Hi I’m Ben!
Hello, I’m Ben, the person behind Blooming Photography. I have always had a love of camera’s ever since picking up my dad’s SLR camera when I was a small boy. To look through a camera viewfinder and capture what you see, I thought was magical and I was hooked instantly.
My passion for photography grew throughout my teens, and I even gained a GCSE yet, I wasn’t that interested in photographing weddings at that point. I wanted to travel the world and document what I saw. Paying my way, was tricky though so I initially explored other options and developed great skills as a horticulturist instead. Randomly the camera never stayed away (& through my people skills I got cast in the Leonardo D’Caprio film “The Beach” and then was a Garden Invader for 50+ episodes of BBC1’s daytime gardening show with Charlie Dimmock, musician Kim Wilde & 100m sprinter Linford Christie as presenters)!!
It wasn’t really until the advent of two things that changed me. Getting married myself (in 2004) and digital cameras.
Getting married for me was important. Not only did I now have someone who grounded me and had my back, but it also ensured that I understood what a wedding day was and what it meant as a couple to capture those special moments that are often missed. Sadly, at my wedding, I chose a photographer that used film and once the formal photos were done (& there where far too many), that was it. Memories where just memories and only when my wife and I looked back we saw that there were no photos of my Auntie (who passed away soon after) nor photos of my wife’s mum (she hates the camera and always does her best to avoid it!).
The onset of digital meant you were no longer restricted to 24/36 photo’s and you could quickly change settings (ISO) in the camera so that you could be inside and then out without changing the roll of the film. This also meant that you could instead, capture a story rather than just line up outside a church or registry office and only really do formal photos. I’ve always believed in storytelling, especially at weddings.
It was a year later in 2005 that I photographed my friend’s wedding with my new state of the art digital camera. Apparently, I smashed it, and was then asked by lots of other friends to photograph their weddings. In 2006, I photographed 15 weddings. By 2008, I took a gamble and took lease on a building in Cheltenham and turned it into a place where bride and grooms could come and meet me, plus it had enough space to make a cool little photo studio for family portraits, headshots and product photos. I was now a full-time photographer and have never looked back!
My approach to weddings has always been unobtrusive and based on reportage style photography, allowing events to unfold naturally while I blend seamlessly into your celebration. I believe that the best moments are those you don’t notice being photographed—genuine, heartfelt, and full of life.
Friendly, approachable and fun, I dedicate time to getting to know the families involved, helping everyone feel at ease in front of the camera. My goal is to blend in, becoming part of your big day so that your photographs tell the true story of your wedding, filled with laughter, emotion and unforgettable memories.
Away from the camera, I’ve now been happily married for over 20 years, and I’m a proud parent of two wonderful children. We love travelling the world together, exploring new places, and embracing outdoor adventures—whether mountain biking, hiking, or simply enjoying the fresh air, whatever the weather.
If you’re looking for a photographer who will capture your wedding in a natural and relaxed style, while being a supportive and friendly presence throughout, I’d love to hear from you and help make your day truly memorable.
Hi I’m Ben!
Hello, I’m Ben, the person behind Blooming Photography. I have always had a love of camera’s ever since picking up my dad’s SLR camera when I was a small boy. To look through a camera viewfinder and capture what you see, I thought was magical and I was hooked instantly.
My passion for photography grew throughout my teens, and I even gained a GCSE yet, I wasn’t that interested in photographing weddings at that point. I wanted to travel the world and document what I saw. Paying my way, was tricky though so I initially explored other options and developed great skills as a horticulturist instead. Randomly the camera never stayed away (& through my people skills I got cast in the Leonardo D’Caprio film “The Beach” and then was a Garden Invader for 50+ episodes of BBC1’s daytime gardening show with Charlie Dimmock, musician Kim Wilde & 100m sprinter Linford Christie as presenters)!!
It wasn’t really until the advent of two things that changed me. Getting married myself (in 2004) and digital cameras.
Getting married for me was important. Not only did I now have someone who grounded me and had my back, but it also ensured that I understood what a wedding day was and what it meant as a couple to capture those special moments that are often missed. Sadly, at my wedding, I chose a photographer that used film and once the formal photos were done (& there where far too many), that was it. Memories where just memories and only when my wife and I looked back we saw that there were no photos of my Auntie (who passed away soon after) nor photos of my wife’s mum (she hates the camera and always does her best to avoid it!).
The onset of digital meant you were no longer restricted to 24/36 photo’s and you could quickly change settings (ISO) in the camera so that you could be inside and then out without changing the roll of the film. This also meant that you could instead, capture a story rather than just line up outside a church or registry office and only really do formal photos. I’ve always believed in storytelling, especially at weddings.
It was a year later in 2005 that I photographed my friend’s wedding with my new state of the art digital camera. Apparently, I smashed it, and was then asked by lots of other friends to photograph their weddings. In 2006, I photographed 15 weddings. By 2008, I took a gamble and took lease on a building in Cheltenham and turned it into a place where bride and grooms could come and meet me, plus it had enough space to make a cool little photo studio for family portraits, headshots and product photos. I was now a full-time photographer and have never looked back!
My approach to weddings has always been unobtrusive and based on reportage style photography, allowing events to unfold naturally while I blend seamlessly into your celebration. I believe that the best moments are those you don’t notice being photographed—genuine, heartfelt, and full of life.
Friendly, approachable and fun, I dedicate time to getting to know the families involved, helping everyone feel at ease in front of the camera. My goal is to blend in, becoming part of your big day so that your photographs tell the true story of your wedding, filled with laughter, emotion and unforgettable memories.
Away from the camera, I’ve now been happily married for over 20 years, and I’m a proud parent of two wonderful children. We love travelling the world together, exploring new places, and embracing outdoor adventures—whether mountain biking, hiking, or simply enjoying the fresh air, whatever the weather.
If you’re looking for a photographer who will capture your wedding in a natural and relaxed style, while being a supportive and friendly presence throughout, I’d love to hear from you and help make your day truly memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ’s
How much do you charge?
My coverage ranges from four hour civil ceremony coverage to multi-day events. I always aim to include everything you may need in your package, including travel throughout the UK, edited and retouched digital images, an online proofing gallery and high resolution images presented in a beautiful wooden box and USB. For detailed pricing information and to confirm your wedding date is available, please pop me an email by clicking here.
How soon do we need to book you?
As soon as you have a date fixed, it is advisable to enquire about availability and move towards securing your photography. Weekends, particularly in the Summer months, fill up very quickly – up to a year or two in advance.
Can we meet you before we make a decision?
Of course! I will usually meet all potential clients via video link – this is a great opportunity to get to know each other and you can ask any questions you may have! We appreciate that, as a photographer, you will be a presence throughout the course of the day, and therefore couples need to be happy in advance that they get along well with you.
What do we need to do to secure our date? (best question ever!)
To secure your date I require a £200 booking deposit and exchange of contracts.
What happens if you are ill?
Good questiont! Over the years I have built a wealth of contacts and should the worse happen, I will find another photographer to photograph your wedding at no extra cost to yourselves. My reputation is key but photographing your wedding is paramount.
Do you take formal group photos?
Whilst the majority (roughly 90%) of my work is reportage, if you’d like a few formal group photos, I’m more than happy to take these for you! I always advise our couples to keep these to no more than 8-10 different groups of immediate family & bridal party – that way we should be able to get the groups done in 15 minutes and you can get back to your guests to chat, eat canapés and reception drinks!
How many photographs will we get?
The honest answer is that it’s really tricky to put a number as it really does depend on the time of year and weather – obviously a summer wedding (with lots of daylight), would get more than say a January wedding. However there is no limit to the amount of photos you receive. The important bit is that you should expect quality over quantity. You can also expect not only the colour version but also a copy in black and white. So in summer expect roughly 400-500 colour images and winter, 300-400 colour images.
When will we get our photos?
This varies depending on our workload, but you will usually receive the photographs within 2-3 weeks – just when you get back from your honeymoon.
Do we get the copyright to our pictures?
Speaking in technical terms, if a professional photographer takes the images of your day, the intellectual property and copyright automatically belong to (and usually remain with) them. However, with the USB of high resolution digital files we provide you with, you are given permission for unlimited printing and sharing of the images (between friends and family), provided they are not used for any commercial/professional purpose.
Do you work with a second photographer?
I usually work alone to remain unobtrusive and can often cover both bride and groom preparations myself. Having said that, I can offer an experienced second photographer if required (normally when guest numbers are higher than 150) for additional coverage throughout the day.
How far will you travel?
I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled all over the UK and the world for weddings (over the years I’ve even photographed ceremonies in India and USA!) but if you’re planning to get married further afield do not hesitate to get in touch – I absolutely love to travel!
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