ABOUT
LIVERPOOL WEDDING, PORTRAIT & COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
What does an image mean to you?
For me, an image is a moment in time captured forever. It stands still while life moves on — a window into the past that preserves memories, emotions and history. Without photographs, so much of our personal story would eventually fade away.
Photographs have always had the power to transport me back to a particular moment, feeling or memory. They evoke emotion in a way few other things can. I have loved images for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I would instinctively frame scenes in my mind before I ever held a camera in my hands.
My photographic journey began in 1976, when my parents took me to Sri Lanka on holiday — my country of origin — for the very first time.
My father handed me his beloved Kodak Retina camera, trusting me with something incredibly precious to him. At eight years old, I felt both excited and honoured. Through that camera, I began to observe the world differently.
I photographed people, flora and fauna, and became fascinated by the intense Sri Lankan light. Shadows from the rattan furniture stretched across verandas, creating beautiful patterns of light and shade that captivated me. I found beauty in colours, textures, shapes and fleeting moments. Looking back now, I truly believe that was the beginning of my life as a photographer.
One of my favourite childhood memories was taking my parents’ wedding album from its box and spending hours studying every image. It was London in the swinging sixties 1962, to be exact and I was mesmerised by the elegance, style and atmosphere captured within those photographs.
My parents looked incredible, as did my grandparents, aunts and uncles. The fashion was timeless: influenced by Hubert de Givenchy’s designs for Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the sophistication of Jackie Kennedy, and the emergence of a young Yves Saint Laurent after leaving the House of Dior. To me, that album felt magical. Through those photographs, I could almost step back into their world and experience the joy and glamour of their wedding day.
Images hold memories, emotion and history. In today’s digital world, where thousands of photographs live unseen on phones and devices, I believe it is more important than ever to print and preserve our images not only for ourselves, but for future generations who will one day look back and glimpse the lives, love and stories that came before them.
I feel incredibly privileged to document these moments for others, whatever form they may take.
Photograph by Susan Stripling
Alongside my art school training, I have over 35 years of professional experience in the photographic industry. I hold both a BA and a Master’s degree, and one of the highlights of my career was working in New York for the legendary Ford Models as an assistant photographer in fashion and beauty during the era of the supermodels in the late 1980s. It was an exciting and creatively inspiring time, and I developed a deep appreciation for the artistry, precision and collaboration involved in fashion photography.
After returning to England, I moved into editorial and documentary photography, working with organisations including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé, Opera North and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. At the time, I had no idea that this experience would become the perfect foundation for wedding and portrait photography. It taught me how to work unobtrusively, anticipate meaningful moments and capture genuine emotion naturally, often without people even realising they were being photographed.
Then one day, Sarah who worked at the Philharmonic asked me to photograph her wedding. I was terrified. I had never photographed a wedding before. But she simply said, “You’ll be fine, just treat it like a Philharmonic project.” So that’s exactly what I did. I documented the day honestly and naturally, and from that moment on, I never looked back.
Many years later, I still feel incredibly fortunate to do what I love. My work spans weddings, portraits, community projects, architecture, interiors, landscapes, editorial and commercial photography. I am also a Licentiate member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers.
Over the years, my work has been exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, Open Eye Gallery, Williamson Art Gallery & Museum and St James’s Palace as part of the “Roots of the Future” exhibition, opened by Charles III.
I feel deeply privileged to document life’s important moments for people — whether that’s a wedding, portrait session, family gathering, birthday, anniversary, christening, or even a beautiful walk in the park with a beloved dog.
On the commercial side, I also photograph interiors, exteriors, portraits, products, food, hospitality and lifestyle imagery for marketing and branding purposes. Whether you need a fashion shoot, architectural photography or documentation of a process or event, I aim to create images that feel authentic, thoughtful and visually engaging.
Having photographed professionally for more than 30 years, I believe life experience plays an important role in how I connect with people. Understanding a client’s brief is important, but so is empathy, patience and creating an environment where people feel comfortable and understood.
Whatever your reason for needing a photographer, I hope I can help in some way and I would love to hear from you.