Hi, i’m sophie!
Picture Essence Photography is my business and little corner of the wedding world. I’m based in the Midlands but I’m always travelling across the UK to photograph weddings in a relaxed, natural and honest way.
Photography has been part of my life since I was around 13. I was always experimenting with cameras, Instax, Polaroids and anything else I could get my hands on, usually photographing family holidays, birthdays and all the little everyday moments in between.
In 2022, I finally decided to turn something I’d loved for years into my business — and wedding photography very quickly became the part of it I loved most.
My Happy place
Away from weddings, life is mostly centred around my family. I’m a wife and mum to two little ones, so when I’m not photographing somebody else’s big day, you’ll usually find me spending time with my husband and the kids, at a baby or toddler group, catching up with friends or planning our next little getaway whenever I can squeeze one in around wedding season.
I’m also very easily pleased. Give me a caramel iced latte, something sweet and an episode of Friends and I’m happy. I’m a huge lasagne lover, forever looking for the next Netflix series to get hooked on, and my idea of a pretty perfect date night is a takeaway, a board game and a film at home.
I think I’ve always been quite sentimental, which probably explains why photography means so much to me. I love photographs for the same reason I love old film, family albums and anything with a little nostalgia; they have this ability to take you straight back to a person, a place or a feeling.
And that’s really what I love about weddings too.
Photographer, organiser +extra Pair of hands!
Being a primary school teacher alongside running my photography business has probably shaped the way I work at weddings more than I realised. I love being organised, knowing what’s happening and thinking a few steps ahead… but I’m equally used to plans changing at a moment’s notice and just getting on with it.
Turns out, keeping calm, reading a room, gently rounding up a group of people and juggling several things at once comes in pretty handy at a wedding too!
After photographing over 100 weddings, I’ve also picked up plenty along the way. So before your wedding I’m always happy to help with timelines, recommendations or those little questions that suddenly pop into your head, and on the day I’ll never just stand back with my camera if you need an extra pair of hands.
I want you to feel like you have someone there who knows your plans, understands what matters to you and is there to support you throughout the day, not just photograph it.
Basically — photographer first, but always happy to muck in when you need me.
