Hi, I'm Mark - a Cambridgeshire photographer.
Fifteen years of photography as a local in Cambridgeshire - knowing when to step in, and when to step back.
Keeping clients happy is my priority - and it's how I've built a photography business in Cambridgeshire.
Since 2010 I've worked out that the best photos come from putting people at ease. Whether you're a nervous CEO with five minutes between meetings or a couple in the chaos of a wedding morning, you don't need to perform - you just need to feel comfortable enough to be yourself. I shoot on a completely silent camera, so there's no machine-gun clatter making you self-conscious - half the time people forget I'm working. That's my actual job, and it's why people who hate having their photo taken end up with pictures they love.
The craft sits underneath all of it. I'm fussy about the camera, the lens and the light - so you don't have to think about any of that. You turn up, the session's easy going and enjoyable, and you walk away with images that work. No stuffiness, no awkward posing. I'm based in Cambridgeshire and cover Cambridge, Huntingdon, Newmarket and Ely, plus the occasional trip to London, Leeds, Manchester or abroad when the diary allows.
Getting the best out of people by making them comfortable
I'm 44, and I've spent my life working with people - from retail in my younger years to DJ booths in my early photography days. I've never been short of something to say. But I don't need to be the centre of attention. I'm not the photographer who'll be noisy and overly assertive on your shoot or your wedding day.
Having a camera pointed at you can feel weird - most people aren't used to it, and that's completely fine. What I'm good at is reading the room. I can tell when someone needs a bit of direction, when they need a reassuring word, and when they just need five minutes to breathe. I get the best out of people by making them feel comfortable, not by being bossy.
Real life, not a 'Zoolander' shoot
For weddings
Let's be honest - you invited your friends to a wedding, not a photoshoot. I capture the real stuff: the nerves, the laughs, and the enthusiastic relatives with iPads (we love them really). I'm not there to turn your wedding into a never-ending photoshoot, but I'm not a passenger either. I'll step in when you need direction - helping you look your best, or herding cats for the group shots - but I won't bulldoze through the genuine moments just to get a photo.
For commercial work
I take my work seriously so you don't have to. A brief isn't a suggestion - it's a minimum requirement. You get a photographer who turns up prepared, understands the deadline, and delivers assets that actually work for your business. I'm also good with people who'd rather be anywhere else than in front of a camera - I'll put your team at ease, keep the session moving, and have them wondering why they were dreading it so much.
Fifteen years, hundreds of businesses and couples
Over the last fifteen years I've worked with hundreds of businesses and couples. My work has appeared in The Times, and I've been named one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the UK by Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine. I've picked up awards including Corporate Photographer of the Year and Wedding Photographer of the Year from the LUXlife Global Wedding Awards.
Along the way I've photographed Dragons' Den investors Deborah Meaden and Piers Linney, Prince Edward the Duke of Kent on a royal visit, and corporate events running into the thousands. I've also stood to attention at military award ceremonies, worked the fields with local farmers, and shot everything from circus performers and fire dancers to festivals, live music and charity nights.
Awards are nice on a shelf, but if I'm honest, my favourite compliments are the WhatsApps from clients telling me I took a weight off their plate - handled the bit they were worried about, made the day easier, and that they enjoyed their time spent with me. That's what matters.
Coffee, three dogs, and a calm under pressure.
When I'm not working, I start my day deep down the rabbit hole of barista-style coffee. I take my morning brew very seriously - it's borderline ridiculous at this point. I'm also a bit of a geek at heart, with a love for quality film.
When I'm not working, my day starts deep down the rabbit hole of barista-style coffee. I take my morning brew far too seriously - it's borderline ridiculous at this point. I'm a bit of a geek at heart too, with a soft spot for quality film. At home, life is ruled by our three dogs, who range comically in size from a Chihuahua to a Bullmastiff-cross-Labrador - the Chihuahua being the boss, as you'd imagine. I also train Muay Thai every week, which does more for me than fitness: it's where I've learned to stay level when things go sideways. So when a wedding timeline runs 20 minutes late, I don't get flustered - I adapt and keep moving.
Let's have a chat
Whether it's a team headshot that doesn't look like it was taken on a phone, or a wedding where you actually want to enjoy your own day - I'd love to hear from you.