under one roof. And because we promised every exhibitor pre-event inclusivity training, our fourth branch was born: Rebel Love Education.

With all of these projects growing, we knew we needed a unifying brand to tie it all together - and so Rebel Love Collective was born. A collective of brands pushing against outdated norms and working to create a more inclusive, joyful, and affirming wedding industry.

Tell us your top three dinner guests, dead or alive?

Steff:

• Chappell Roan - our undisputed Queer Queen.

• Marsha P. Johnson - to honour the activist in me.

• Freddie Mercury - a true icon, always.

Ells:

• Chappell Roan - because she’s redefining queer femme pop representation.

• David Bowie - forever pushing the boundaries of identity.

• Alok - their words could spark a revolution.

What’s next for Rebel Love Collective?

We’ve just announced something we’re so excited about: the launch of the Rebel Love Awards - the inclusive, accessible industry recognition we've all been waiting for. Awards that celebrate those truly walking the walk when it comes to inclusivity and change.

We’re also expanding our educational offerings into online courses and downloadable resources, making it even easier for wedding suppliers to level up their inclusivity and become true allies.

What are some of the struggles you’ve faced as business owners?

One of our biggest challenges has been the pressure to have all the answers. Yes, we educate on LGBTQ+ inclusion - but we’re also human. We’re not a monolith for the queer community, and we’re still learning every day. That should be okay.

Another challenge is prioritising our own work. We pour so much energy into supporting others, especially our Rebel Love Directory members, that we often forget Rebel Love Club is our business too. We don’t make a profit from the Directory right now, but we believe in it so much that we often neglect our own marketing in the process.

Do you have a standout moment/achievement that you reflect on during hard times?

100% the first Rebel Love Wedding Fair. We never could have imagined the impact it would have. The feedback from both attendees and suppliers was overwhelming - in the best way. We both got emotional on the day, watching something we built from the ground up come to life. It’s without a doubt one of our proudest achievements to date.

If you could go back and tell your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Steff: Trust yourself. You know exactly what you want and need - don’t let society tell you otherwise. You’re allowed to carve your own path, and it’ll be even better than you imagined.

Ells: You will find your people.

What does a day outside the office look like for you both?

HA! Outside the office?! In peak wedding season?! Rare - but not impossible. When we do take time off, it’s usually to hop on a plane. We’re big on travel - we spent the first two years of our relationship travelling around Asia and living in New Zealand. So when we’re not working, you’ll either find us planning our next adventure or hanging out at the Queer Commune we live in with our best friends.

A genie suddenly appears at Rebel HQ tomorrow, what would your three wishes be?

1. For LGBTQ+ rights, especially Trans+ rights - to no longer be under threat. Equal rights would be a given, not a debate.

2. To find the perfect plot of land with a structure ready to be transformed into the Rebel Love Wedding Venue - a home for epic love stories and our dream Queer Commune.

3. That we get to travel the world together until we’re wrinkly and grey, collecting stories, tattoos, and fridge magnets.

   
   

The wedding directory was a later addition to Rebel Love Collective - when did you realise an LGBTQ wedding directory was needed?

Pretty early on in our wedding photography journey, we realised our LGBTQ+ clients were crying out for safer, more inclusive suppliers. We started by putting together a simple PDF of people we trusted, mostly queer-owned or loudly inclusive businesses, but we quickly saw the potential to do more. So, one month before Christmas, Steff went full hyper-focus mode and built the Rebel Love Directory from scratch. By January, we had 30 incredible suppliers live - and it’s grown ever since.

As a wedding videographer and photographer duo, what’s your favourite type of wedding to shoot?

The ones where you can feel the community. The kind of weddings where everyone - friends, family, chosen family, has played a part in making the day happen. Those weddings are bursting with love, joy, and authenticity. That’s where the magic is.

You both love to travel, where’s the best place you’ve been to?

We have to say New Zealand - we talk about it constantly. But honestly, we love every place we’ve travelled. Southeast Asia has a special place in our hearts. We’re all about immersing ourselves in different cultures, trying new foods, and saying “yes” to every wild adventure.

And lastly, if Rebel Love Collective had its own theme tune, what would it be?

Rebel Rebel - David Bowie. No further explanation needed.

Searching for inclusive LGBTQ+ friendly wedding suppliers? Check out Rebel Love Directory & the Rebel Love Wedding Fair.

Looking for an awesome wedding photographer & videographer? Rebel Love Club are the perfect duo!

Are you a wedding supplier/business owner ? Head to Rebel Love Education.