It began with a wee girl and a camera I didn’t really know how to use
Back in 2014, my firstborn daughter arrived and something shifted. I found myself desperately wanting to hold onto every tiny moment, the way she looked, the sounds she made, the sheer ordinary magic of it all. So I picked up a camera. Not to start a business. Not to build a brand. Just to remember.
I had no idea what I was doing. But I kept going, kept learning, kept noticing what made a photo feel alive versus just… technically fine. Turns out, the answer was almost always the same: the genuine emotions, the madness of real life and mostly the people who’d forgotten there was a camera in the room to begin with.
By 2016, James Aiken Photography was born. And the thing that started as a way to document my daughter growing up became a way to help other families and couples, to hold onto the moments that matter most.
“Photography didn’t change what I saw. It changed how carefully I looked”
James Aiken Photography
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
I’m not here to direct you. I’m here to guide you, there’s a difference.
When I walk in on your wedding morning, I’ll probably crack a joke within the first five minutes. It’s almost always borderline inappropriate, and it almost always works. Because what I’m really doing is setting a tone, loose, warm, and a little bit mad in the best possible way.
From there, I’m your guy for whatever the day throws at us. Nervous in front of the camera? We’ll sort that, I’ll show you exactly what to do, and you’ll forget you’re doing it. Not sure what’s happening next? I’ve got the run of the day in my head so you don’t have to. Want to actually enjoy your wedding instead of just surviving it? That’s the whole point.
What I bring isn’t just photography skills, it’s a calm, steady presence in the middle of what can be the most wonderfully chaotic day of your life. I’ll be beside you for all of it, and by the time the evening comes around, you’ll have forgotten I was ever a stranger.
“The goal is simple, we have the best day, we laugh a lot, and you end up with photos that bring you right back to how it all felt.”
10+
Years experience
500+
Satisfied couples
3
Professional awards
25-30
The number of weddings of I shoot each year
20
Iced Lattes I drink every week
10+
Countries visited
GET TO KNOW ME
I, I am blessed to have a gentlemans family. My girl Eilish and my son Harrrison is what keeps me on my toes when I’m not photographing weddings. Family is precious
II, Iced Lattes are unbelievably awesome! Thank the world for creating this amazing beverage. It’s completely random I know, but if I’m not drinking one on a wedding day, then something is very wrong.. P.S Up-a Coffee
III, I started getting into music at the ripe age of 13. It began with Blink 182, became an emo kid, then a metalhead, and now I listen to everything. Guilty pleasure? 80s music
IV, I’m deeply grateful to my couples for trusting me to document their wedding days. It’s an honour to ensure they have the best experience possible, and I truly appreciate being chosen to capture the moments they’ll treasure forever.
Reviews, with love, google…