Who are you?
I was born in Whitby, North Yorkshire and now live in a village just outside Malton with my husband, Richard and our 4 wonderful children. Rich and I have been together for over 27 amazing years, he’s my soulmate, best friend and biggest supporter. He is also a full time carer for our son, Emerson who’s superpowers are non verbal Autism, Epilepsy, SPD and learning difficulties. Alongside this wonderful boy of ours, we have our 3 fabulous girls, Joella, Georgina and Ellsa. They are all growing up fast and are at university and work and finding their place in the world.
My kids are my greatest achievement and they all make me proud every day. We share our home with 3 dogs, 11 guineapigs, 2 rabbits and tropical fish. So when I’m not walking dogs, cleaning fish tanks, bedding up rabbits and watering guineapigs I absolutely love to read and I go through a book a week. I love landscape photography, having caught the bug some 6 years ago and have spent some amazing times with fellow photographers learning landscape photography. I found that it also helped massively with my wedding photography and raised it a level. I love to incorporate big landscape photos within my wedding style. So what else do I do, I write poems, I love shoes, I rarely watch telly but if I do it’s a usually crime programme. I don’t like hairy fruit like gooseberries or peaches.
How did you get into wedding photography ?
My husband bought me, what I thought at the time was, an expensive camera. My son would never sit for school photos so we had plenty of the girls but not many of him, this was before the time of mobile phones so a camera was purchased and we took our own. I loved it immediately and photographed lots of things besides the kids. Over time I upgraded and was then asked by a friend who’s husband was a wedding videographer if I fancied a go at videography. I wasn’t very good at it I’ll be honest and he thought the same, telling me I was taking photos with a video camera.
But, it did peak my interest in weddings so I practiced and practiced and then one day I spotted an advert on a selling site. Somebody wanted a wedding photographer for a couple of hours. I did that wedding in March 2016, sent the couple their photos and they were delighted. I started my own Facebook page advertising weddings, stating I was a complete beginner and was lucky enough to find couples who trusted me with their day. Almost 10 years on I have been the photographer of almost 600 amazing wedding days.
Have you had any training?
Yes after an early wedding taught me the importance of proper training and reliable gear, I started investing in photography courses and I’ve continued learning ever since. In the beginning, I used to describe myself as a “natural light photographer,” which, if I’m honest, really meant I didn’t know how to use flash or artificial light at all. I had big gaps in my knowledge, especially when couples asked for night time photos I didn’t yet know how to create. So I enrolled in some flash courses, learned the techniques properly, and everything changed.
I also took a business course because running a successful photography business isn’t just about taking nice photos—you need to earn a sustainable income to support your family, pay taxes, cover insurance, upgrade your gear, and plan for the hidden costs like repairs or replacements. Having solid business skills is just as essential as the creative side.
What do you enjoy most about photographing weddings?
There isn’t a part about my job that I don’t enjoy. I’m a bit of a workaholic but quite simply I love my job. What I enjoy most about photographing weddings is capturing real, unscripted moments, those little glances, happy tears, and unfiltered emotions that only happen once. Being able to document a day filled with meaning and connection. Weddings let me tell a story through images that become part of a family’s history. What an amazing thing to be a part of. I love the energy of the day, the laughter, the chaos, the joy. I love being surrounded by people celebrating and being the person trusted to preserve it.
What sets your photography style apart from others?
I prioritise making you feel comfortable. When you feel relaxed, your photos look natural—so my approach is calm, friendly, and unobtrusive, allowing the real you to shine through. I pay attention to the little things aswell as the big picture. The hand squeezes, the textures, the expressions, the in-between moments. The moments when people don’t realise there’s a camera pointed at them. It’s those details that make your gallery truly unique.
How do you manage to capture the emotions of the wedding day?
I connect with my couples so they feel comfortable and relaxed around me. When you feel at ease, your emotions show naturally, and I’m ready to photograph them as they happen. I pay close attention to the energy of the day, your interactions, your family dynamics, and the atmosphere and I use that awareness to document moments that feel real and heartfelt. The only time I put my cameras down are during the wedding breakfast, and even then they’re never far from me. The experience I’ve gained from doing my job full time gives you an awareness of the running of the day itself and when things are going to happen. You recognise if the father of the bride or the groom is likely to become tearful when they see the bride for the first time. You pick up on who the best man is going to single out for a roasting and who will give belly laughs during the speeches.
What is the most challenging aspect of wedding photography?
The most challenging aspect of wedding photography is managing unpredictable situations like timing changes, adverse weather, and fast moving moments while still delivering a consistent, high quality wedding gallery. Because moments happen only once, the challenge is anticipating them before they unfold. It requires focus, intuition, and constant awareness throughout the entire day. It’s a big responsibility documenting one of the most meaningful days of someone’s life but one I take seriously and truly love.
What do you think makes a successful wedding photo?
Photography, like all art, is subjective and this is why I ask couples to choose their own photos for their wedding album as they will choose completely different ones to me. I will judge a successful photo on the lighting, the facial expression, the composition, the colours, all these factors make the ideal photograph as far as competitions and awards are concerned but the couple will see the emotion of that moment that’s what makes a photo successful for them. My job is too make sure each photo in their gallery takes all these things into account. I like my photos to be creative, original and most importantly authentic and emotion conveying.
Can you share a particularly memorable or meaningful wedding photography experience?
Oh, I could fill an entire book with stories but one wedding takes the crown and remains to this day my scariest moment. Back in August 2017, I photographed a beautiful lighthouse wedding. Dreamy venue, stunning views… and a rainstorm straight out of a disaster movie.
My cameras at the time were not the professional ones I have now. They kept switching off every time another wave of rain hit them. Eventually the back screen died completely, so I was basically photographing on guesswork and optimism. Then we got inside, and the humidity hit me like a wall. Instantly my camera steamed up and every photo had a soft-focus, white vignette. Not exactly what the couple had booked. It took about ten minutes into the ceremony before my lenses finally de-misted while my heart was doing Olympic-level gymnastics.
The day actually turned out amazing (the rain even gave up eventually), but that wedding was a huge wake-up call. I realised that if I was going to be charging couples for photographing their weddings, I needed professional gear and proper training. I signed up for a photography course the next day and began the process of upgrading my kit.
Do you have any advice on how to choose a wedding photographer?
Yes, I would start by deciding on your budget and when you do, remember that once the guests have gone home, the dress and suit are packed away, and the cake has been eaten, your photos are the one lasting keepsake from your wedding day. You don’t have to spend thousands, but it’s worth investing in someone you trust rather than cutting corners.
Choose a photographer with real experience. Look through their portfolio and always ask to see full wedding galleries, not just highlights. Can you imagine yourselves in the kind of photos they create? Arrange a meeting or video call and get a feel for their personality. You’ll spend more time with your photographer on the day than almost anyone else, so you genuinely need to like them.
If they’re available on your date brilliant. If not, ask for recommendations. I’m part of a network of photographers I know, trust, and have worked with personally, and I’m always happy to share their websites with you.
How many weddings do you photograph per year?
I typically photograph around 80 weddings per year. This is my full-time job, and it’s a workload I’ve been managing successfully since 2019. Shooting this number of weddings allows me to stay fully immersed in the rhythm of the season while still giving every couple the time and attention they deserve.
Because I limit myself to a number I can handle comfortably, I’m able to keep my turnaround times fast. I edit and deliver full galleries within 4 weeks. It also gives me the space I need for all the behind the scenes work that comes with running a photography business, like responding to enquiries, planning timelines, organising album and print orders, staying on top of admin, and keeping my social media updated.
It’s a balance I’ve worked hard to perfect, busy enough to stay inspired, but structured enough to deliver a consistent, high quality experience for every couple.
Do you copy other photographers?
No, and it’s something I feel really strongly about. Throughout my career there have only been two occasions where a couple asked for a very specific photograph—and because it was something I’d already learned and practised on a photography course, I was more than happy to recreate it for them. Couples often send me inspiration photos, and that’s absolutely fine but I’ll always put my own spin on it. Copying someone else’s work outright isn’t what real creativity is about.
A real photographer sees images everywhere, even without a camera in hand. Every couple, every venue, and every wedding is completely unique, and that’s exactly how I approach each day. Walking into a wedding with a rigid shot list or a plan to replicate someone else’s photos just isn’t who I am or how I work.
I keep a very loose plan mainly to make sure the important moments are covered, but the majority of what I create happens in the moment. As I’m moving through the day, I notice things, the light, the environment, the connection between people. And I’ll suddenly think, “Yes, that’s a great photo waiting to happen.” That spontaneity and creativity is what keeps my work authentic, natural, and genuinely personal to each couple.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
All being well I’ll still be doing what I do now. I’ve just happily taken my first booking for 2029 so am not in any rush to put my cameras down just yet. 2 of our girls have headed off to University and we are on the process of transitioning Emerson in supported living. Hopefully Rich and I will be able to enjoy some trips away together within the next year or so instead of me going off on landscape trips with other photographers. Our girls are settling into their chosen paths so we hope to finally spend some quality time together. My husband accepts my dedication to my job without complaint, he’s my number one fan and biggest supporter.
Do you do other types of photography besides weddings ?
Yes anything that involves people, connection, or storytelling is right up my street. While weddings are my main love, I regularly photograph families, couples, and small business branding sessions too. I really enjoy capturing the in-between moments: the way families interact, the natural connection between couples, and the personality behind a brand.
Outside of wedding season, these sessions are a lovely change of pace and let me explore different styles while still doing what I enjoy most photographing real people in a genuine way. Whether it’s a relaxed family shoot, an anniversary session, or helping a business show who they are, I bring the same friendly, natural approach to every shoot.
What advice would you give to people wanting to be a wedding photographer ?
Start by learning the fundamentals and learn them properly. Master your camera, understand lighting inside and out (not just natural light!), and get comfortable shooting in unpredictable situations. Weddings move fast, emotions run high, and you only get one chance to capture each moment.
Second, invest in reliable gear and backups. If something breaks, and I guarantee at some point it will, you need a second camera ready to go without missing a beat.
Third, don’t skip the business side. Running a successful wedding photography business isn’t just about taking pretty photos. You’ll need to understand pricing, contracts, customer service, taxes, insurance, marketing, workflow, and the not so glamorous admin that keeps everything afloat.
Fourth, gain experience before charging full price. Second shoot for established photographers, learn how a wedding day flows, and get comfortable working under pressure. Watching how seasoned pros handle tough lighting, timelines, and crowds is invaluable.
And finally—be kind, be calm, and be adaptable. Your attitude matters just as much as your images. Couples remember how you made them feel on their wedding day.
If you’re looking for solid guidance on both photography and the business side, I can wholeheartedly recommend Chris Chambers.
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