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ONE THOUSAND WEDDINGS LATER

“I started photographing (and later filming) these unique events twenty years ago, which, with my eyes, I think, has me anticipating what may happen, often before it actually does. I work as a documentary wedding photographer, authentically making a real and editorial story of your day, preferring not to direct, save for the few moments I’m called upon to photograph an intimate family portrait for a documentary record.

Genuinely, I didn’t plan to become a wedding photographer; there was no epiphany, no calling as such, but I believe this genre of photography, much misunderstood and often misrepresented, found me, and it certainly satisfies my sincere interest in human relationships. I often comment with wry humour when asked about why I photograph weddings following a previous life in radio broadcasting, that life leads you down aisles, literally in my case, that you otherwise weren’t planning.

I see my role as a candid reportage photographer, a photojournalist who just happens to be at a wedding. I am an observer, a watcher with a camera. I don’t engineer emotion or dictate this special occasion; there’s enough happening that is already exceptionally unique, energetically engaging and often intimately vulnerable not to need to do that. Why invent, when you can truthfully record? I subtly go about my work observationally, sensitively, tacitly even. I refer to my presence on a day as being a couple’s rearview mirror, recording the moments they don’t and won’t otherwise witness. Listening to the sound of the day and second-guessing what may develop before my eyes view it, in reality, is essential within this special genre. If I can read a wedding, I can make a story, your story.”

Twice internationally recognised in Junebug’s exclusive list of Best Wedding Photographers of the World, represented for weddings in France and former Wedding Photographer of the Year for London and the South East at the Wedding Industry Awards, Neale James is based just west of London near Newbury in Berkshire, though accepts commissions the length and breadth of the UK, London and destination weddings abroad.

Neale’s background in broadcasting as a radio presenter has gifted him a unique understanding as a wedding photographer of how to embrace the potent sense of sound to enhance his wedding stills photography further, recognised as the producer of the World’s first photographic and audio Wedding Photofilms.

INSTAGRAM FEED @NEALEJAMES

20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 20: Here's the final one from this series, and this is from the first decade of my time covering these wonderful life events. One I return to often when talking about weather. I have a mantra when talking to c
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 19: I appreciate, I've not exactly stuck to 20 posts in 20 days... let's just say weddings conveniently popped up to stop play. We'll keep that between us. I appreciate as a square format pic within Instagram-
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 18: Looking back over 20 years, there is no way I could possibly omit this picture as one of my most precious photographic memoirs. It was made at Rivervale Barn @rivervalebarnweddings - made immediately follo
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 17: I remember this wedding as if it was yesterday. The absolute energy of Ayo and Funmi's wedding is reflected by this photograph. I remember asking the Pastor where I should stand during the ceremony, as I'
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 16: Most certainly not a traditional style of wedding photograph. It was made during the wedding breakfast as guests enjoyed their dishes pre-speeches. The sun burst through a large window to the left of my ca
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 15: One from last Wednesday's wedding between Louis and Melissa in Crathorne near Yarm. I knew I wanted to feature this picture the moment I made it. This just shouts, practically screams, "Yes!" I
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 14: Let's go for a portrait. It rains in the UK. Oh yes, it rains, so perhaps I can call this an environmental portrait? The heavens had opened during the church service, leaving raindrops on the car's rear
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 13: I know I know, it's not particularly big or clever to make reflection pictures, they've been done 1001 times prior, but it's the connection that's made me include this within my selection of 20 posts in 20
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 12: One from St. Nics Church within the grounds of Wasing Park @wasingweddings I walked in to do my 'rounds' as guests were being sat, about 20/25 mins prior to the ceremony and this lad just followed me with
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 11: It's not necessarily going to always be the prettiest picture, I mean there's a sliding scale to how well as humans we cry, but oh my, how they're the most potent. This is, without a doubt, one of the mom
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Blink and you'll miss, or perhaps wink. It's such a teeny tiny window on Insta, unless you look closely you may miss the feature of this one. Day 10: Good Lord, halfway there to 20 pictures from 20 years in 20 pic
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 9: I couldn't post 20 pictures in 20 days to celebrate these two decades without including this precious one from the archive. It's one of my favourite split compositions; one side of the door, looking through
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 8: I'm a soft-centred wotsit really, and so I'm drawn to this kind of moment. At yesterday's wedding (those are yet to be sorted fully, so he's one I made earlier, to quote Blue Peter) I was talking to a gues
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 7: I think of this as my "Goldilocks" picture. For just a short while, this was front and centre on my website's homepage before it changed to the current design, but it wasn't wildly popular amongs
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 6: It's just all too much, and the day hasn't even started yet! This is a photograph made at Farnham Castle @farnhamcastleweddings as hair, make-up and final dress fitting was still on-going. Everyone needs a
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 5: I'm going to try and get a football legend, blood pressure and conflict photographers into my description of this particular photograph, a favourite from the years I've been making wedding photographs. I me
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. Day 4. Tonally and emotionally, this next one just speaks of warmth, to me. It was made at Rivervale Barn @rivervalebarnweddings, and it's a simple moment between Sarah and her page boy. As 2017 tipped into 2018,
20 days. 20 posts across 20 years. I think this is one of the most important pictures in the 20 years of photographing weddings I have made. Day 3, and I pontificated over this one because, on the face of it (well, not that you can see any clearly)