Best Wedding Photography 2017
The annual collection from ARJ Photography
I’m quite a retrospective, introspective, analytical person and making this post every year is one of my favourite things to do. I do it to somehow make sense of the ultimate chaos of the last twelve months, to arrange it into some kind of meaningful mental order and to appreciate the journey I’ve been on – literally and artistically. It’s so cathartic to wrap up a year in this way, by curating a collection of photos that somehow – to me – capture the year I’ve had and sum up the sort of photographer I currently am. I always set myself a limit of 150 photos so that I don’t get carried away and make the blog post equivalent of War and Peace!
There is no order to this post, no tactical or strategic reason for the selection of the photos below other than the fact they make me feel something. They remind me of something, of someone, of somewhere, and they give me that feeling that I strive for as a photographer.
This wedding year began in Dubai and took me to almost every corner of England, into deepest South Wales, up to the Highlands of Scotland, across to Northern Ireland, to Greece, Spain and Italy, to Kenya and the USA – making a long-time dream of mine come true with amazing weddings in New Orleans and New York City. It’s been a ‘pinch me’ year. But I actually feel like every single one of my 7 years of wedding photography has been one of those years. It keeps getting better and I don’t want it to stop.
It’s genuinely unbelievable to me now that there was a time I’d put on a shirt and tie early each morning and then sit at a desk for 8+ hours each day writing computer programs. Don’t get me wrong – I never hated that life, but that was more because I didn’t know that anything else was possible. To have since found my calling – something that feeds my soul in every possible way – is absolutely incredible. But it’s also worth noting that these days I sit at my desk longer than I ever did in my life as a programmer, and I do way more work when I’m here!
I read a Tolstoy quote the other day: “This is the entire essence of life: Who are you? What are you?” I love that. Because frankly I’ve no idea of the answer to either question and I sort of hope I never will because I guess life would become pretty boring if I knew. For me these photos go some way to answering those questions right now, and I hope you enjoy them.
If I took your photo this year then thank you for inviting me into your lives and making this year so unbelievably amazing for me. If you’re not in the photos but you’ve been part of my world this year, thanks a million to you too. If you’re my wife, who facilitates this crazy rollercoaster job I do, then I don’t have enough words to thank you properly but you get to be married to me, so that’s pretty cool for you, especially since I’ve been playing country music full blast since visiting Nashville. To my kids, thank you for being my inspiration and for making me feel like a rockstar at times. To my closest friends (you know exactly who you are), you help me keep things real and not believe the hype and I love you dearly for it. To everyone else who supports me in big ways or small, thanks for being here.
Have an amazing Christmas and New Year wherever you are and whoever you’re with. Always be grateful that we live in a world where mince pies exist.
Create your own awesome. Don’t believe the hype. #NineDots
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FFS Adam. This blows my mind. They should invent the equivalent of a mic drop for photographers called the Adam Johnson Camera Drop. ???☄️
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Crazy good set Adam! Insane work – a proper feast for the eyes.
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I keep coming back – love them all!
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SO good, my friend, so good! Just a masterclass in creative moment-capturing – awesome, awesome stuff. Love that make-up shot with the make-up picture frame in the background! The close-up of the emotional groom as his wife’s coming down the aisle in the background…the fireman’s lift…gah, too many to mention! Awesome stuff.
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I thought you said you’d only taken 3 decent shots this year. Lying son of a…….
(stunning BTW)
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exceptional, Adam. Truly lovely!
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So bloody good mate!!!
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Bloody hell Adam, what a sensational set and what a year. What a crazily high standard you set. Brilliant.
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Holy s***!!! Freakin’ awesome Adam! Every frame is incredible – one hell of a year dude.
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Oh me oh my! For me it gets stronger and stronger as I scroll down. Light, moments, edit, it’s all there!!! Great year, Adam!
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I can’t stop looking! So addictive LOVE IT!!!
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Adam Adam Adam…you should not have been allowed to go first!!! How could you do this to the rest of us? Utterly fabulous images from start to finish…you are a rock star and I salute you!
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Crazy awesome Adam – such incredible images. Can’t pick a fave!
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Rumour has it that your’e the best in the UK, and amongst the very best in the world.
Well ya know what? I just cant argue with that when I’m presented wi this!
Drop dead freakin amazballs AJ
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Absolutely incredible!!! You can feel the energy, love, happiness and joy in every image! Love love love this set of stunning images
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Ab.So.Lutely fantastic work!! Every single frame has such fantastic energy! What a brilliant year you’ve had! Nx
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What an absolute masterclass throughout, I can spot your work an absolute mile off, why, you may ask, because it absolute stinks of high end amazing work with art that only ‘you’ produce and your vision is just a gift from the gods.
Incredible dude and your a massive inspiration to me!!
Damo x
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Thank you for sharing Adam. These images are awesome and moving. Having just read the post by David DuChemin that you shared, viewing these images somestime felt like you where there just to capture that one moment and you nailed it. I felt like I was there and I want my images to do the same. Thanks for inspiring me this morning. Love your work!
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man alive!! This is cray cray (that’s what the kids say) Mind-blowing energy and beautiful colours.
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What a beautiful collection, well done!
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Adam – outstanding work, love it.
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Really enjoyed looking through these and didn’t want them to end. Absolutely beautiful work!
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Adam, your work makes me feel happy. The End.
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Absolutely stunning work Adam. I love the emotions, the colours, the compositions and the moments. Top work man!
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Truly word class. It’s gets harder and harder to comment on you work because I’ve already used all the superlatives in the past. The fact you’re continuing to better yourself says it all. Be proud mate.
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Another ARJ blog post, and another where I’m stumped to find the words!! Can I just say it’s bloody good, by bloody good I mean crazy levels of technical skill, absolute vision and just wonderful creativity, all rolled into one?! If not, I’ll just leave it at bloody good, cos I’m stumped for words you see!!!! Love you and your work my man, Merry Christmas to the Johnsons! x
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Incredible work Adam!
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Duuuuude!!!!!
Crazy good.
Looks like you and your wedding couples have had a crazy good 2017.
Wishing you all the best for a brilliantly creative and successful 2018 ?
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Man alive mate this is truly epic!
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Full of epicness! Another fantastic year of seemingly be in the perfect place at the perfect time and making something exceptional. Here’s to an equally brilliant 2018…
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Totally outstanding! Loved Every. Single. One.
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Adam these are great man! So many amazing frames!
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I thought the words were perfect until I saw the pictures! You’ve captured the the most amazing moments in the most creative way possible. I genuinely don’t understand how you even manage to excel yourself year on year! I might fed your ego from time to time, but this time you honestly deserve it! – Seriously awesome stuff Adam!
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I started off listing all my favourites and the real stand out moments for me from this post. Totally ran out of paper, didn’t I! Take a bow Johnson. These are absolutely immense. A truly captivating set, with so much variety & creativity. Mega! Have a fab Chrimbo! Xx
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Wowzers… Next level. Hats off!
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Duuuude this is why I had to do mine first before looking at yours – would’ve been completely rattled! Bloody brilliant creative work dude, and serious all-round skills. Here’s to an equally awesome 2018 my good man!
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Bright, bold and bombastic stuff my man. I remember looking at your Rhodes wedding earlier in the year and thinking it was one of the best wedding blogs I have ever seen dude…You have had a crazy year and hopefully we get a chance to sink a beer soon x
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Awesome work Adam! Looked at the set a few times already.
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MANYL ARWEINIOL AR Y GWAITH
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Such a gorgeous set Adam, full of colour and life. I can always tell an Adam Johnson image, looking forward to seeing what you do next. 🙂
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So many beautiful images. Amazing work!
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Loved going through these Adam! Fantastically diverse year captured beautifully. My fave was the tattoo of the lips shot. Ace. All the best this year dude ;O)
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Crikey! What a set! Absolutely masterful stuff mate.