I’m Ian.

Dad to an awesome teenager, human companion to a Border Collie called Oz, commercial photographer for over fifteen years and a man with a terrible habit of accidentally entering ultra marathons.

I live in Kendal on the edge of the Lake District and spend a lot of my life outdoors, usually somewhere between mountains, woodland, coffee and mild chaos, when not doing any of the advents stuff, I'm a very long way into writing a novel, called 'A good Life' a Lake District love story.

Before all this I raced mountain bikes, worked in the hairdressing industry for Wella, spent years doing motorcycle trackdays and used to race Ducati motorcycles, which probably explains quite a lot about me if I’m honest. I still love movement, adrenaline and slightly questionable decision making.

These days the questionable decisions usually involve running ridiculous distances through the mountains wearing minimalist sandals.

Yes really.

Somewhere along the line I also became the kind of person that owns more running clothes than sensible clothes and somehow ended up looking a bit like a woodland wizard with a very large beard. Thankfully it’s well groomed, smells nice and generally behaves itself.

I photograph weddings a bit like I photograph everything else really — honestly.

I’m not massively interested in stiff traditions, awkward posing or turning people into a production line. I care far more about atmosphere, connection, energy and moments that genuinely feel like people being themselves.

After stepping away from weddings for quite a few years while life did its thing, I found myself drawn back to them, especially smaller Lake District weddings, elopements and midweek celebrations where people are doing things differently.

Barns with glitter balls.
Luxury hotels with muddy boots outside.
Fell runs before ceremonies.
Windblown hair.
Dogs at weddings.
People laughing so hard they cry.

That sort of thing.

Outside weddings, my commercial photography work has taken me all over the world photographing fashion and lifestyle brands, interiors, hotels and campaigns. Closer to home, I occasionally jump into larger film and commercial productions shooting in the Lake District, usually working within locations teams as a Location Manager or Assistant Location Manager, although I’ve also scouted locations for productions too.

I even appeared on screen alongside Robson Green in the BBC1 Prime time drama, Age Before Beauty actually playing… a photographer. It was a speaking part as well, which still feels slightly surreal.

On a wedding day I’m calm, observant and very good at reading a room. Fifteen years of photographing people professionally teaches you when to step in, when to disappear and when something important is about to happen before anybody else notices it.

I’m also very aware that being photographed can feel awkward sometimes. Most people aren’t models. You don’t need to be. The best photographs usually happen once everybody relaxes a bit and forgets the camera is even there.

A few final facts:

I love good coffee.
I don’t drink alcohol.
I only wear minimalist sandals.
There is a reasonable chance my toenails will be glittery.
I’ll probably cry during your speeches.

Just so you know.