Photographer Cornwall
Welcome to James Darling Photography where I specialise in natural, reportage style photography within Cornwall and beyond.
If you’re looking for a photographer, it means that you’re about to have an occasion that’s worth capturing forever. Maybe you’re getting married, organising a big commercial event or a family gathering.
Our lives are nothing if not collections of little moments. Those tiny, fleeting but incredibly important moments form the memories that make us who we are. They bring us comfort and joy and remind us how far we’ve come on life’s journey.
The trouble with these little moments is that our memory doesn’t always have sufficient space to store them. Over time they can fade. The details can get lost or obscured. Which is why good photography is so important. It captures those formative moments and keeps them alive either on paper or on a screen.
This is why, when you’re looking for a photographer in Cornwall for your wedding, commercial event, family gathering or any other special occasion, it’s essential to take the time to find the right person. Someone who is the perfect fit for both you and the location.
Here are some questions you might like to ask yourself before choosing a photographer in Cornwall…
Does the photographer know the area/venue?
Cornwall is known throughout the country and indeed the world for its beautiful scenery and unique landscapes from beautiful sandy coves of the South coast to the rugged surf waves on the North coast. From St. Michael’s Mount to Kynance Cove, the natural majesty of the Roseland and the stark beauty of Botallack Mine, Cornwall has no shortage of famously gorgeous locations in which to make perfect memories.
How well a photographer knows the venue or area can determine their ability to capture the right moments in the right locations with the right lighting. This is especially true when it comes to wedding venues hence why hundreds of people come to Cornwall to get married every year.
I have over ten years experience photographing weddings within Cornwall and know that previous experience photographing at your wedding venue can teach you so many things. As an experienced photographer, I will know all the little nooks and crannies that give places their character. The best light at different times of the day and the knowledge of moments that will make great photographs. A good photographer should know these things instinctively but the experience of the area and venue helps hugely.
If you’re looking for a photographer in Cornwall, be sure to choose a photographer who knows Cornwall! Choosing local is so important even (or maybe especially) if you don’t live here yourself.
Having lived and photographed in Cornwall for the past 10 years you can rest assured I am extremely familiar with the county and photographing within it.
Do you get along with the photographer?
This isn’t just a nice bonus. It’s an absolute necessity! Photography is a collaboration between the photographer and their subject and the best results will come when the relationship between the two is harmonious.
When a photographer ‘gets’ your personality and understands what and how you want to communicate through your photography, the difference is clear to see in the images. This is why I always like to meet in person or Facetime to ensure that we want the same things from your event. You do after all want to make sure you like me!
Do they have experience photographing this sort of occasion?
Each occasion has its own rhythms, highlights and important moments that need to be captured. Even weddings can have enormous variation in the order of service and the key moments for which the photographer needs to be ready. Different religions and denominations have slightly different orders of service and a good photographer needs to understand them in order to get the best photographs at the right moments.
The more experienced your photographer is in shooting special occasions just like yours, the more likely they are to capture all those perfect little moments that make it so unique. I have photographed literally hundreds of different types of weddings – traditional, modern, big, small, old and young – so experience is something I definitely have in abundance.
Does their photography style match your intention?
All photographers have a slightly different eye. Even if they use the exact same equipment, their visual flair and style can be markedly different. When choosing a photographer in Cornwall, choose someone whose style and sensibilities match your personal style and how you intend to photograph the occasion.
Reportage photography is all about waiting for the perfect moment to click the shutter. Take a look through my website, look at the photographs and work out if this is what you would like me to do for you.
Are they excited about the idea of working with you?
Photography is a highly technical discipline…but it’s also a form of creative expression. It is, to put it bluntly, an art. And artists seldom do their best work when they’re lacking in energy or enthusiasm.
You know you’ve found the right photographer when you can see their eyes light up with excitement as you describe the upcoming occasion and the plans or design concept you have come up with for it.
That excitement most certainly comes across when by capturing tiny minutiae their photographs make a moment special.
This is one of my favourite things about photography when I’m looking forward to making your vision a reality. I love the fact that no two photography shoots will ever be the same.
So why choose James Darling Photography?
I have a long, distinguished and diverse career in photography which started in the Royal Marines serving as an officer commanding a combat camera team in Iraq.
In the time since I have worked on a wide range of projects all of which you will find on this website from the annual Tresco Times and regular visits to the Scilly Isles to update their marketing material to photographing hundreds of weddings across Cornwall and the rest of the UK. I have provided photographic imagery for the Harbour Brewery website, all shot within Cornwall and regularly travel overseas for week-long stints for Cisco/IBM/Sibos commercial events.
From Elle Magazine to product photography, family gatherings to teaching photography I can offer something different to everyone. I love the variety that my photography offers. Unlike other photographers who specialise in one area of photography I specialise in a style: natural, candid photography capturing what happens whatever the event.
If you’d like to find out more about what I can offer you please do get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you and your photography requirements.