FIND OUT ABOUT THE MOST

HILARIOUS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE LAKES

It’s a long read, like most of this website, but bear with.

//  A    S P A D E  //

 Apparently with me, a spade is spade... I guess that means you get what you see... or read in this case... I'm Jo, I love to photograph, I have for a very long time, but only just before the pandemic I became fully self employed.I specialise in weddings and elopements, but also commercial for small businesses. SHOOTING BOTH PH0TO AND VIDEO single handed both here in the UK and overseas. My style is very natural, very relaxed and I love to document events just as I see them maybe with a little direction thrown in.

I am based in Ulverston, Cumbria (South Lake District)

//  WHERE IT ALL STARTED  //

My dad bought me an SLR for my 18th birthday (no, I'm not telling you how long ago that was) I used it a few times, playing around in the Lake District photographing rocks and things. One day, a good few years later, a friend of mine asked me to photograph his wedding.... Obviously I said no, unless he was happy looking like a rock, as that was the extent of my photography expertise (He was bald so I guess he didn’t look too dissimilar to a rock)  He kept nagging, so eventually I said yes, blimey, that was a stressful day... BUT.... I loved it! That got the ball rolling and the rest is history. I photographed my first wedding sixteen years ago. I haven’t got a tally of how many I’ve shot over the years, weirdly though I did start counting post pandemic. 268 since Feb 2020 alone to November 2024. So I kinda know what I’m doing.

I love every wedding I'm asked to photograph and I learn more and more in every one.

// ME //

I'm an unapologetic, wildly inappropriate, often sarcastic yet deeply passionate almost 41 year old northerner, a Preston Lass now living in Ulverston, Cumbria with my husband Rich and beautiful son Finn who came into the world with the help of IVF in October 2019. I’m a resilient lass, been through some tough times as we all have but emerged stronger and with a darker sense of humour than I ever would have liked but hey ho. I love couples who are similar to me. I'm happiest when I'm on top of a mountain or paddling aimlessly on a lake. Even happier when I have my camera in my hands.

This is my therapy. I love to travel, be it a day trip to Yorkshire or Kathmandu to climb Everest Base Camp. I love cycling, I love National Trust beauty spots, I love exploring our stunningly beautiful country, I love bike rides to Blackpool with my Dad, random solo holidays. Interesting fact, since turning 40 I’ve become obsessed with bio hacking…. don’t go down that rabbit hole. (Basically obsessed with health and fitness - until somebody gives me cake and I’m f**ked) I love making the most of life, meeting new people, learning new things, Serial Killer Documentaries, The Walking Dead, Ozark......just life really... it's pretty cool sometimes.

I have a disgusting and unhealthy obsession with tropical plants, both indoor and outdoor.

// IS THIS ALL I DO?  //

I guess yes now yes! I was a design technology teacher for 7 years and prior to that a graphic designer for 8 years, I worked in the Sportswear industry, marketing/advertising industry and exhibition industry. I was always supposed to go fully self employed from September 2020 but I was propelled into self employment in March 2020 when my maternity pay from school finished.

Talk about choosing the wrong week to go fully self employed eh! Covid hit and I was suddenly forced to readdress these skills, from downloadable PDF’s, wedding stationery, designing packaging for photographers, learning video and becoming a commercial drone pilot it’s been a busy lockdown period indeed. I also formed a new company with my two creative and talented friends - With Abandon. The Lake District Elopement Collective, where my main role is filmmaker. You can check out work on our website - www.withabandon.co.uk or on instagram - @with.abandon_elopements

It’s now November 2024 and I feel it’s safe to announce I’m through the hardest four years of my life, becoming a mum and shooting 268 weddings since lockdown. It’s been non stop to say the least.

// MY STYLE //

There is nothing special about my photos. I said it, that’s not some self pity party and attempt for some brown nosing. It’s fact. My style is natural, I photograph because I love observing people, not because I love technology or trends. My films aren’t cinematic Hollywood productions but I’m ok with that. If one or two memories are occasionally blurry because I forgot to up my shutter then so be it. I hated having my photos taken on my wedding day, it was awful, but my photographer was amazing.  She managed to get some natural shots of us even when I had my Chandler Bing face (Friends - for those of you who are too young to understand!) going on. 

The thing I love the most about photography is movement. I get the biggest buzz from snapping a second of movement that tells a story. I love swishing dresses, blowing hair, laughing faces. I finish my photos with a classic warm and slightly desaturated feel, I have an issue with greens being too bright, which I know, for an outdoorsy girl is weird, so expect a slightly muted green tone from me.

My photos often look dark, I promise you this is not intentional, I live in Cumbria, It’s a dark moody place.

I try and get my couples to be natural, to interact with each other as if I wasn't there. To get people having a laugh and try to capture the day in the most honest and truthful way possible. Your wedding day is real, it is not a photoshoot. So although the images are important, what is more important is that you spend time with loved ones as it goes SO fast! There will naturally be pockets of the day where I take you off as a newly married couple and take photos of you. You will enjoy it, I will make it fun and I will help you with slight direction. I have tricks so please don’t worry. I will miss things, that’s fact, but I will try my best to achieve everything you ask of me.

// MY IDEAL CLIENT //

I hate this term, mainly because it immediately gives the impression that I only shoot a certain look of couple, that’s bullshit. I couldn’t give a monkeys what you look like, my prime ask is that you’re nice people, enjoy the less serious side of life, you’re not going to have an absolute shit fit if the outfits get a bit mucky or it rains all damn day, you’ll consider doing something a bit different and turning your wedding day on its head. Put yourselves first and have the day you want. Take it from a bridezilla who, 9 years ago, did the wedding for everybody else and in hindsight regretted it.

My ideal bride loves a gin, she loves to dance badly and doesn’t really care too much if she makes a complete tit of herself, she’s happy, she smiles, if things go tits up in the morning she shrugs it off and goes “ah well, shit happens” . My ideal groom is a cheeky chap, doesn’t shy from the camera, loves a pint and will happily burst into dancing at a split second. My ideal couple loves travelling, eating out, proper foodies, love a good drink, a culture trip, love the outdoors, love design, art, gogglebox, comedy…. that kinda thing. My ideal couple are straight, gay, bi, young, old, black, white, multicoloured. I literally don’t care. It is important to find the right match with photographer / client relationship.

I’ve been going long enough to know what client I don’t want to work with, and they are ones who are a little more prescriptive or who have a very clear vision in their heads of what they want and expect. I understand that you are spending a lot of money on one day and you should absolutely be picky and get what you want. However the joyous unpredictability of weddings, family dynamics, people, weather, situations all affect the outcome of my job and therefore mean that I cannot promise a certain end product.

Ultimately the success of your photos comes down to you as a couple, your attitude, chilled vibes and trust in me.

Micro managers need not apply.