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- david@burnt.media
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I’m always humbled and honoured when a couple asks me to photograph their wedding. It’s a real privilege and responsibility. For some, the pressure of capturing such an important day can feel intimidating, and sometimes that’s true. But for me, I love it! I thought I’d take a moment to share a little about my journey into wedding photography.
Looking back, I think I almost fell into photography by accident! As a child, I loved getting hold of a cheap disposable camera or even using my parents’ (slightly) fancier model. The whole process fascinated me—looking for moments to capture, framing them as best I could, and the satisfying mechanical noises of the camera. However, I was never the kind of person who just took photos for the sake of it. I always enjoyed photography when it had a purpose—capturing a specific moment or telling a story—rather than simply snapping away at anything. That mindset fits perfectly with wedding photography, where every shot has meaning and significance. The only part I didn’t enjoy was waiting for the photos to be developed! That all changed when I got my first digital camera at around 17 or 18, and from that moment, my skills really started to grow.
Gloucestershire Wedding Photographer
I’ve always been someone who learns things by understanding the technical side first. When I was learning to drive, I struggled with the clutch at first. But the moment my instructor drew me a diagram and explained how it actually worked, everything clicked! The same happened with photography. Moving beyond automatic mode can feel intimidating, but once I grasped the technical aspects, my confidence—and the quality of my work—grew massively.
A few years after finishing university, I was working at a performing arts workshop for adults with learning disabilities as part of my work with Treasure Seekers. We had the bright idea of running a photography and modelling workshop, and I was chosen to lead it. I had little confidence at the time, but I was excited to learn. That’s where I was first introduced to studio photography. I had no idea how to use flash properly, the backdrops were creased, and the camera wasn’t great—but I absolutely loved it! I quickly realised I needed to learn photo editing (mainly to fix my mistakes!), and that became addictive in its own right.
Over time, I did more and more photography and videography work. My day jobs shifted into a more “content creator” focus rather than just admin, and my natural curiosity and ability to learn helped me develop my skills.
Then, after about five years, a family friend asked me to photograph their daughter’s wedding. I said yes without hesitation—then immediately realised how unprepared I felt! I had a sudden urge to buy a new lens to “feel like a pro” (a classic photographer move!). Thankfully, I had my wife as a second photographer, which gave me an extra sense of security. But once I got into it, I realised I wasn’t nervous at all—I was having fun!
After the wedding, I had the nerve-wracking moment of delivering the final images. I worried they’d be disappointed, that they’d regret choosing me… but they LOVED them! Seeing their emotional response to my work was an incredible feeling. I realised then that wedding photography was something I truly wanted to do.
One of my favourite images from that day is of the bride’s father, Steve, who sadly passed away a couple of years later. Having that one photo that truly captured his personality is a reminder of why I love what I do—preserving real, meaningful moments.
After that first wedding, I continued growing in my photography, doing a mix of videography, event photography, and content creation. About a year later, I was asked to shoot another wedding. By then, I was starting to see my improvement—both in my composition and technical skills. It was encouraging to know I was getting better! This was also my first paid wedding, which felt like a huge milestone.
That led to more opportunities. Friends started asking me to shoot their weddings, and each time, I could see my skills progressing. I took online courses, read books, and became more serious about refining my craft. Confidence, I realised, was one of the biggest factors in improving as a photographer.
A couple of years later, I started working as a school photographer (which I’ve written about in more detail here). That role pushed me even further—teaching me studio lighting, posing, and directing large groups of people. Compared to a school photo day, organising wedding group shots is easy—at least at a wedding, people actually want to be there!
I’m still at the early stages of my wedding photography career compared to some, but I’m fast approaching double digits in weddings shot. For the first time, most of my bookings are from couples I’ve never met before—they found me online, loved my work, and when we spoke, they felt I was the right fit for them. That’s a huge confidence boost and an exciting milestone in my journey.
The more weddings I shoot, the more I love what I do. I can see my technical skills improving, my ability to direct and interact with couples and guests has grown, and I’ve developed a sharper eye for capturing those natural, unscripted moments that make weddings so special. And nothing beats that feeling of finishing a long wedding day, looking back through the images, and finding those absolute gems.
If you’re interested in booking me for your big day, a family shoot or have any other questions, I’d love to hear from you.
