My Story

I grew up on my family’s farm, surrounded by open fields, animals and wildflower meadows. One birthday my parents gave me a camera and I spent that summer capturing the landscape and those long golden evenings. That is where my love of photography began, quietly and naturally, as a simple curiosity that has stayed with me ever since.

As I got older I started photographing everything around me: the changing seasons, my friends skateboarding and all the small everyday details that caught my eye. What began as a hobby gradually evolved into a career. Over the past ten years I have worked as a commercial photographer for brands like Burberry, England Rugby, Hoka, Adidas, Manchester City F.C. and Whoop.

While I am grateful for everything that world gave me, it was photographing a friend’s wedding that sparked something deeper. Telling personal and emotional stories through images felt like a natural extension of everything I had learned and everything I love about photography.

My Approach

My approach is documentary at heart. I believe the best images aren’t posed - they’re felt. It’s the quiet hand squeezes, the nervous laughter before the ceremony, the unspoken glances between people who love each other. That’s what I aim to capture.

I’m not one for stiff direction or constant interruption. I’ll offer gentle guidance when needed, but mostly, I’ll blend into the background - allowing you to be fully present, while I document the day as it naturally unfolds.

I care deeply about delivering images that not only tell your story with honesty, but also feel rich in tone and atmosphere - with colours that look as beautiful and natural as you remember them.

My commercial work can be found here:

www.james-starkey.com