2025 YEARLY REVIEW

51 weddings captured including 3 second shooting jobs, 35 venues 14 of which brand new for me, 27 hybrids and 21 photo only.

It’s the 7th January, a whole week late on posting my 2025 yearly roundup. To be completely honest, around day 3 post New Year I’d already sacked it off in my head but something made me persevere. You see, this year has certainly been one of the loudest in terms of internal - all consuming, give-my-head-a wobble noise. In fact, it’s been deafening. Clustered somewhere between the luxury noise, the editorial noise and Ai, I found myself questioning everything I do over and over again. Yet, somehow I’ve had the nicest year possible in terms of work life balance. Surely that cannot be a coincidence?

It’s no secret that this year I took matters into my own hands to combat the noise, this meant practically removing every photographer I know from my social media platforms. Call it jealously, call it pathetic, call it whatever you like but there was simply no denying that waking up every day and being bombarded with epic photos from my peers taken in epic places made me feel a bit washed up, old fashioned, behind the times and honestly…. counting the days till I throw in the towel. You see, I am a mum of a 6 year old as you all know and right now, certainly for the next 10 years, he has to be my priority, I cannot be jetting off to Lake Como every month in the pursuit of instagram fame or kudos. That ship sailed in my thirties. Combine all these things with the Ai revolution where even I cannot decipher a real image from a fake one… I really felt a shake up was needed.

When I say a shake up, I mean giving my head an almighty wobble so I stopped being such a dick. You see, 2026 marks the 20th year since I shot my first wedding. 20 years ago, instagram didn’t exist. I ran my business purely through good old word of mouth, wedding fairs, the occasional Facebook post and flyers - yes, FLYERS! (how old school). I’ve always championed myself as walking the line between candid and styled, right from day dot. In that time, I’ve seen all manner of trends come and go but for some reason, since covid, the fashion trend wagon has exploded and become somewhat a thorn in my side and left me with a chip on my shoulder. I have on occasion got sucked up into the social media whirlwind thinking that I need to post only the most epic pictures from wedding days, but neglecting to realise that often the most epic photos are the ones of Danielle’s nan licking a giant toy spliff, Drunken Holly and Matt riding a lime bike past their guests or Emmy’s dad hiding in a cupboard. You see, THESE are the epic photos that make me smile but most likely to my peers will make them gag due to the lack of direct flash, motion blur, stylishness or vogue-ness and so 2025’s yearly recap is dedicated to all the in-between moments of weddings that individually mean nothing but as a collective tell a story of awkward family dynamics, difficult love, distant friendships, blended families and good old laughs.

So as I reflect on the year I do so with happiness, a new found sense of peace, contentment and calmness knowing that it’s ok to simply capture the in-between moments because all that really matters at the end of the day is what you, my couples, and potential future couples think. 2026 brings another 40 wonderful couples my way and hopefully a lot more precious family time, rest time and ‘being present’ time - with a marathon chucked in for good measure (send help) . Because let’s face it, us millennials were sold the biggest lie ever - that we can have it all. We most certainly can not. There is always a price to pay…. work hard - don’t see family, earn more money - pay more tax, be awesome at marketing - be glued to your phone or take out another mortgage to pay somebody to do it for you. I’ve done it all and come full circle, walking into 2026 with a greater understanding of work life balance, a calmer sense of self and a thirst for real connections rather than online ones.

The biggest thank you to every single one of my 48 couples this year who have trusted me with their days. Thankyou mainly for entertaining the ridiculous amount of questionnaires thrown your way before during and after booking me. It may seem trivial and time consuming to complete them but honestly without them I’d be lost. They are my brief, because no two couples and no two weddings are the same. For they give me everything I need to know to capture your day the way you want it capturing allowing me to not fall foul of the trend game and end up photographing for likes rather photographing for you. Thank you to the following venues for always having my back, supporting me, referring me and sometimes being a shoulder to cry on when it’s mid August and I'm a little bit tired. Townhead Estate, Cote How, Wyresdale Park Holesfoot and Hidden River. To my awesome, trustworthy second shooters and industry pals, thank you - you know who you are)

Thank you all, for your continued support, have a great start to the new year. Jo xx