Best UK Wedding Photographers 2015
The ARJ Photography 2015 Collection
Five hundred, twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes. How do you measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets? In midnights, in cups of coffee? In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife?
In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.
How do you measure, a year in the life? How about love?
In case you don’t know, those are the lyrics from the song ‘Seasons of Love’ from the musical Rent. You should watch it if you haven’t already.
Twenty fifteen. Been and almost gone in the blink of an eye. How the heck did that happen so fast? It only seems like yesterday that we were all arguing over last year’s John Lewis advert and now here we are doing it again already. Crazy times. Of course, Monty the Penguin was way better, but that’s beside the point.
I used those lyrics above because I didn’t want this post to be about specifics of how many weddings I’ve photographed, miles I’ve travelled, pictures I’ve taken or hours I’ve spent glued to the computer screen. I feel too good about this year to get bogged down in the details. But I did win some nice awards, culminating in being named North West Wedding Photographer of the Year and making it through to the national final in January. I thought I should mention that!
In wedding world I watched some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met transform from bride and groom to husband and wife before my very eyes. I’ve been to all sorts of new places on these shores and abroad. I’ve eaten michelin starred food, been epically covered in mosquito bites, been stung through my trousers by superpower nettles, and had some of the best end-of-wedding hugs ever. And I’ve smiled and laughed. So much.
In February I co-taught two super fun workshops as I launched NineDots with three of my favourite UK photographers, who are now three of my best friends. And in November we organised the first NineDots Gathering with some of our favourite photographers from the UK and abroad providing inspiration and education to an audience of 125 wedding photographers. And then we threw a huge party for everyone! And we’re doing it all again next year!
In my personal life, I was finally able to free my wonderful wife from a job she hated so that she could spend way more time with our amazing boys, as well as helping me out with ARJ admin and stuff. And our little family is happier and stronger than ever as a result. Major win. 2015 has also been a year of amazing friendship – wedding photography is such an friendly, supportive community of people with massive hearts and I’m thankful for everyone who I’m lucky enough to call a friend, and for the internet making the world a smaller place. I just wish I lived closer to them all so that we could hang out in real life more often!
I think that’s enough waffling for another year. I’m always reluctant to call this collection a ‘best of’. It’s just a selection of 150 of images from this year which I love and I’m proud of for one reason or another. 2016 season begins for me on New Years eve for Jen and Dan’s wedding at Iscoyd Park which I can’t wait for (officially 2015 I know but just too close to the end to make this post!) and I’m already ridiculously excited for next year! Bring. It.
It’s time now, to sing out, though the story never ends… Let’s celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends. Measure your life in love.
