Boho Loves: Kate Jackson Photography - Natural Images Full of Colour and Bursting With Life.

This afternoon on Boho we are thrilled to be kicking off the week by introducing the wonderful Kate Jackson Photography to the blog. Based in Birmingham, Kate’s images are filled with pure emotion and I just know that you’ll love them. I’ll pass you over to Kate who is dying to tell you more about her passion for wedding photography…

Un-posed, natural images full of colour and bursting with life.

More from Kate

Hi I’m Kate! A full time wedding photographer based in Birmingham in the West Midlands. I love to capture the beautifully authentic moments that make your wedding day so special and so very personal. Telling the story of your day is definitely my greatest pleasure. I specialise in capturing the twists and turns that make your day so memorable. From the heartfelt vows to the quirky dance moves, and the off-guard belly-laughs in between. Each of my couples have their very own relaxed vibe, and it’s important for me to capture your day in a way that makes them say ‘yep, that’s us!’. Of course, I do cater for the formalities and the group shots if it’s something you want. But I can tell you for sure, there’s nothing quite like wedding day photographs that embody super happy, utterly lovely and beautifully natural you!

How long have you been taking photos for?
Honestly, ever since I could hold a camera. My dad is a photographer and that’s where I take a lot of my inspiration from, he taught me how to develop film in our bath when I was 5, the bathroom being our very own darkroom! When I was younger I’d constantly be snapping my family and friends – capturing those everyday little moments. My mum wasn’t too impressed; it was all film in those days! The years passed and my passion continued, leading me to graduate University with a First Class Photography degree. I embarked on my career, documenting the fascinating details of where I grew up, moving into photographing arts, theatre & dance events. I became interested in weddings when my sister got married; I suddenly ‘got it’ (I cried with happiness for two days, seriously). Then two of my best friends got engaged and asked me to shoot their wedding since they loved my other work. At first I was so unsure as I knew photographing a wedding was no mean feat, it’s a serious skill. But I agreed and totally fell in love. I had a brilliant mentoring session with the amazing photographer Claire Penn and it reinforced everything and helped me to push forwards and follow my dream. It’s exhausting but totally exhilarating work and I’ve never been happier.

When did you start your photography business and what made you start
I love photographing people, whether it’s the community feel of my personal documentary projects I started out with or the stunning love stories that I get to shoot now! Capturing feelings is what I do best, and the desire to tell beautiful stories is behind everything I do. Once I understood what they were all about when my sister got married I knew I had to be the one to capture such a special moment in peoples lives. Basically wedding photography is my favourite thing.

Where are you based?
I’m based in Birmingham in the West Midlands. But I regularly visit Manchester where I lived for a while, and you can often find me in London stealing time with my nephew. When I’m not zipping around for weddings that is!

How far will you travel for a wedding?
I love traveling so whether your wedding is just down the road from my Birmingham home or miles across the sea, I’d love to be there to capture it.

How would you describe your style?
Documentary photography with a creative twist. I love un-posed, natural & relaxed images bursting with love & happiness. There’s no saying cheese or standing around for ages for formal photos. Just you guys having an absolute blast – as that’s what it’s all about right!

What is your favorite bit of technical kit?
Not incredibly technical but I love the Spudz Mini Microfiber Lens Cleaning Cloth. It has a tiny clip and pouch so hooks onto my camera. I wear a Holdfast Money Maker (my second favourite thing) so my cameras sit at my hips, great for my back but it does mean the lenses can get dust or prints on them. With the cloth on hand I have no need to worry about dust/finger prints/rain specs. I can just wipe and go. Which admittedly sounds a bit like a toilet roll advert.

What makes you different to your competitors?
There are so many amazing wedding photographers out there, and honestly I don’t think it’s what makes someone different – it’s what makes them the right photographer for the couple. If a couple loves my work & loves me – then perfect!

What do you enjoy most about your job?
Knowing I’m capturing something so very special and so very unique. When my couples look back on their photographs they will remember just how they felt and discover anything they might have missed. Reliving the day over and over. And even better – being able to share it with future generations.

What sort of couple do you think you attract?
Relaxed couples who just want the day to be a total blast celebrating with their nearest and dearest. So whether it’s a London Town wedding, a chilled out festival barn wedding where the rules are ‘wellies and jumpers only’ or a relaxed affair in your back garden ( that’s something I’m doing this August!) – I’m totally there.

Which celeb would you like to photograph?
Dave Grohl. My partner met him when he was drum teching for a band that supported Foo Fighters in Manchester. Jealous isn’t the word. He just seems like such a nice dude and I think it would be a lot of fun, plus I could get him to drum for me.

Who is your favorite photographer and why?
My dad, because he’s the one who inspired me to pick up a camera and because whenever he took a photo of someone he didn’t know (being a documentary photographer that was often) he’d always make sure he’d find them again to give them a print.

If you were to get married who would take your pictures / who did take the pictures at your wedding
This is so hard. There are SO many amazing creatives out there. All I know right now is, no one I know too well, not because they aren’t brilliant. But because I’d want them to be part of it properly.

What in your opinion makes the perfect photo?
People! They have always been at the very heart of what I do, even as a child that would be my focus. People tell the story, and photographs can capture a little bit of who you are and how you are feeling right in that moment, whether it’s going wild on the dance floor with your friends or the look on your parents face as you walk down the aisle. I think that’s pretty special.

What advice would you give couples when choosing their wedding photographer?

Don’t leave it until the last minute – it’s not the end of the world if it’s ended up at the bottom of your list but be aware photographers book 12+ months in advance. So if you have your heart set on someone, get in touch long before the big day.
Look at different photography styles and decide which approach is for you. This helps narrow down your list.
If you are Pinterest lover, take what you see with a pinch of salt. I know what you are thinking – “whaaat I love it, she’s mental”. I love it too, but when looking at home décor ideas before I know it I’ve pinned 1000+ totally different bathrooms and I feel totally overwhelmed in what I wanted in the first place. Weddings are the same. Pinterest is wonderful, but it is also flooded with different styles, different locations, time of year, styled weddings and so on. It can leave you feeling very confused on what you want and sometimes give you unrealistic expectations. That said, it can also be a great source of inspiration and of course you can find the photographer you love! Just be wary to not get bogged down in pins ha.
Read Wedding Blogs! They can be a great source of inspiration and have some great photographers in their directories – once you know what style you are after it’s easy peasy.
Set your budget and don’t be unrealistic (photographers don’t come up with prices out of thin air, it’s based on business expenses and paying a wage)
Check out portfolios, ensure they have the chops to do the job
Talk to them! Do you like each other? That’s probably one of the most important for me, out of all your suppliers you’ll be around your photographer more than anyone. For me personally, if I take the time to get to know someone – I know I’ll nail their story.
Are they insured? This is a must.
You like them & want to book them yay – last thing make sure you get a contract!

This is admittedly is a sum up. There are so many factors when choosing the right photographer for you, don’t rush, and don’t panic. Do your research. I think the most important thing is to talk to them, it’s important you feel super happy and confident in your decision. Lots of Blogs (like Boho!) have some great articles covering the subject, so they are always worth a read if you need more advice.

What is your ideal way to spend a day off?
Eating brunch with my friends/taking my nephew on a day trip/watching films with my other half

Who would be your 5 dream dinner guests dead or alive?
David Bowie (to write & sing me a song and talk to)
Carrie Fisher (because she was in Star Wars which is reason enough, plus she was a pretty great lady)
Dave Grohl (to play drums and be generally nice)
John Krasinki (because he makes me laugh in interviews and not just the American Office.)
Ian Mckellen (because he’s Ian Mckellen)

What would you do if you won the lottery?
In no particular order: pay off my mums mortgage; pay off my own mortgage; buy a a holiday home or two; donate some to a mental health charity & food banks; take all my friends to a spa; help my boyfriend set up his own business; buy shoes.

If you weren’t running your business, what would you be doing?
Organising arts & music festivals. Almost definitely.