Pete the man behind the camera...
Hi and thanks for taking the time to look me up.
I've been taking pictures with various cameras for over thirty five years now and although my methods and tools have changed over the years, my enthusiasm has never wavered and I'm still known to climb up trees and crawl through the mud to get that perfect angle. I relate very well to anything thrown at me and have a great balance of humour to add to any situation I encounter.
When not working I enjoy every aspect of outdoor life, from walking my dogs to attempting various water sports. To "relax" and maintain my fitness for 14hr wedding bookings I regularly run and am usually training for the next 10k or half marathon. Half marathons aren't all fun for me though as when running these it's normally to raise funds for Cancer Research or the RNLI which I am also a volunteer crew member for.
As a long standing member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers, one of the oldest and most respected societies in the field, I've have the opportunity to attend conventions and seminars and enjoy taping into the collective experience of the other industry leading professionals. One thing I have learned over the years though, especially from being a member of this society, is that no photographer should ever stop learning. Photography, just like art, is very subjective and preferences just as the technology we use is constantly changing. This thought has always kept me on my toes and with a humble mindset. As far as I am concerned, the greatest recognition a photographer can ever hope to achieve is to make a connection with every viewer or to be rewarded with a smile and gratitude from every client or capture the imagination of a new viewer.
The History...
Photography has been a part of my family for generations with one grandfather wondering around Africa with a camera and the other, a surveyor, owning a TLR and 16mm cine camera long before I was even a possibility. Both my parents were very keen photographers owning SLRs for as long as I remember. So, it seemed inevitable that when my parents gave me my first camera in 1980, a Kodak 126, that I was to be the next generation to be hooked. As a parent now, I can understand the shock and reasoning for my parents asking me to calm my enthusiasm though as it wasn't long before I was getting through more film than both of them combined. The first practical use I put my new hobby to was at the tender age of 12 when at their 50th anniversary party I asked my grandmother to sit in a chair I had placed in the middle of the floor and asked my grandfather to stand alongside but slightly behind with one hand on her shoulder and to both look at me... Prints of this one picture were requested by the whole family. And so it began...
Progression & Training...
Having always been "the photographer" amongst friends and been tasked with covering employment and social events since the nineties, I inevitably progressed to covering weddings for family and friends soon after. This wasn't taken lightly though, I instead researched the styles used by nationally acclaimed photographers, bought publications written by photographers who I most related to and attending training courses run by the leading wedding photographers in the country to ensure I could consistently deliver the pictures to win the smile and hearts. This is and always will be ongoing though as there are several excellent portrait, wedding and fashion photographers across the UK and my aim is to attend additional events and seminars every year to continue to grow and keep up with the changing styles.
My Ethos...
Well in a nutshell, I love photoraphy and making my clients happy. From a simple and elegant portrait to a highly elaborate scene with movement and a couple to capture, it's all hugely enjoyable for me. Even 14hrs on my feet with two cameras around my neck and several lenses strapped to my waist cannot dampen my enthusiasm for being there to help, witness and capture the story and smiles of your perfect day. From our first meeting I take pride in being able to help you whenever you need advice, from suggesting local suppliers right through to planning the final schedule of your reception. Like any good wedding photographer, I will help to ensure your day goes like clockwork and capture the moments so you can enjoy them forever.
I've been taking pictures with various cameras for over thirty five years now and although my methods and tools have changed over the years, my enthusiasm has never wavered and I'm still known to climb up trees and crawl through the mud to get that perfect angle. I relate very well to anything thrown at me and have a great balance of humour to add to any situation I encounter.
When not working I enjoy every aspect of outdoor life, from walking my dogs to attempting various water sports. To "relax" and maintain my fitness for 14hr wedding bookings I regularly run and am usually training for the next 10k or half marathon. Half marathons aren't all fun for me though as when running these it's normally to raise funds for Cancer Research or the RNLI which I am also a volunteer crew member for.
As a long standing member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers, one of the oldest and most respected societies in the field, I've have the opportunity to attend conventions and seminars and enjoy taping into the collective experience of the other industry leading professionals. One thing I have learned over the years though, especially from being a member of this society, is that no photographer should ever stop learning. Photography, just like art, is very subjective and preferences just as the technology we use is constantly changing. This thought has always kept me on my toes and with a humble mindset. As far as I am concerned, the greatest recognition a photographer can ever hope to achieve is to make a connection with every viewer or to be rewarded with a smile and gratitude from every client or capture the imagination of a new viewer.
The History...
Photography has been a part of my family for generations with one grandfather wondering around Africa with a camera and the other, a surveyor, owning a TLR and 16mm cine camera long before I was even a possibility. Both my parents were very keen photographers owning SLRs for as long as I remember. So, it seemed inevitable that when my parents gave me my first camera in 1980, a Kodak 126, that I was to be the next generation to be hooked. As a parent now, I can understand the shock and reasoning for my parents asking me to calm my enthusiasm though as it wasn't long before I was getting through more film than both of them combined. The first practical use I put my new hobby to was at the tender age of 12 when at their 50th anniversary party I asked my grandmother to sit in a chair I had placed in the middle of the floor and asked my grandfather to stand alongside but slightly behind with one hand on her shoulder and to both look at me... Prints of this one picture were requested by the whole family. And so it began...
Progression & Training...
Having always been "the photographer" amongst friends and been tasked with covering employment and social events since the nineties, I inevitably progressed to covering weddings for family and friends soon after. This wasn't taken lightly though, I instead researched the styles used by nationally acclaimed photographers, bought publications written by photographers who I most related to and attending training courses run by the leading wedding photographers in the country to ensure I could consistently deliver the pictures to win the smile and hearts. This is and always will be ongoing though as there are several excellent portrait, wedding and fashion photographers across the UK and my aim is to attend additional events and seminars every year to continue to grow and keep up with the changing styles.
My Ethos...
Well in a nutshell, I love photoraphy and making my clients happy. From a simple and elegant portrait to a highly elaborate scene with movement and a couple to capture, it's all hugely enjoyable for me. Even 14hrs on my feet with two cameras around my neck and several lenses strapped to my waist cannot dampen my enthusiasm for being there to help, witness and capture the story and smiles of your perfect day. From our first meeting I take pride in being able to help you whenever you need advice, from suggesting local suppliers right through to planning the final schedule of your reception. Like any good wedding photographer, I will help to ensure your day goes like clockwork and capture the moments so you can enjoy them forever.